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Autumn breeding will now be under way for herds that calve from August to October. Whether you use stock bulls or AI, how well cows are managed during the breeding period will have a big effect on conception rates.
Firstly, keep cows on a settled diet. Cows should be getting high-quality silage and 1kg to 2kg/day of ration. Keep cows on this diet until at least one month after the breeding period ends.
Cows should be getting high-quality silage and 1kg to 2kg/day of ration
It can be beneficial to feed mineral products for a fertility boost, especially if your cows are deficient in trace elements. Blood sampling cows will give an indication of mineral status.
Monitor cows being served to ensure the bull is mounting animals correctly. Record breeding dates and watch out for repeat breeding activity 18 to 22 days later.
Sub-fertile
If there are a lot of cows coming back in heat again, the bull may be sub-fertile and will have to be replaced immediately.
Restricting calves from suckling cows will improve heat activity. Lock calves in the creep area during the day and night, allowing the calf access to its mother for one hour in the morning and again in the evening. There will be no negative effect on calf performance.
With cows housed, it is easy to apply some tail paint to monitor heat activity. When watching for heats, spend a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times per day.
When you enter the shed to watch for heats, don’t start pushing silage in to cows, as this will disrupt their natural behaviour.
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