Precision breeding: Sexed semen and strict selection shape Dermot’s AI plan
Dermot Walsh on the farm at Currihy, Lisevane, Timoleague, Co Cork. Picture: David Creedon
I started breeding on April 28. I am doing selective breeding. Cows were picked out using the female selector in Sire Advice on ICBF. Cows selected with high EBI, positive for health, above 0.15 for fat and above 0.1 for protein PD. These cows will get sexed semen.
I have picked out 30 cows for sexed semen. Cows ideally had to be calved more than 42 days and had one heat prior, no issues at calving such as milk fever or retained cleanings. These cows also had to have gone in calf to one previous straw in the previous lactation. The cows receiving sexed semen were inseminated on natural heat.
The bulls were picked on high EBI, positive for health, milk sub index greater than €90, milk solids over 30kg, and these bulls also need to have strong percentages for fat and protein, ideally above 0.2 for fat and 0.15 for protein.
I have another group of cows picked for Friesian, but these cows will only get Gene Ireland bulls.
The remainder of the cows are going to get beef straws. I am using Angus, Aubrac, Hereford, Limousin and Charolais. It is all AI with the cows. I don’t use any stock bull.
I am currently on week two of breeding. Heats are very strong with the herd. I tail-painted all the herd a month before breeding. Fifteen cows were identified as not bulling when I tail painted them. The vet handled these cows on the first day of breeding.
Of the 15 cows, eight were fine and seven were put on a fixed-time AI program. These seven cows were inseminated with beef straws. These seven cows were not active, and I followed the vet's advice and gave them fixed-time AI.
My breeding packs are 25 Friesian Gene Ireland sires, two Gene Ireland beef sires. I have 20 heifers and 30 cows getting sexed semen. The remainder and the repeats will be getting the Ballyvaden beef pack.
The weekly fertility report in HerdPlus on ICBF is showing that I am on target with my submission rate of 30% for the week. I will run this weekly to monitor progress.
I have 38 bulling heifers. They go to the contract-rearer. I pick out the best 20 heifers. These are synchronised and given sexed semen. The other 18 are in a separate group, and they are running with a stock bull. These 18 bulling heifers will be sold. These 18 heifers are kept so the contract rearer has enough stock for his farm.
The heifers have been out to grass for five weeks before breeding. Compared to this time last year, the heifers were only out at grass for a week before breeding started. In three weeks’ time, I will watch for repeats with the heifers, and I will AI with the bull.
- Dermot and Linda Walsh are farming in Lislevane, Bandon, with their children Tadgh, Aoife, Maebh and Eoin. They milk 84 cows supplying Barryroe Co-op.
