Making more use of AI on Future Beef farm
Recently Brian Daly, Teagasc advisor Roscommon caught up with Olivia Hynes. Olivia, is a full-time beef and sheep farmer from outside Four Roads, Roscommon and is part of the Teagasc Future Beef programme. He started off by asking Olivia how the current crop of calves born this spring are doing.
AI bulls used in 2021
‘Well last year I used AI on the first 35 cows and I am very happy with the quality of the calves this year. All of the cows calved with very little assistance also. Using AI gives me a great range of bulls and I can match the bulls to suit the cow type. Having access to higher genetic merit bulls will produce better quality calves with higher average daily gains and therefore a better sale price and this is crucial, as I sell weanlings in the Autumn. In 2021, I used well proven 5 star, CH terminal bulls, Fiston and Lapon which are ideal for the weanling market. On the replacement side I used the Limousin bulls ZAG and Moondharrig Knell. Both are 5 star on the replacement index and are easy calving on beef cows.’
Increasing AI use in 2022
‘However, I am somewhat fearful of using more AI! It would be a lot easier to let the bull off with the cows and that would save me a lot in terms of labour. But, I think the benefits of using more AI will reap better rewards for me and I am prepared to put in the extra effort. The first step in getting the cow cycling is having her at the correct body condition of 2.5 + at breeding time. The cows are on good quality grass. So far, ground conditions have been good and cows have stayed out on grass since calving. Heat detection is vital in getting a high submission rates. So, I plan to hire in a vasectomised bull for the breeding season. This is easier than purchasing a Friesian x weanling, getting him vasectomised myself and then trying to sell him after the season. Obviously, when hiring in a bull, I will ensure that he has been properly tested and vaccinated.’
AI and heifers
‘I am keeping 13 of the best heifers for replacements and I plan to use AI on these also. In comparison to the cows using AI on these should be more straightforward. The heifers have been out on grass since February and weigh 380-400kgs plus. With the heifers, I am thinking of AI’ing naturally for the first 7 days which should pick up 4-5 of them. On day 8, I will inject with estrumate which should bring on the remaining heifers within the next 2-4 days and will be inseminated accordingly. The target will to have 70% conception rate by day 11-12. I will let you know how it all works out next month. As part of the Future Beef programme, we had some training on breeding, heat detection, synchronisation, on the farm of Shane Keaveney. I was looking forward to that and got some more expert information there.
Grassland update
‘On the grassland side, another 40 acres was closed for silage in late April. The sheep had it grazed off bare so the quality of the silage should still be very good. The soil P index is low so I applied 2 bags of 10.10.20 per acre plus 2 bags of Cut sward/acre. I have no reserves of silage left and need to ensure that at least 75% of my fodder requirement is made by mid-June. With the price of fertiliser and other rising farm inputs any non-performing stock such as cull ewes and cows will be sold shortly. Also heifers that are not been kept for the bull will be sold next week. Also, there are a lot of costs in spring and the income is needed to keep the bills paid.’
The aim of the Teagasc Future Beef programme is to demonstrate to beef farmers how they can produce a quality product as efficiently as possible to make beef farming more profitable while also making it more environmentally sustainable. I will have further updates from Olivia throughout the year ahead.
Find out more about the farm of Olivia Hynes here | Find out more about Future Beef here