Transforming a suckler herd Dr Norman Weatherup CAFRE International Beef Cattle Workers Group meeting 2013
Where were we? 100 cows, mainly Lim by-product from dairy herd (+ misfits) and later West of Ireland Supposed to be in 2 herds, 25 Feb, 75 June calving Calving continuously for 6 months Weaning in October and January Char and Lim bulls
Rotational cross breeding Holsteinisation and FMD scuppered replacements 2002 went self-contained Started to set up 3 breed rotation Herd mainly Lim, crossed with Shorthorn Next cross was 3 years of AA, then Lim Purchased SH bull spring 2013
Replacement breeder bulls
3 breed rotation cows
EBVs in sire selection For stock bulls top 25% milk and muscle Usually top 25% growth also AI bulls to use on heifers Top 25% or better for (short) gestation length, (high) easy calving and (low) birth weight
SH Some AI straws used initially Left big cows
SH Major move in EBVs after purchase!!
AA Big framed bull
Limo DJ Limo Earl
Limo Colt
Bull selection Recurrent theme of poor maternal calving ease Patsy Houghton, Rice Pelvimeter Only 25% of heifers pass pelvic area criteria??? Moving maternal calving ease up the priority list
Current mix of breeds Herd is now roughly equal SH, LM, AA In the market for AA bull Bulls previously had to go after 3 years, can now last much longer
Cumulative compact calvings
AI heifers Used to AI heifers 3 or 4 times and then run a bull to be sure! Now, 2 services maximum by AI, no bull Used CIDR + FTAI but high vet cost and poor conception rate (up to 69% pregnant after 2 services) Single shot prostaglandin after 5 days heat detection 80-91% pregnant after 2 services
Wall to wall heats!
AI’ing Pelvimiter
Selecting heifers Heifers born early (first 2 cycles) Mothers OK for udder conformation and temperament Screen again by weaning weight Screen for structural soundness etc Weigh, frame score at turnout Pelvic measurements
Recent problems Poor conception rate in 2012/2013 Trying to move calving date – heifers getting younger More lim- maturity getting later Change of technician 2012 too wet? 2013 too hot?
Weight targets for 2yo calving 1kg/d on cow – 220kg at weaning 0.6kg/d first winter – 330kg at turnout 0.85 kg/d at grass – 480kg at housing 0.5kg/d 2 nd winter – 570kg at calving EASY!!
2yo heifers with Milbrook Alistair calves
2yo heifers are not stunted!!
Top and bottom 10 cows Cow wt (kg) Adj calf wt (kg) Efficiency (%) Top 10 CS (1.28kg/d) 51.1 Bottom 10 CS (0.91kg/d) 31.2
Top and bottom 10 cows 2012 any improvement?? Cow wt (kg) Adj calf wt (kg) Efficiency (%) Top 10 CS (1.36kg/d) 52.9 Bottom 10 CS (0.87kg/d) 31.0
Where to next? Tesco AA scheme Glenarm Estates Shorthorn scheme Improving efficiency? Increasing calf weight? Decreasing cow weight? Reducing silage requirement?
Transforming a suckler herd Dr Norman Weatherup CAFRE International Beef Cattle Workers Group meeting 2013