All going well, cows calve outdoors unassisted. First-time calvers are brought close to the yard for observation and for easy handling should anything go wrong.
Calves when born – heifers weighing 40-45kg and bulls weighing 45-50kg – are tagged within 24 hours and dehorned by three weeks of age.
However, the farmer noted that calves have been slightly lighter this year; calves will be weaned aged 8-9 months at 280-300kg.
The breeding season begins around November 20 each year; both stock bulls (50%) and AI (50%) are used. However, the farmer noted that the uptake of AI on suckler herds across France has been low – currently sitting at 15%.
All heifers on the farm are bred to AI and insemination takes place when they are approximately 60% of their mature body weight, which normally leaves his heifers calving at two and a half or three years old.
Insemination takes place indoors and some polled genetics have been introduced recently. After the breeding season, cows and heifers are scanned and anything not in calf is let go.
When choosing a replacement heifer, the farmer looks for a number of traits. These include: good legs, a good feed efficiency; a good temperament; and milk.
wasn’t major amounts of seropositives.
‘The best investment in the farm is in grassland management’
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