Minimising infertility key to increasing productivity

Getting 90% of cows to calve in the first six weeks of the calving season is worth €258/ cow/year in the average herd.

The six-week calving rate stands at 58% nationally, but the top 5% of milk producers are achieving over 85%.

Even a 10% increase in the calving rate is worth €80.70/ cow/year, said Dr Laurence Shalloo of Teagasc, Moorepark, at the recent cattle reproduction conference for vets hosted by Interchem Ireland Ltd and Ceva Animal Health, at Horse And Jockey, Co Tipperary.