The use of AI (Artificial Insemination) to reduce calving difficulties in suckler herds
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The challenge was to reduce calving difficulties and improve genetic performance in beef cattle herds. In a specific herd in Ireland stock bulls had proven to be unreliable and infertile resulting in significant economic losses in the herd. In the herd of 100 suckler beef cows, a switch was made from using stock bulls to using AI in order to increase genetic performance, reduce calving difficulties and guarantee that all cows were in calf. The herd was made up of Charolaise, Limousine and Simmental cross cows. Sperm from sires are selected using ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation) data so as no sire has a calving difficultly above 8%. All sires selected are proven sires, with a lot of data available. The main benefits were an improvement in genetic gain by the use of superior genetics, reduction in calving difficulties, increase in value of progeny especially in-calf heifers which were sold for a premium of €220 per heifer, increase in average daily gain with young bulls at 1.3 to 1.35kg/head/day. Heat detection in the cows was the main challenge. Moo-call technology was used to assist heat detection. Additional work load arose from assembling the cows every day for artificial insemination during the breeding season. Achieved 70% conception rate in the first 3 weeks and 93% after 11 weeks showed the success of the implementation. Artificial insemination provides fast genetic gain in the herd and enables the farmer to address specific issues like calving difficulties quickly.
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BovINE - Beef Innovation Network Europe
Ongoing | 2020-2022
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Ireland