During the recent Teagasc/ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation) breeding week, three key reproductive targets were identified as being critically important in seasonal-calving dairy herds.
George Ramsbottom, a dairy specialist with Teagasc, outlined the breeding guidelines for spring 2021, and advice on managing late-calving dairy cows.
Key reproductive targets
George stated: ”Fundamental to achieving the reproductive targets outlined [below] is efficient heat detection.”
- A 90% six-week calving rate;
- A 365-day calving interval;
- A planned empty rate of less than 8% at the end of a 12-week breeding season.
”A ‘missed heat’ can cost almost €150 when it occurs during a 12-week breeding season,” he added.
”Failure to correctly identify cows in heat, and inseminating them at the incorrect time, are major limitations to achieving excellent reproductive performance.”
Heat activity
George outlined: ”Research conducted by Stephen Moore at Teagasc Moorepark has recently been published, summarising the heat activity of dairy cows at pasture.
”On average, increased activity associated with heat lasted for 17.2 hours, while mounting activity lasted for an average of 8.7 hours.
”However, there was considerable variation between cows in the duration of both heat activity and standing heat,” he added.
“The most important message coming from the study was that the duration of standing heat was for less than eight hours in 55% of the cows.
”The implication of this finding is that the use of heat detection aids is absolutely critical to achieving a high heat detection rate.
”Old research from the 1990s supports this finding in that compared to three times daily heat detection, the use of an aid increased heat detection rate by 20%.”
Heat detection
George outlined that a variety of heat detection aids are available for use on dairy cows and maiden heifers.
When used correctly, all are effective at increasing heat detection rate:
- Tail paint should be applied as a narrow strip (50mm wide and 200mm long) and topped up at least once weekly. The biggest mistake that’s made with this is that it’s not topped up regularly enough;
- Scratch cards are well-proven particularly with maiden heifers. Cards can be lost if excess winter hair at the tail head is not removed before sticking them on;
- Electronic activity monitors can be used to maintain the efficiency while reducing the labour required in heat detection.
Irrespective of the aids used, George recommended that farmers should begin heat detection three to four weeks before breeding begins, in order to establish which cows are cycling and which will require further intervention.