Breeding the optimal cow for Nigel Corbett’s system on his dairy farm near Banbridge was the focus of his Dairylink Ireland farm walk on Tuesday. The Corbett’s have 101 Holstein Friesian cows, with an average milk yield of 7,350l at 4.12% butterfat and 3.40% protein.

Nigel is aiming to develop fertility and milk components in his herd, whilst keeping yield unchanged. He hasn’t finalised his selection of bulls for breeding in December, however bulls with high EBI or £PLI indexes for fertility, butterfat and protein will most likely be used. Nigel has not ruled out potentially cross breeding some of his larger cows with Jersey or Fleckvieh bulls.

Nigel is also looking at the weights of his cows, with the largest mature cows on the farm weighing around 700kg. He ideally wants a cow around 600kg for a reduced risk of poaching during wet weather and for lower maintenance requirements.

He is paying attention to breeding weights of heifers by aiming to AI at around 360kg liveweight, or 60% of mature body weight. On the genetics side, Nigel is selecting bulls based on the maintenance sub index. The option of cross breeding with Jersey would reduce cow size in heifers.

Listen to “Dairylink farm walk in Co Down” on Spreaker.

Over the past three years, the calving profile on Nigels farm has reduced from eight months to five months. The aim is to shorten this further and have cows calving in a tight profile from September to November.

“It takes time to deliver change on any farm. We are not where we want to be yet, but we are on a path,” Conail Keown from CAFRE said.

Another Dairylink Ireland farm walk takes place on Thursday (9 November) on Robin Clements’ farm at Keenogue Road, Trillick, Co Tyrone, BT78 3NY. The event runs from 11am to 1pm, is open to the public and is free to attend.

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Dairy Day 2017

The Irish Farmers Journal will host National Dairy Day on Thursday 23 November 2017 in Punchestown Event Cenre, Co. Kildare. The event promises to offer solutions for a growing sector. The day aims to showcase all that is good about the dairy industry and find solutions for farmers to emerging challenges and trends. To get your ticket for the event, simply collect 3 tokens from the Irish Farmers Journal over the next 3 weeks and bring them along with you on the day or buy your ticket HERE