Breeding is progressing well on Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef herd in Athenry, Co Galway.
Breeding started on 27 April and as of Wednesday 13 May there were 82%, or 75 out of the 92 cows put forward for breeding, inseminated.
Farm manager Iarlaith Collins says the high level of breeding activity has made heat detection much easier, with a number of cows in heat most days.
He puts the high levels of activity down to cows being in good body condition and ideal weather for high levels of grass utilisation and good performance in recent weeks.
Detection
Detection is also being aided by the use of tail paint and a vasectomised bull fitted with a chin ball.
The farm has had good success with 100% AI in recent years and this is the programme in place for 2020.
Once-a-day AI is being used to reduce the workload with bringing cows to the yard for inseminating. Cows are inseminated daily at noon.
Where a cow was inseminated at noon and is still exhibiting heat activity that evening or the following morning, then she will be inseminated again.
Sire selection
The following criteria has been used for selecting sires for use in 2020:
Five-star on terminal index (within and across breed).<7.4% calving difficulty for strong mature beef cows.<5% calving difficulty for young beef cows.70% reliability on the calving difficulty index.2.00 score on conformation index.<7% calving difficulty on heifer calving difficulty index for first-calvers. 35kg predicted carcase weight for mature cows.25kg predicted carcase weight for young cows.Table 1 details the sires selected based on this criteria.
The reliability of the calving difficulty figure required was reduced in 2020 to open up a wider portfolio of bulls for use.
Iarlaith will also be assessing each cow and selecting the sire to use based on the characteristics he sees as being the most beneficial.
For example, cows with a good calving ability but poor conformation will be teamed up with a bull that is good on predicted conformation.
Breeding is progressing well on Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef herd in Athenry, Co Galway.
Breeding started on 27 April and as of Wednesday 13 May there were 82%, or 75 out of the 92 cows put forward for breeding, inseminated.
Farm manager Iarlaith Collins says the high level of breeding activity has made heat detection much easier, with a number of cows in heat most days.
He puts the high levels of activity down to cows being in good body condition and ideal weather for high levels of grass utilisation and good performance in recent weeks.
Detection
Detection is also being aided by the use of tail paint and a vasectomised bull fitted with a chin ball.
The farm has had good success with 100% AI in recent years and this is the programme in place for 2020.
Once-a-day AI is being used to reduce the workload with bringing cows to the yard for inseminating. Cows are inseminated daily at noon.
Where a cow was inseminated at noon and is still exhibiting heat activity that evening or the following morning, then she will be inseminated again.
Sire selection
The following criteria has been used for selecting sires for use in 2020:
Five-star on terminal index (within and across breed).<7.4% calving difficulty for strong mature beef cows.<5% calving difficulty for young beef cows.70% reliability on the calving difficulty index.2.00 score on conformation index.<7% calving difficulty on heifer calving difficulty index for first-calvers. 35kg predicted carcase weight for mature cows.25kg predicted carcase weight for young cows.Table 1 details the sires selected based on this criteria.
The reliability of the calving difficulty figure required was reduced in 2020 to open up a wider portfolio of bulls for use.
Iarlaith will also be assessing each cow and selecting the sire to use based on the characteristics he sees as being the most beneficial.
For example, cows with a good calving ability but poor conformation will be teamed up with a bull that is good on predicted conformation.
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