Suckler herd fertility targets set
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.
He set targets of less than 2.5% mortality at birth, less than 5% at 28 days, and 0.95 calves per cow per year. The aim should be for 60% calved in the first month, 80% in the first two months, all within 12 weeks. Farmers targeting tighter calving within three years should choose a calving date to suit their market. Starting with a bigger herd for one or two years allows for greater culling without affecting output. Delaying the start of breeding will tighten up early calvers. To get late cows cycling earlier, use restricted suckling from day 30 after calving (separation of calves from cows promotes return to heat); or PRID/CIDR treatment. Increasing the replacement rate for two years, and breeding heifers two weeks earlier than others was recommended.
