Level II Agricultural Business Operations

Understand the reproduction cycle Assess herd reproductive efficiency Understand the decisions involved in

developing a breeding plan◦ Bull selection◦ Selecting cow replacements◦ Bull and cow management

Gestation Length:Interval from conception to calvingAverage: 287 daysRange: 280-300 days

Oestrous Cycle Length:Interval from one heat to anotherAverage: 21 daysRange: 18-24 days

Calving Interval:Interval between successive calvingsAverage: 415 daysRange: 360-500 days+

Calving Calving

Pregnancy – 290 days

365 days

75 days

Breeding/Conception

Pregnancy – 290 days

Breeding ConceptionCalving Calving

400+ days

Calving - March/April/May

Service - June/July/August

Weaning - September/October/November

Dry period - December/January/February

1. Calving Interval (Cow)

Number of days between calvings

2. Calving Index (Herd)

Average of calving Intervals

3. Calving Spread

Days/weeks from first to last calf born

Two herds of 50 Cows

Herd A Herd BCalving index 380 days Calving index 415 days

Direct costs of cow slipping 35 days

£

Lost calf growth 35 x £1.80/kg = £63.00

Feeding an empty cow Av daily cost 50p x 35 = £17.00

Total cost £80/cow or £2.30 per day

Herd A advantage = 50 cows x £80/cow = £4000

Calving not being batched

Extra handling time

Managing extra groups

Replacing an empty cow

• Financial cost (heifer cost – cull cow value)

• Financial cost Breeding extra replacements

• Using a maternal bull on more cows

• Biosecurity cost buying in replacements of unknown disease status

Calving date slippageCalving date slippage

• Calf sold 1Calf sold 1stst October each year October each year

• Cow calves 1-3-11 - calf weighs 300kg at saleCow calves 1-3-11 - calf weighs 300kg at sale• Cow calves 1-5-12 - calf weighs 230kg at saleCow calves 1-5-12 - calf weighs 230kg at sale• Cow calves 1-7-13 - calf weighs 160kg at saleCow calves 1-7-13 - calf weighs 160kg at sale

• Eventually - Can’t get to calf sale as a cow Eventually - Can’t get to calf sale as a cow is calving!!is calving!!

Having a clearly defined calving period or periods

Labour◦ Less time supervising calvings.◦ Reduced risk of difficult calvings due to overfit cows◦ Bigger/more even batches of calves

Disease◦ Reduced disease spread from older to younger calves

Weaning weight◦ Calves born earlier are heavier at weaning

Marketing◦ More even batches of store cattle

Replacement heifers◦ More heifer calves at suitable weight for bulling

Housing◦ More calving accommodation may be needed.

Disease◦ More calves at same stage if disease breaks out

Marketing◦ All ready at same time – cash flow

Take the bull out!

Cow◦ Replacement rate◦ Selecting replacements◦ 2 year calving

Bull◦ Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s)◦ Physical characteristics◦ Natural Service versus AI

Cows do not last forever and will leave the herd for a variety of reasons:

◦ Old/ Sick / Lame◦ Empty◦ Poor fertility (Late)◦ Poor productivity◦ Other undesirable traits

Herds should have a clear replacement policy and plan ahead

Suckler herds have a typical Replacement Rate of 15 – 30% (Average = 20%)

E.g. At 20% replacement rate, a 50 cow herd will require 10 replacements every year just to sustain itself

What characteristics are you looking for?◦ Hybrid vigour◦ Milk◦ Calving ability◦ Longevity◦ Size◦ Breed

Advantages Disadvantages

Bio-security Need Maternal bull/AI

Performance History Reduced cash flow

Can select genetics Limited supply

Cost

Advantages Disadvantages

Simple to manage Bio-security

Plenty of choice No control of genetics

Cost

Time sourcing

Most efficient ◦ One less batch of heifers◦ Can carry 13% more cows on the same resource◦ Additional calves per lifetime

Targets◦ Serve at min of 60% of mature weight

e.g. 650kg cow = 390kg at 15 months of age◦ Calve down at 85% of mature weight

E.g. 650kg cow = 550kg at calving 24months

Bull Selection Ease EBVs

Estimated Breeding Values◦ Genetic potential for number of traits◦ Comparison within breeds

◦ Maternal – Self Replacing Index Calving ease daughters Milk Gestation length Scrotal size (fertility) Fat depth

Estimated Breeding Values◦ Genetic potential for number of traits◦ Comparison within breeds

◦ Terminal – Terminal Production Index Calving ease direct 200, 400 & 600 day weights Muscle depth / eye muscle area Carcase weight

Physical Characteristics

◦ Health Status◦ “Correct” ◦ Good Locomotion◦ Temperament◦ High Libido◦ Conformation◦ Age

What should a normal bull be able to achieve?

◦ A 90 – 95% pregnancy rate in a group of 40 cows over a 9 – 10 week period.

◦ Young bulls (<2 years old) should only serve 20 cows in first season

AI or Natural Service ... ?AI or Natural Service ... ?

AI : Greater genetic progress due to better

genetics. Can match bulls to individual cows.

Detecting cows in heat can be difficult and time consuming.

How good is your AI technique – does it affect your herd conception rates?

AI or Natural Service ... ?AI or Natural Service ... ?

Bull - Natural service:Time saving - does all the heat detection

for you.Conception rates – potentially better.

Bull could have fertility problem. Genetic progress limited compared to AI. Danger – especially indoors.

Standing to be mounted

Chin-resting

Head mounting

SniffingLip-curling

Restlessness/Bellowing

CajolingSoliciting

Licking other cows

Hair loss/dirt marks

Not standing to be mounted

Secondary Signs of HeatSecondary Signs of Heat- Less Important Signs- Less Important Signs

Cows prioritise how they use their nutritional resources.

1. Produce milk for her calf2. Maintain her body condition3. Get back in calf

Decreasing priority

A good guide to nutrition Cows scored on a scale 0 - 5 Underfeeding → thinner Feeding more than requirements →

fatter Important at mating, calving and

weaning Can reduce feed costs Crucial to fertility

Condition Condition Score 2 2

Condition Condition Score 3 3

Can be carried out at 5-6 weeks Identifies empty cows

◦ Allow for planned culling◦ Prevents feed wastage

Identifies bull fertility issues Identifies twins

◦ Can adjust feeding Estimated calving dates

◦ Planning housing and feeding requirements◦ Weaning dates

Discuss herd fertility with your vet

◦Vaccination policy – BVD, Leptospirosis◦Mineral deficiencies◦Bull assessment (MOT)◦Biosecurity◦Individual problem cows

Breeding efficiency essential for profitable production

Targets◦ 365 Calving index◦ Calving heifers at 24 months◦ Use EBVs to produce high genetic merit

replacements and finishing stock Manage cow condition to maximise fertility