Early indications of the success of the 2022 breeding season

Dairy farmer and AI technician, Colm O’Connor, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the early indications of the success of the 2022 breeding season. On his farm Colm achieved an 80% 21 day submission rate, reaching 90% at 25/26 days and conception rate to first service of 65%. He explained that breeding performance was exceptional in his heifers, achieving a 100% 21 day submission rate and 89% conception rate to first service. Colm credits attention to ensure there are no issues such as held cleanings or infections after calving and cows are on a consistent plain of nutrition have helped him achieve such high performance during the breeding season. Colm also discussed the trends he has observed among his farmer clients. As AI technician, he has noted a shift to beef AI from the outset of the breeding season for 10-25% of herds, owing to farmers’ increased awareness to add value to the surplus calf and the lower requirement for replacement heifers as farms have reached optimum cow numbers. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com