Scanners are reporting empty rates as high as 15% in dairy herds after early scanning results. There are reports of 30% empty rates in some herds.

John Casey scans some 15,000 cows and heifers each year between Waterford and Cork. So far, he has scanned 6,000 animals with some very high empty rates.

“There are some reasons to be concerned. There have been some quite high empty rates … Of what I have scanned so far, heifers are running at 5% empty and cows at 14% empty,” Casey said.

He added that he was at a similar rate this time last year before reducing to an overall figure of 9% empty.

Embryonic death

Embryonic death is a concern for Casey.

“Farmers have seen embryonic deaths at as far as 13 weeks, which is a worry. There could be a number of different reasons for that. One thing we’re looking into is if a farmer had very high urea levels.

“I’m getting calls from farmers worried about scanning and they just want to see what the situation is before getting me in the yard.

“The best year I’ve had for scanning was that wet year around 2012 and that’s because farmers were feeding a good bit of meal.”

I’ve noticed some embryonic deaths this year

In the north midlands and further west, Padraig Reilly is reporting that empty rates are up by approximately 5% on last year. Reilly covers counties including Longford, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.

“Of the herds I’ve been at so far, the empties are a bit ahead of last year. We were at about 10% last year and it’s closer to 15% this year.

“I’ve noticed some embryonic deaths this year alright. I was at a farmer recently who thought a cow was in calf eight or nine weeks and she was empty,” Reilly said.

Michael Quinn scans beef and dairy herds in Meath, Kildare, Louth and Dublin. He sees little difference in scanning rates this year compared to last year.

“I’ve most of the big herds done at this stage and the empty rates are pretty much on par with last year. We’re in the region of 10% empty, which is similar to last year.”

Quinn has also noted some higher rates of embryonic deaths.

Beef

In the suckler herds, scanning of herds is slower but the Tullamore Farm scanned last week and reported an empty rate of 22%.

While very high, this is being attributed to a sub-fertile bull on the farm.

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Tullamore Farm fertility issues