Suckler herd fertility targets set

Pearse Kelly of Teagasc has urged suckler farmers to focus on key fertility targets — calving interval and spread, and calves per cow per year.

Joining the ICBF HerdPlus scheme is seen as a critical first step. He recommended one calving season; for better focus on calving and breeding, less chance of the calving interval lengthening substantially, reduced calving workload, better grassland management (due to fewer grazing groups), less duplication of tasks such as dosing, vaccination, meal feeding, weaning, selling.

Mr Kelly recommended a 365 days average calving interval; every day empty over 365 adds cost. Persistent offenders are often the cause, they can be revealed by a HerdPlus report, and culled at high current prices.