Farming 70ha in Co. Roscommon, Oliva Hynes operates a spring-calving suckler system, bred 100% to artificial insemination (AI).

With the breeding season well underway, sire choice centres on calving difficulty, shape and colour.

Breeding started on May 6 and a little over 4.5 weeks later, nine out of the 10 heifers and 34 out of the 46 cows had been bred.

To aid heat detection, two vasectomised bulls with the chin ball harnesses are bring used, although the heifers were synchronised to reduce labour.

The bulls are fitted with nose rings and chains and are treated as a normal bull would be.

All females are being bred to 100% AI again this year as Olivia finds it really suits her system.

Calving difficulty is her number one priority after six caesarean sections in 2025, followed by shape and colour (red and brown).

While the cows in the herd are milky, it is often difficult to choose maternal bulls to breed replacements from that will maintain the colour in the male calves.

This year, some of the bulls Olivia is using include: AA1716 (Dalriada Red Electrode Z713); BB7383 (Top Side Out There); CH6490 (Orbi); and LM2644 (Tomschoice Oriflamme).

Calving performance

Olivia is very happy with this year’s calves and has had very few calving issues.

On reflection on her calving report, the herd is performing very well.

Calving started on February 1 and finished on May 12, lasting 14 weeks. During that time, 34 cows and 15 heifers calved.

The calving interval for the herd is 357 days, below the target of 365 days and well below the national average of 400 days.

Two calves died at birth, leaving a mortality at 28 days figure of 4.1% - below the <5% target but higher than the national average, which was 2.11%.

The calves per cow per year is excellent at 0.98, ahead of the target >0.95 and the national average of 0.85.

47% of the heifers calved at 22-26 months-of-age, but 100% of Olivia’s home-bred heifers calved at that age.

The remainder were purchased-in calf heifers. The national average figure for this in suckler herds is 19%.

The six-week calving rate finished at 55%, close to the national average of 56%.

No cows were recycled from one calving season to the next and 24% of cows were culled (12 total) since 2025 for age, infertility, milk, and docility.

Four cows have already been selected for culling this year.

Upcoming event

To see Olivia’s system in action, she’ll host a Future Beef Programme farm walk on Wednesday, July 29 at 6.30p.m at Jamestown, Kilcash, Co. Roscommon.

The event will be signposted from Knockcroghery village.

Topics to be discussed on the evening include:

Financials;
Breeding;
Soil health;
Herd and flock health;
Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) grants, planning exemptions for sheds;
Demos for ram NCT, sheep handling unit and mobile TAMS equipment.