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
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