project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Feeding for Fertility in the Suckler Herd
Feeding for Fertility in the Suckler Herd
Objectives
Feeding the suckler cow is one of the greatest costs in the beef industry. Existing evidence from over 35 herds collected on cows that calved in spring 2017 suggests that 39% of 3256 cows calved at a condition score at least half a point away from the current guideline (on a 5 point scale). As well as having implications for immediate calving ease and survival, this likely greatly affects the post-calving metabolic profile (MP) and subsequent fertility in the next season. There is therefore a great need in the Scottish industry to improve use of feed resources. Continues in PA 2
Objectives
Feeding the suckler cow is one of the greatest costs in the beef industry. Existing evidence from over 35 herds collected on cows that calved in spring 2017 suggests that 39% of 3256 cows calved at a condition score at least half a point away from the current guideline (on a 5 point scale). As well as having implications for immediate calving ease and survival, this likely greatly affects the post-calving metabolic profile (MP) and subsequent fertility in the next season. There is therefore a great need in the Scottish industry to improve use of feed resources. Continues in PA 2
Activities
project will look at spring calving herds, calving in 20. The group will meet to select the case study farms from to provide the information for project. will be a number of farm visits to obtain herd management and ration info from farmers as well as vet visits for MP tests to be carried out on 180 cows from 12 herds approximately 1 month pre-calving (cows will also be body condition scored at this visit by vet). Data analysis on nutrition, BCS and MP data will be carried out and then further vet visits for MP tests to be carried out on the same 180 cows approx 1 month post-calving. All the info will be analysed as well as pregnancy diagnosis info from case study farms. The info from the project available December 20.
Activities
project will look at spring calving herds, calving in 20. The group will meet to select the case study farms from to provide the information for project. will be a number of farm visits to obtain herd management and ration info from farmers as well as vet visits for MP tests to be carried out on 180 cows from 12 herds approximately 1 month pre-calving (cows will also be body condition scored at this visit by vet). Data analysis on nutrition, BCS and MP data will be carried out and then further vet visits for MP tests to be carried out on the same 180 cows approx 1 month post-calving. All the info will be analysed as well as pregnancy diagnosis info from case study farms. The info from the project available December 20.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP003 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Scotland
Ort
- Main geographical location
- Angus and Dundee City
EUR 84 105.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
2 Practice Abstracts
These thoughts are backed up by farmers involved in the Scottish Government's Beef Efficiency Scheme. The scheme completed 1600 Farm Carbon Audits and from feedback from 900 farmers, the key concerns were firstly herd fertility, closely followed by nutrition. Coupled with many farmers not meeting the industry target of 94 calves weaned per 100 cows put to the bull, this provides strong justification that there is a need for this project to identify areas in nutritional management that can be improved to benefit herd fertility, which is the key driver of profit in the suckler herd. In the project we will analyse metabolic profile (MP) data pre- and post calving. Post calving nutritional status, using MP data, has not been investigated in suckler cows. The aim is to link this nutritional status information with the rations being fed, along with body condition score (BCS) change, to fine tune nutritional management practices that will improve subsequent fertility in suckler herds.
We will look at the links between nutrition pre- and post-calving in suckler herds and subsequent fertility through dietary information, forage analysis and analysing data from MP tests pre- and post-calving. We will look at the effect of the change in BCS between the pre- and post-calving period on fertility and use the findings from commercial suckler herds to produce practical recommendations on feeding management for future calvings to improve both technical and financial efficiency. If appropriate we will also use the information to update recommendations to the industry on nutrition and management of suckler cows to maximise fertility and calf output.
These thoughts are backed up by farmers involved in the Scottish Government's Beef Efficiency Scheme. The scheme completed 1600 Farm Carbon Audits and from feedback from 900 farmers, the key concerns were firstly herd fertility, closely followed by nutrition. Coupled with many farmers not meeting the industry target of 94 calves weaned per 100 cows put to the bull, this provides strong justification that there is a need for this project to identify areas in nutritional management that can be improved to benefit herd fertility, which is the key driver of profit in the suckler herd. In the project we will analyse metabolic profile (MP) data pre- and post calving. Post calving nutritional status, using MP data, has not been investigated in suckler cows. The aim is to link this nutritional status information with the rations being fed, along with body condition score (BCS) change, to fine tune nutritional management practices that will improve subsequent fertility in suckler herds.
We will look at the links between nutrition pre- and post-calving in suckler herds and subsequent fertility through dietary information, forage analysis and analysing data from MP tests pre- and post-calving. We will look at the effect of the change in BCS between the pre- and post-calving period on fertility and use the findings from commercial suckler herds to produce practical recommendations on feeding management for future calvings to improve both technical and financial efficiency. If appropriate we will also use the information to update recommendations to the industry on nutrition and management of suckler cows to maximise fertility and calf output.
Anticipated outcomes:
1. Greater farmer awareness of the impact of appropriate nutritional management at critical times for fertility and measures they can take to improve this.
2. Greater uptake of body condition scoring to help manage calving groups and feeding.
3. Increased farmer awareness of the timeliness of making decisions on nutritional management that affect fertility.
4. Increasing the number of calves produced at subsequent calvings on the back of improved nutritional management practices highlighted from this project.
5. Share findings through the production of materials (e.g. case studies, podcast, technical notes) which will be made available to the wider industry
Anticipated outcomes:
1. Greater farmer awareness of the impact of appropriate nutritional management at critical times for fertility and measures they can take to improve this.
2. Greater uptake of body condition scoring to help manage calving groups and feeding.
3. Increased farmer awareness of the timeliness of making decisions on nutritional management that affect fertility.
4. Increasing the number of calves produced at subsequent calvings on the back of improved nutritional management practices highlighted from this project.
5. Share findings through the production of materials (e.g. case studies, podcast, technical notes) which will be made available to the wider industry
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Karen Stewart
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Alastair MacRae
Project partner
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Graeme Richardson
Project partner