As the majority of spring calving suckler flocks move beyond the main calving period, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (kafir) said management attention should now focus on the lactating cow in the early lactation stage.
“The weeks immediately after calving are crucial in determining whether cows will return to breeding quickly and maintain a compact calving pattern within the herd,” said Jacques Fryar, CAFRE beef and sheep consultant.
“Good management during the post-calving period has a significant impact on herd fertility.
“If cows fail to return to breeding quickly, calving intervals may be extended and overall herd productivity will decline.”
The monk described this as “particularly important as plantings continue into the second year of the year DAERA lactating cow chart (Part of the Beef Sustainability Payment), where reproductive performance is a key area of focus.
He added: “One of the main herd indicators within the scheme is the calving interval.
“Ideally, lactating cows should produce one calf each year, given a calving interval of 365 days.
“Within the second year, the maximum calving interval dropped to 405 days, so maintaining performance below this level is essential.”
CAFRE advises that to achieve a 365-day calving period, cows generally need to become pregnant again “within about 85 days after calving.”
Achieving this goal “depends largely on how cows are managed during the early lactation period,” Fryar said.
Body condition score (BCS) remains one of the most useful and practical tools for monitoring cow fertility.
“Cows should ideally lean if their body condition score is between 2.5 to 3.0.”
He added that cows within this range have “sufficient body reserve” to support milk production while maintaining sufficient condition to start cycling again.
“When cows calve in poor condition, the return to estrus may be delayed,” he said.
Under good management, most cows should begin cycling within 35 to 42 days after calving.
“During the early lactation period, cows experience a very high nutrient demand due to milk production and the need to recover from calving.
“This makes the first six to eight weeks after birth one of the most nutritious periods of an infant’s production cycle.”
Loss of status
While some loss is expected in the condition, the monk said that “excessive loss can delay the onset of heat.”
“As a general guideline, cows with a BCS of 2.5 between calving and the start of the breeding season should not lose any physical condition,” he said.
“Monitoring the condition of cows regularly during this period can help identify thin cows early so that action can be taken before fertility performance is affected.
“During April, many of the suckler herds will have cows and calves turning to grass.”
Speaking about grass, Monk said high-quality spring grass can provide excellent nutrition for lactating cows, but he stressed that the key is maintaining the quality of the grass and making sure cows are grazing on leafy patches rather than tough stem covers.
“Grazing foliar cuttings at the correct stage of growth helps maximize dry matter intake, support milk production and reduce the risk of cows overly drawing on body reserves.
“Rotational grazing systems can help maintain grass quality by ensuring pastures have adequate time to recover between grazing.
“Keep lush Soares This not only benefits the cow, but also supports the performance of the calves by improving milk supply, he explained.
The monk emphasized that mineral nutrition can also play a major role in reproductive performance.
“Trace elements such as copper, selenium, iodine and phosphorus are particularly important for fertility.
He continued: “Copper is involved in the function of reproductive hormones and immune status.”
“Selenium and Vitamin E support immune function and reproductive health, while iodine is important for metabolic activity and normal reproductive functioning.
“In herds where a deficiency occurs, cows may show poor thermogenic expression, decreased pregnancy rates or increased embryo loss.”
Metal problems
Monk said that mineral problems are not always obvious, and over-supplementation can be just as problematic as a deficiency.
“For this reason, supplementation should be based on known need wherever possible,” he said.
“Feed analysis, blood sampling or veterinary advice should be used when deficiencies are suspected rather than relying entirely on routine systemic treatment.”
When it comes to husbandry, the monk recommended ensuring cows receive adequate mineral supplements before and during the breeding season.
This can help support fertility performance, especially when previous problems with poor heat expression or frequent breeding have occurred.
“Some suckler herds use artificial insemination (AI) while others rely on natural service using stock bulls.
“Both systems can achieve good fertility outcomes if managed correctly.
“AI offers opportunities for greater genetic improvement and more controlled mating, but is highly dependent on accurate heat detection and good timing of service.”
Natural service using a stock bull eliminates the need to make daily insemination decisions, but requires careful bull selection and management, he explained.
“As a guideline, a mature bull should be able to service about 30 to 40 cows during the breeding season, depending on age, fitness and libido,” Fryar said.
“Bulls should undergo a breeding soundness examination before the start of the breeding season to ensure fertility and physical soundness.
“Maintaining strong reproductive performance ultimately improves herd productivity.
“Every additional day added to the birth period creates more unproductive time within the system.”
By contrast, he said, each additional calf weaned from each cow annually dramatically improves herd production and farm profitability.
“Maintaining cows in condition, ensuring adequate nutrition, addressing mineral deficiencies where they exist, and preparing properly for the breeding season will help cows return to breeding quickly and keep calving intervals within scheme targets,” Fryar said.
