Whether you are thinking of combining artificial breeding (AB) and natural mating bulls, extending the AB period to reduce the number of bulls needed, re-starting AB in the last few weeks of mating, or implementing AB through the whole mating period, the risks and benefits of each option need to be considered.
Every farm’s situation is different and will determine the best option for that farm, so it’s worth assessing your current situation to determine if you should consider a change on your farm.
Pros
- Reduces risk of introducing disease as less or no bulls are required
- Increased number of dairy replacements
- Opportunity to create extra income from surplus dairy replacements and higher value calves (e.g. beef)
- Potentially increased genetic gain (more selection pressure on replacements is possible)
- Better monitoring of entire mating performance (all matings are recorded)
Cons
- Risk of poorer reproductive performance, especially in herds where performance is not optimal. Talk to your advisor. Discuss the checklist below to help you identify what your current situation is and consider whether making changes in the upcoming season or whether a staged approach should be taken.
- Extended heat detection period
- Silent/quiet heats have a higher potential to be missed - good results are reliant on excellent heat detection maintained throughout the entire AB period
- Fewer animals cycling as more become pregnant making heat detection more challenging
- Potential for incorrectly inseminating pregnant cows if reliant on human heat detection (cost, loss of early pregnancies)
- Increased logistical considerations – staffing, heat detection aids, semen and tech
Advice
- Extending the AB period or going all AB will not be suitable for everyone.
- If you decide to extend your AB programme, communicate this to all of those involved in making your plan happen - your vet, your semen supplier, your AB tech, your rural professionals and your team on farm.
- If you increase the use of synchrony of heifers and cows, plan ahead to cater for the increase on the numbers of cows calving within a very short timeframe, from a feed demand point of view, in the following calving season.
- If you plan to change the approach with your heifers and use AB, discuss how to maximise their performance with your vet. Liveweight, general health and BVD control, as well as the practicalities and logistics of synchrony programs, grazier facilities and technician services, should be considered.
- Further information on areas affecting a herd’s reproductive performance and management options can be found in the InCalf book.
Considerations
Even if you don't meet all the criteria below, you can still extend your AB period or adopt all AB. However you will need to have a solid plan in place for how you are going to mitigate those criteria you don’t meet so that you set your herd up for a successful mating period.