A bull that has tested fertile can go through periods of reduced fertility, especially if suffering health issues. Rotate bulls or record service dates so that any potential issues can be identified early. Approximately 25% of working bulls are sub-fertile or infertile. Uterine infections can subsequently lead to a prolonged calving interval.īull fertility greatly impacts calving interval and calving period. It is important to practice good hygiene at calving.
A lot of these issues can be avoided through better nutritional management with correct choice of both dam and sire. Issues include oversized calves, overweight cows, inadequate pelvis size or heifers/cows which are too small. Research supports this, citing increases in conception rates, calving ease, milk yield and an increase in calves raised to weaning.ĭifficult calvings can greatly affect a cow’s ability to cycle. However the use of crossbreeding (hybrid vigour), particularly when crossed with a third sire, can greatly improve reproductive traits. This can be a useful technique to bring forward first and late calvers.īreeding to improve fertility within the suckler herd can be a slow process as reproduction traits have a low heritability. It is important to separate both by at least 50 metres as sight and smell have a role in the bonding effect. By separating the cow and calf from day 30, and practising twice daily suckling for 2 weeks, up to 85 – 90 % should show heat within 18 – 22 days. This is mainly due to the dam and calf bonding effect. Suckler cows can take up to twice as long as a dairy cow to return to cycle. Group Heifers and thin cows separately, then feed according to requirement. Excessive weight loss must also be avoided with reductions in body condition taking place on a gradual basis. A cow that is too thin may have difficulties with calving, colostrum and milk production and will be more difficult to get back in calf. Only when these requirements are met will reproduction become a priority. Naturally a cow will prioritise milk to feed her calf before focusing on her own maintenance requirements. The hormones controlling both fertility and nutrition are closely linked. So what are the main areas we should be focusing on to achieve this?”Ĭow body condition can have a significant influence on fertility. With a target calving index of 365 days, this gives us 77 days to get our cows back in calf. The average of all beef breeds is 288 days. “According to Irish Cattle Breeders Federation (ICBF), the beef breed with the shortest gestation length is the Aberdeen Angus at 283 days, with the Blonde d’Aquitaine the longest at 294 days. Kevin McGrath, CAFRE beef and sheep adviser, Omagh highlights the key areas for consideration. Calf creep being used to break the cow/calf bond.Ī cow must earn her place within the herd, otherwise she becomes a drain on the overall output from the herd.
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