The Teagasc Future Beef team recently hosted a webinar focusing on the challenge of 'getting your cow back in calf,' with Aisling Molloy summarizing the key points. The average gestation length of a beef cow is 288 days, but the average time before she starts cycling after calving is 55 days, leaving only two opportunities to breed her to maintain a 365-day calving interval.
The webinar featured Future Beef Programme farmers Aonghusa Fahy and John Dunne, along with Prof. David Kenny, Head of the Teagasc Animal Bioscience Research Centre.
Aonghusa Fahy from Co. Galway outlined his use of a vasectomised bull and 'MooHeat' technology for heat detection, enabling him to use AI for breeding replacements and a stock bull for mop-up. John Dunne from Co. Offaly discussed issues with infertile and sub-fertile bulls, and his use of a synchronisation protocol for heifers and cows, along with fertility testing for stock bulls.
Prof. David Kenny emphasized factors affecting conception rates, including body condition score at calving, stock bull fertility, heat detection, cow nutrition, mineral deficiencies, and reproductive diseases. He also discussed developments in sexed semen for beef farmers.
John Dunne shared his experience with fertility issues, emphasizing the importance of vigilant bull management, quarantine, health checks, and fertility testing for new bulls. He highlighted the success of his synchronisation programme in increasing conception rates.
Prof. David Kenny discussed factors affecting a bull's fertility, including general health, locomotion, limb health, inflammation, and temperature. He emphasized the sensitivity of sperm production to heat and the importance of vigilance in identifying potential issues.
The webinar emphasized the importance of heat detection and outlined Aonghusa's use of technology for heat monitoring. John Dunne highlighted the benefits of synchronisation for managing time and labour, and the use of sexed semen for timed AI.
Overall, the webinar provided valuable insights into successful strategies for managing cow reproduction in beef herds.
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