The key drivers for a successful breeding season

Dairy Farmer, Tom O’Connell, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge podcast to give an insight into the key drivers for a successful breeding season on his farm. Tom operates a spring calving, grass based system, milking 320 crossbred cows who produce in excess of 500 kg MS from 800 kg meal. Tom explains that the high level of milk production is achieved due to a long lactation resulting from a 90% 6-week calving rate and a mature herd. Notable breeding metrics for Tom’s farm include: 90% 3-week submission rate, 60% conception rate to 1st service and 4% empty following 11 weeks breeding. Tom places importance ensuring cows are in adequate BSC ahead of mating start date and having defined calving and breeding seasons so all cows are calved prior to mating start date. Additionally, Tom explains that he puts energy into heat observation to ensure all cows that are in heat are picked up and served. 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