CAFRE group membership delivers on smarter cattle breeding
Date published:
In a recent visit to a farm outside the village of Belleeks, South Armagh, Senior Beef and Sheep Adviser Noel McNeill caught up with Micheal and Jim Finnegan. The Finnegans have worked with CAFRE Advisers for several years and have applied to join the new Suckler Fertility Themed Groups.
The family run a herd of approximately 30 breeding cows. Heifers are retained for breeding within the herd, while males and surplus heifers are sold through the local livestock auction at around 350 kg. In recent years, the family has focused on diversifying their farm, incorporating a calf rearing enterprise on the holding.
They have also been long-standing members of Business Development Groups and have worked closely with their CAFRE Adviser. Over the years, many improvements have been made to the farm. One of the most notable changes has been the introduction of synchronisation programmes and artificial insemination (AI), which have improved both the quality and ease of cattle management.
Micheal commented: “When we first started working with CAFRE, we were at a turning point in our management practices. Having a stock bull to breed all our cows was no longer a safe option. My father and I often work solo on the farm, so the risk of handling a bull was too high.”
After raising his concerns with his CAFRE Adviser, Micheal was introduced to synchronisation programmes and AI. He continued: “The synchronisation programmes have made managing our herd much easier. I synchronise three batches of ten cows each year. This allows me to plan my year and labour around my full-time job.”
Micheal has also worked to improve conception rates by adjusting his programme so that cows are inseminated twice. As a result, he has achieved an average conception rate of 80%. “I’m very happy with the conception rates I’m seeing. With the support of my CAFRE Adviser, I’ve also been able to improve the genetic makeup of my herd,” he added.
The Suckler Fertility Themed Groups, now open for applications, will cover a wide range of topics related to suckler herd fertility. This includes breeding technologies, genetic selection, and how these tools can be used to improve overall herd performance.
“My next priority is to focus more on maternal traits when selecting bulls. I hope this will improve the milking ability of my cows and enhance fertility through hybrid vigour. I’m really looking forward to being part of the new Suckler Fertility Themed Groups. Having access to a CAFRE Adviser, along with their technical expertise and one-to-one mentoring, will help set me on the right path to achieve my breeding goals,” Micheal concluded.
Noel added: “If you're keen to improve the fertility of your suckler herd, working with a CAFRE Adviser can be a real asset — especially when combined with the peer-to-peer learning that comes from being part of a group of like-minded farmers.”
CAFRE is currently recruiting for the new programme of Suckler Cow Fertility Themed Groups. Apply now to improve the sustainability and performance of your farm business, and to increase the number of calving events achieved, contributing to the targets set under the Suckler Cow Scheme.
To apply for the Suckler Cow Fertility Themed Groups visit the Business Support area of the CAFRE website or contact your local CAFRE Adviser for more information. Applications close on Friday 19 September at 4pm.
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