Dairy
Top results with sexed semen
Top results with sexed semen Sexed semen can be successfully used to increase numbers of dairy female replacements born and to reduce the number of dairy bull calves born. Teagasc recommends that early calving younger cows or maiden heifers are most successfully bred to sexed semen. George Ramsbottom, Dairy Specialist explains In […]
16 March 2021
How to improve likelihood of success with sexed semen
How to improve likelihood of success with sexed semen Sexed semen provides many potential advantages to dairy farmers. The most obvious and compelling reason to use sexed semen is because of the sex bias induced in the calf crop. Stephen Butler, Teagasc, Moorepark has some advice as part of Teagasc / ICBF […]
16 March 2021
Breeding maiden heifers on the out farm
Breeding maiden heifers on the out farm Teagasc recommends that maiden heifers are bred with dairy AI as these are the most fertile animals in the herd and have the highest EBI. Make sure to target your heifers with sexed or conventional dairy AI to maximise the rate of genetic gain in […]
16 March 2021
Body condition score cows
Body condition score cows Body condition is critical to a successful breeding season. Identifying thin cows early allows steps to be taken to improve their body condition in good time. The first step is to body condition score all animals in the herd. The next step is to provide extra care and […]
16 March 2021
Getting more cows in calf during the first three weeks of the breeding season – Webinar
Getting more cows in calf during the first three weeks of the breeding season – Webinar This Dairy Breeding Seminar webinar took place in April 2020. Dr. Stephen Moore, Teagasc Moorepark made a short presentation on recent research in the area of compact calving. Dr. Donal Patton, Teagasc Ballyhaise outlined the plans […]
15 March 2021
Using teams of bulls equally
Using teams of bulls equally Teagasc and ICBF recommend that teams of bulls are used when breeding dairy cows as Margaret Kelleher, ICBF outlines here. This is the advice regardless of whether the bulls are genomically or daughter proven. The key message: when planning what bull to use, also plan how to […]
15 March 2021
Six point plan to successful breeding
Six point plan to successful breeding Have you received the new dairy breeding guidelines for the spring 2021 breeding season? The guidelines include six simple steps which if followed will ensure the continued improvement of your dairy herd into the future. Follw these 6 simple steps to improve your dairy herd […]
15 March 2021
Setting the targets for spring breeding 2021
Setting the targets for spring breeding 2021 Nationally only 65% of cows and heifers calve during the first six weeks of the calving season, ideally this should be at 90%. As part of Breeding Week 2021 the major factors to achieving a high six-week calving rate are discussed here In pasture-based systems […]
15 March 2021
Feeding for Fertility
Feeding for Fertility The quality of feeding in the dry period and early lactation is important in achieving good herd fertility. Joe Patton, Dairy Specialist, has advice here on getting some key targets right. Nutrition plays a vital role in achieving good herd fertility. Quality of feeding in the dry period and […]
15 March 2021
Teagasc/ICBF Breeding Week 2021
Teagasc/ICBF Breeding Week 2021 The breeding season on Irish dairy farms has become increasingly concentrated in the late April to June period. Teagasc in conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) will run a dairy breeding week from Monday 15th to Thursday 18th March 2021 on important genetic & technical issues […]
12 March 2021