Increasing output is a key area of focus on each of the farms across the country. By focusing on breeding efficiency, it is possible to increase kg/ha, kg/LU, calves/cow/year and overall output.

The key factors influencing output are the number of calves produced, weight of calf weaned and quality of calf. In 2013, the average national calving interval was 412 days (ICBF, 2013-2014).

In comparison, the BETTER farm average calving interval was 383 days (Table 1). The fodder crisis in 2013 had major influence over breeding performance reflected in this increase in calving interval figure.

The average calving interval for each region did not vary hugely from the whole programme average. The number of calves produced per cow per year is a major contributor to gross output, with an average 0.92 calves per cow per year. This means that for every 100 cows that calve there are 92 live calves to sell.

Table 1 shows some of the farmers well above the average of the programme during 2013-2014. Therefore, it is essential that farmers keep calf mortality at birth and at 28 days to a minimum, as evident in Table 2.

Farmers in the programme are almost achieving the target of 0.95 calves/cow/year. In 2013-2014, there were on average 0.92 calves per cow, which is well above the national average, as evident in Table 3.

This increase in output by programme farmers illustrates improved efficiency equating to €90/cow.

Regardless of when calving season starts, a key focus is to keep the calving pattern to a maximum of 12 weeks. A tight calving pattern allows for easier management of stock.

All calves will be around the same age. They can therefore be managed as one group and grassland management is much easier. This is a key area a number of farmers are focusing on currently.

By removing the bull a fortnight earlier and culling cows that are calving outside the planned 12-week period, it has been achieved on a number of the farms.

Autumn herds currently calving have noticed a considerable increase in the number of cows calving in the first four- to six-week period compared to last year. As shown in Table 4, a calf born between 1 and 22 February will result in a weaning weight of 310kg versus a calf in the herd born from 26 April to 17 May with a four-month calving interval. There is a 93kg difference between the two calves. At a value of €2.35/kg, this is worth €218.

Table 5 outlines details of calving data, with famers recording almost all information regarding sire/calving ease. Four per cent of calvings received a calving difficulty score of between three or four. The majority of the cows in the herd are relatively young, with on average 4.3 calves per cow produced. This is possibly as a result of higher replacement rates over the past number of years, along with culling of poorer performing and poorer genetic cows.

Pregnancy scanning

All the farmers scan their cows after the breeding season to detect the number of cows in calf or empty. Following the results, cows that are not in calf are identified for culling. On average, 89% of the cows scanned in 2014 proved in-calf. As shown in Figure 1, there appears to be minimal variation across each region for the number of cows proving in calf.

A number of issues were identified for cows not proving in-calf. There were bull fertility issues, missed heats using AI, stock bull removed early to tighten calving pattern and other individual case problems.

Of the four farmers using 100% artificial insemination (AI), Mike Dillane (Kerry), Ger Dineen (Cork), Billy Gilmore (Galway) and Richard Jennings’ (Mayo) pregnancy scanning results for this year indicate a high conception rate, with 88% of the cows proving in-calf, as shown in Figure 2. In-calf rates ranged from 77% to 96%.

Conclusion

Although the average calving interval on the farms is below the national average, there are still improvements to be made to reduce this figure further to the target of 365 days.

Farmers in the programme are almost achieving the target of 0.95 calves/cow/year. However, this figure will vary from year to year on each farm.

A key area of focus on a number of farms is tightening the calving spread. While the benefits are evident, it will take a number of years to achieve. Pregnancy scanning results on farms in 2014 were very positive, with 89% of cows proving in-calf. Farmers should be able to make decisions based on these results to further improve the breeding performance of their herd in 2015.