Suckler cow fertility + management

What are the main efficiency targets for a suckler herd?

• Calves weaned/ Cows to bull (Target= min 88)

• Total 200d- calf weight / total weight females to bull (best farms achieving 45%)

• Weaning weight

• Carcass quality

• Meat price

• Production traits

• Variable costs

List the factors that increase suckler herd productivity

• Cow fertility

• Calf management

• Restricted breeding season

• Best calving season

• Bull fertility/ Evaluation

• Good herd health

• Breeding/ record evaluation

• Replacement management

List some of the key performance indicators and targets

What parameters can you use to monitor calving performance?

• % pregnant 21 days

• % pregnant 63 days

• Median calving date

• Overall PR

• Calving rate

• Weaning rate

Why is a compact calving period advantageous?

• Cow reproductive fitness

• Favourable environment (can choose where on farm)

• Heifer selection (easier to select which are suitable as replacements)

• Management procedures (e.g.- if all at same stage easy to feed)

• Disease control (can vaccinate at same time and no older calves to pose risk to younger)

• Calving supervision/ work efficiency

• Strategic nutrition

• Homogenous group at sale

Why does tight calving result in lower culling?

• More time for uterine involution

• Partial lactational anoestrus

• Want to give maximum time after calving so don't breed to first oestrus

Why would you want to select replacements from early born calves?

More time to grow

What is the target age at 1st calving and why?

• 2 years old

  • Don't want to delay due to costs

  • But too early high risk of not getting pregnant again

Why would you calve a heifer 3-4 weeks before planned start of calving for herd?

• To allow extra time before next breeding

Why would you wean a heifer's calf early?

Heifer still growing herself

What does late born calves increase risk of mortality?

• Pathogen exposure

  • Function of time x animal density

  • Calves serve as pathogen multipiers

  • Older calves pose risk to younger

  • Accumulation in calving area

• Dystocia risk may increase

  • Supervision exhaustion

  • Calving area hygiene

  • Overconditioning of late calvers

What are your options if a farm has calving that is too spread out?

• Split into two groups

  • Spring and autumn

• Cull/sell late calvers and replace with heifers that fit desired period

• Restrict suckling (to encourage them to come into heat sooner) and use hormones in late calvers

• Ensure good BCS to improve fertility

• Limit peri parturient problems

What are the pros and cons of a spring vs autumn calving season?

Spring- availability of feed

Autumn- better conditions, less rain?

What are the advantages of AI over natural service?

• Disease control

• Genetic improvement (wider choice, targeted selecetion, EBVs)

• Tighter calving period

• Avoids keeping bull (health and safety)

What are the main issues with beef cow nutrition?

• Not maintaining BCS

• Not allowing for growth in 1st calver

• Mineral/ trace element deficiencies in home made diets

List some mineral and trace element deficiencies you can get in suckler cows and what they can cause?

• Copper

  • Delayed puberty, anoestrus, poor PR

• Cobalt

  • Silent heat, poor CR

• Selenium

  • Retained foetal membranes? COD?

• Iodine

  • Embryonic death, stillbirth, weak calves

• Manganese

  • Anoestrus, silent heat, delayed ovulation

List some vitamin deficiencies you can get in suckler cows and what they can cause?

• A: prolonged follicular phase, poor CL

• D: Ca metabolism, uterine involution

• E: does not directly affect repro

What is your target BCS at calving?

• 2.5 for mature cows

• 3.0 for 1st and 2nd calvers

How can you use weaning to control BCS?

• Earlier if female starting to lose condition

• 1 month earlier = 0.5-1.0 BCS

  • Always a month earlier in first lactating heifer

  • Can use this to manage feed supplies as well

• Wean later if overconditioned