In Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo, Glen McDermott runs a suckler herd of 42 cows with calves sold as strong weanlings. The suckler herd is split evenly between spring and autumn. Spring cows calve from February onwards, while the autumn herd calves from late October.
The McDermott farm consists of 49ha of grassland which is split into two large blocks, each with a farmyard and handling facilities. Glen is well supported in running the farm by his wife Brenda, son Dillon and daughter Ellie always on hand to help.
This is important as the family runs the local bar and restaurant so Glen has to manage his time to make sure he is able to tend to both businesses. Land type is typical of the area, with a mix of dry hills and some heavy low-lying fields which become difficult to manage during wet conditions.
Glen tries to get cattle out to grass as early as possible in spring, but this is determined by ground conditions more so than grass supplies. However, during winter calves are allowed to graze during the day and re-housed at night and this has been a great success, according to Glen.
“Calves are healthier and thrive better when they get out to early spring grass. It doesn’t take much ground to keep them going and they do little damage to the sward. It helps to wean the autumn calves as the bond between cow and calf is broken early and there is less stress on animals.”
Suckler herd
Over the past five years, the suckler herd has increased from 18 cows to the present level of 42 cows. Cow numbers were increased by buying in animals and keeping some replacements.
Future plans are to keep home-bred replacements and breeding decisions reflect this in terms of sire choice.
“We are using highly rated maternal bulls through AI for breeding. The bulls also have strong terminal traits so we do not lose out on calf quality. The ideal type of cow we are breeding and bringing through are a Limousin and Simmental cross animal as they have milk, good temperament and have good shape also. We also have a mix of Salers cows, Blue cows and black Limousin cross cows but I feel that the Simmental X Limousin cross gives more options as you can sell high valued weanlings, keep replacements or possibly switch to finishing cattle in future.
“A consistent cow base will give less variation in calf quality when selling in the marts. Having calves of uniform size and weight will help to improve sale price and income.”
AI has been the sole method for breeding on farm over the past five years. Prior to this, stock bulls were used. Glen decided to change to AI as he felt it was the best way forward for his herd to improve calf performance and breed a better cow type suited to the farm and system.
Breeding
Handling cows for AI can stress animals. To get the best results from AI, you need good handling units. Glen has invested in farm infrastructure and made a central laneway on both farm blocks.
Fields are all paddocks which lets him run cows in and out for breeding. A vasectomised bull is used to aid heat detection and cows are inseminated by a local technician. Conception rates are good, with a breeding season of 10 weeks and few repeats.
Cows are given mineral supplementation after a problem was picked up in the first year using AI. Blood tests showed a lack of minerals such as copper, which had a knock-on effect on fertility. Since then, cows are going back in-calf with little trouble.
“We are learning as we go but so far things are going well. AI has been a great success and we are very happy with the type of calf we are getting.”
Sires are selected to suit individual cows, with maternal bulls used on the majority of cows and terminal bulls on cows that are less suited to producing breeding heifers.
“We have used a lot of ADX and RIO to breed replacements which have now calved into the herd. They are great cows and have plenty of milk which is important for a weanling system. We are currently using bulls such as S1696, FL21, ONI, OZS and ZAG to breed cows. Heifers are bred to easy-calving Limousin or Salers bulls. Cows that repeat or are not suitable for keeping replacements are served with a Charolais bull such as LGL, FSZ and LZF. We have also used STQ on black cows to get more colour into the calves. Using AI has given a lot more flexibility when it comes to breeding that you do not get with the stock bull.”
Options
In a suckler-to-weanling system, calf quality and weaning weight are crucial to generating enough income that covers rearing costs and leaves a profit margin. Calf quality is what will attract potential buyer’s interest. Well-bred calves with natural muscling and length will always sell well in the mart and usually have good weight for age.
Glen is now starting to realise the benefits from his change in breeding programme. Better calves that are weighing heavier year on year are worth more when sold. He also has the option of selling into more markets.
Calf quality is exceptional in the herd, with many weanlings suitable for exporting. The same animals will suit selling directly to a feedlot for finishing. Male calves could easily be retained and finished on farm as young bulls under 16 months of age while heifers would attract a premium if sold on for breeding.
Investing in genetics is a long-term plan. But when done well, it will always deliver better-quality breeding stock and calves with improved animal performance. In modern day suckler systems, these are two factors that cannot be ignored.
42 suckler cows split between spring and autumn calving. 49ha grass land farm split in two land blocks. Mixture of soil types. Suckler-to-weanling system. 100% AI breeding. Vasectomised bull used to aid heat detection. Breeding focus on using top maternal genetics to produce heavier weanlings.
In Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo, Glen McDermott runs a suckler herd of 42 cows with calves sold as strong weanlings. The suckler herd is split evenly between spring and autumn. Spring cows calve from February onwards, while the autumn herd calves from late October.
The McDermott farm consists of 49ha of grassland which is split into two large blocks, each with a farmyard and handling facilities. Glen is well supported in running the farm by his wife Brenda, son Dillon and daughter Ellie always on hand to help.
This is important as the family runs the local bar and restaurant so Glen has to manage his time to make sure he is able to tend to both businesses. Land type is typical of the area, with a mix of dry hills and some heavy low-lying fields which become difficult to manage during wet conditions.
Glen tries to get cattle out to grass as early as possible in spring, but this is determined by ground conditions more so than grass supplies. However, during winter calves are allowed to graze during the day and re-housed at night and this has been a great success, according to Glen.
“Calves are healthier and thrive better when they get out to early spring grass. It doesn’t take much ground to keep them going and they do little damage to the sward. It helps to wean the autumn calves as the bond between cow and calf is broken early and there is less stress on animals.”
Suckler herd
Over the past five years, the suckler herd has increased from 18 cows to the present level of 42 cows. Cow numbers were increased by buying in animals and keeping some replacements.
Future plans are to keep home-bred replacements and breeding decisions reflect this in terms of sire choice.
“We are using highly rated maternal bulls through AI for breeding. The bulls also have strong terminal traits so we do not lose out on calf quality. The ideal type of cow we are breeding and bringing through are a Limousin and Simmental cross animal as they have milk, good temperament and have good shape also. We also have a mix of Salers cows, Blue cows and black Limousin cross cows but I feel that the Simmental X Limousin cross gives more options as you can sell high valued weanlings, keep replacements or possibly switch to finishing cattle in future.
“A consistent cow base will give less variation in calf quality when selling in the marts. Having calves of uniform size and weight will help to improve sale price and income.”
AI has been the sole method for breeding on farm over the past five years. Prior to this, stock bulls were used. Glen decided to change to AI as he felt it was the best way forward for his herd to improve calf performance and breed a better cow type suited to the farm and system.
Breeding
Handling cows for AI can stress animals. To get the best results from AI, you need good handling units. Glen has invested in farm infrastructure and made a central laneway on both farm blocks.
Fields are all paddocks which lets him run cows in and out for breeding. A vasectomised bull is used to aid heat detection and cows are inseminated by a local technician. Conception rates are good, with a breeding season of 10 weeks and few repeats.
Cows are given mineral supplementation after a problem was picked up in the first year using AI. Blood tests showed a lack of minerals such as copper, which had a knock-on effect on fertility. Since then, cows are going back in-calf with little trouble.
“We are learning as we go but so far things are going well. AI has been a great success and we are very happy with the type of calf we are getting.”
Sires are selected to suit individual cows, with maternal bulls used on the majority of cows and terminal bulls on cows that are less suited to producing breeding heifers.
“We have used a lot of ADX and RIO to breed replacements which have now calved into the herd. They are great cows and have plenty of milk which is important for a weanling system. We are currently using bulls such as S1696, FL21, ONI, OZS and ZAG to breed cows. Heifers are bred to easy-calving Limousin or Salers bulls. Cows that repeat or are not suitable for keeping replacements are served with a Charolais bull such as LGL, FSZ and LZF. We have also used STQ on black cows to get more colour into the calves. Using AI has given a lot more flexibility when it comes to breeding that you do not get with the stock bull.”
Options
In a suckler-to-weanling system, calf quality and weaning weight are crucial to generating enough income that covers rearing costs and leaves a profit margin. Calf quality is what will attract potential buyer’s interest. Well-bred calves with natural muscling and length will always sell well in the mart and usually have good weight for age.
Glen is now starting to realise the benefits from his change in breeding programme. Better calves that are weighing heavier year on year are worth more when sold. He also has the option of selling into more markets.
Calf quality is exceptional in the herd, with many weanlings suitable for exporting. The same animals will suit selling directly to a feedlot for finishing. Male calves could easily be retained and finished on farm as young bulls under 16 months of age while heifers would attract a premium if sold on for breeding.
Investing in genetics is a long-term plan. But when done well, it will always deliver better-quality breeding stock and calves with improved animal performance. In modern day suckler systems, these are two factors that cannot be ignored.
42 suckler cows split between spring and autumn calving. 49ha grass land farm split in two land blocks. Mixture of soil types. Suckler-to-weanling system. 100% AI breeding. Vasectomised bull used to aid heat detection. Breeding focus on using top maternal genetics to produce heavier weanlings. 
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