Spring-breeding season is upon us
It was the best comparison I had heard regarding soil temperatures and poor growth.
Hopefully, by the end of the week, the fridge will have warmed up, so that spring can commence, at long last.
Most have plenty of fertiliser out, at this stage, and fields seem to have greened-up, ready for action.
For many, the winter has not even finished yet, but time waits for no-one — and breeding is upon us, too.
For most suckler and dairy farmers, the spring-breeding season has started, or will soon start.
Submission rate is one of the most important, if not the most important, aspect in successful breeding.
In order to have high submission rates, many things have to be right.
* Suckler cows should not lose excessive body condition between calving and breeding. Ideally, they should be at a body condition score of 2.75 at mating.
* Keep cows in a good plane of nutrition. Ensure they have sufficient grass to maintain condition and feed the calf under them. Try not to have cows chasing grass around the farm. If they are not getting enough from grass, then you will need to either re-house them, if you have fodder available, or supplement them with concentrates outside.
* As well as supplementing essential magnesium, a Hi-Mag lick will deliver minerals and vitamins, which will aid cow fertility. Some will also use drenches, or a bolus, for mineral supplementation.
* Ensure that cows have not held cleanings and are free of infection.
* Heat detection is often left to the bull in suckler herds. Try to keep good records, so that you can identify cows not showing heat. Heat detection aids, such as chin balls, scratch pads and capsules, are excellent tools when used correctly.
Accurate breeding records will help hugely during calving next year, because many sucklers can calf-down with little advance warning, such as springing.
* Make sure the bull is in full working order. Check his feet and legs, and if he is a new bull, consider getting him fertility-tested. Feed him well before he joins the cows, as he will need a lot of energy.
* Where using AI, take time to pick out suitable bulls, for your cows and heifers, well in advance of insemination.
* Many of the above points should apply to maiden heifers also. They should be kept in a positive plane of nutrition and should be supplemented with a mineral lick bucket, at a minimum. Some will need concentrate supplementation in order to achieve desired growth rates.
