Advances made in heat detection aids and synchronisation programmes, mean suckler farmers have a greater opportunity to use AI in their herds, AI Services vet Brian Kennedy told a CAFRE breeding webinar last week.

He pointed out that where a planned synchronisation breeding programme using fixed-time AI is in place, it will see the majority of cows calve over a 10- to 12-day period, potentially allowing a part-time farmer to book leave to coincide with calving time.

“For best results, cows should be at least 50 days post-calving before synchronising,” added Kennedy.

Bull selection

The use of AI also means farmers can access superior genetics, select sires to suit different cow types, and potentially breed replacements.

“When it comes to calving ease, pay attention to accuracy levels of EBVs. The higher the accuracy, the more reliable the data. Ideally, easy-calving bulls will have less than 2.5% veterinary interventions recorded,” noted Kennedy.

His advice is to serve cows between five to 20 hours after they have been observed in standing heat, so the am:pm rule, whereby cows observed in heat during the morning are served that evening and vice versa, works best.

Before undertaking any breeding programme, cows need to be healthy. If there is an underlying disease issue, this must be addressed beforehand

Also speaking at the online event, AFBI’s Francis Lively outlined costs for a synchronisation programme. He estimates a range from £15/cow to £25/cow for hormonal treatments, while semen adds another £10/cow to £15/cow.

But the financial gains outweigh this, suggested Lively. As well as the maintenance cost of running a stock bull, he pointed out that a fixed-time AI programme can be useful in tightening up a calving period.

Lively gave an example of a spring-calving herd, where synchronisation was used, and calves were on average 26 days older when sold as weanlings in October.

With sale weights up by 36kg, and overall conformation quality improved, the weanlings made £100 more than in previous years. Where a suitable programme is followed, he suggested that conception rates can at least match natural service, at 60% to 70%.

“However, before undertaking any breeding programme, cows need to be healthy. If there is an underlying disease issue, this must be addressed beforehand,” said Lively.

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