Scanning results so far this year are on par with previous years, Dr Dan Ryan, who uses his Reprodoc software to analyse scanning data, has said.

His findings to date show that herds producing more than 7,000l of milk per cow per year are averaging 16% not in-calf, while those producing less than this are averaging 11% empty.

I don’t think embryo loss has got to do with milk urea nitrogen levels

Interestingly, twinning rate for the higher-yielding herds is running at 8%, while it is 4% for the lower-yielding herds. Embryo mortality between the six week scan and the final scan is running at 5%, which Dr Ryan puts down to the presence of twins:

“Competition among the twins in uterus leads to a much higher risk of embryo death.

“That’s what our analysis is showing. I don’t think embryo loss has got to do with milk urea nitrogen levels,” he says.

Myles McDermott, a scanner based in Carlow who covers most of the midlands, says he is finding average empty rates to be around 11%, which is better than previous years.

The empty rate at Curtins Farm in Moorepark is expected to finish up at 11%, although the final scan is yet to be complete.

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