Hard to get uniform results with mixed lots of cows
“The cows in the suckler herds are generally of a lot of different breeds and it is very difficult to get uniform results with mixed lots of cows. If you are producing from several different breeds, you are not gong to get near the peas in a pod which producers should be aiming for to meet the customer requirements”, said Michael Gottstein, M Agr Sc, of Teagasc, Limerick.
He said that one of the difficulties has been the low usage of AI in suckler herds, which are getting variable results from stock bulls. AI is vital if breeders want the right results, he said. He said that special sales are needed if improvement in the suckler cow herd is to be achieved.
This is one of the objectives of the Limerick Cattle Improvement Scheme being launched by Golden Vale Marts Group, the second largest livestock marketing group in the country, in association with Teagasc at Limerick.
It is a follow on to the success of the GVM/Teagasc Producer Group initiative under which seven groups of farmers in counties Limerick, Offaly, Clare and Cork are pooling information and results to improve the progeny of their suckler herds.
Arrangements are being discussed to organise special sales to facilitate Limerick’s 2,700 suckler farmers, who manage 36,000 sucklers.
Mr Gottstein said weanlings likely to make U grade cattle sell for 70 per head more on average than those with the potential to make R grade. “Every suckler producer should be aiming for potential U grade animals, if they are to achieve the best returns from their enterprises“, he said. All suckler farmers should be aiming for the best cross breeding strategies.
