Why this Signpost dairy farmer is selective with breeding
Signpost dairy demonstration farmer, Dermot Walsh fills us in on his breeding policy, where as much attention is given to the cows selected to breed the next generation of his herd as the sires.
Cow selection
I started breeding on the 28th of April and I am doing selective breeding. Cows were picked out using the female selector in Sire Advice on ICBF. The cows picked were high EBI, positive for health, above 0.15 for fat and above 0.1 for protein PD.
In all, 30 cows have been selected for sexed semen. Cows ideally had to be calved more than 42 days, had one heat prior to breeding, and had 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.
Tail painting prior to breeding identified 15 cows not bulling and 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 programme. 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.
Sire selection
The bulls were picked on high EBI, positive for health, milk sub index greater than €90, milk solids + 30kg and these 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 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.
Heifers
Although 38 heifers will be contract reared, 20 of the best will be retained and were synchronised to sexed semen. The other 18 heifers are in a separate group, and they are running with a stock bull. Destined to be sold, these 18 heifers are kept so the contract rearer has enough stock for his farm.
The heifers were out at 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.
Dermot Walsh is a dairy farmer from Lislevane, Bandon, Co. Cork and supplies Barryroe Co-op. For more information on the dairy farmers enrolled in the Signpost Programme, visit here.
The above article was first published in the Farming Examiner
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