INNOVATIONS IN BEEF BREEDING WALES/ENGLAND 3 rd 5 th September - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

INNOVATIONS IN BEEF BREEDING

WALES/ENGLAND 3rd – 5th September

CONTENTS

Genus ABS Ruthin Freezing Unit Messer’s Faulkner Messer’s Jones Blade Rearing Unit Meadow Quality Collection Centre Morrel College

VISIT 1: GENUS ABS RUTHIN FREEZING CENTRE

Leading provider of bovine genetics and reproduction services. Marketing in more than 70 countries globally. Four bull housing sites housing 300 bulls – Ruthin is the main bull stud. 2 Million units of semen are produced per year. The stud houses bulls in three different buildings due to biosecurity risk with two separate collection areas (one for dairy and one for beef).

WILODGE HAMLET – LIMOUSIN SIRE

Progeny have had huge successes in the pedigree and commercial shows and sales nationwide. Becoming an internationally known bull. Short Gestation. Semen exported to 37 countries. Genus sold 60k doses of semen annually.

HAYMOUNT WARSMITH – ABERDEEN ANGUS SIRE

Genus sold 130k doses of AA semen in UK – used within crossbreeding programmes No slaughter data to date For use on mature cows only

SEMEN COLLECTION

Holstein Bull - DeNovo Invictus 1year old since March 2019 Sexed semen producing bull First calves are due in November through the Genus IVF Programme Semen collection twice per week EID system producers a code once semen is collected Teasers have the same health status as the bulls in the stud

EMBRYO PROGRAMME – BRITISH BLUE

Fed 10L Energised calf milk replacer per day. High protein low energy milk replacer Fed straw and concentrate diet with milk Once animals mature they receive a TMR mix of lucine hay, grass hay and straw and a concentrate ration (22% CP).

NEWPOLE LANCER

Short gestation Calving ease High beef advantage value Potential to add £28 with the new carcass evaluations

VISIT 2:ROB AND JUDITH FAULKNER

Calf house capacity to hold 65 calves Faulkner's use BB in their FR herd. Typical calf price:

• Heifer > £300
• Bull > £400

Good colostrum management – all calves receive 4L within 6 hours Calves are teat fed – only use

• esophageal tube when necessary

Forced ventilation installed to reduce disease incidence Calf coats are used on all calves during the winter Calves are weaned at 8 weeks and moved to group pens

VISIT 3: JONES & SONS –SUCKLER FARM

800 acres across three farms

• 500 acres grassland
• 200 acres arable
• 150 acres maize
• 30’000 bird pullet unit

176 cows in the herd at present – vision to expand to 200+ cows. Calves don’t receive any creep until after weaning Using sexed semen on heifers to produce replacement heifers

• Using Saler and Limousin genetics

VISIT 3: JONES & SONS – SUCKLER FARM

Reproductive management system (RMS) commenced in 2016 RMS Technicians typically inseminate 4.5k cows per year. Cost of RMS + genetics - £41/42 per calf born (not including on farm labour)

VISIT 4: BLADE REARING ABP

 Blade was established in 2001. Predominantly AA dairy calves in the scheme The correct sires are selected from Genus

• bulls. These are benchmarked against other

bulls used through the blade system. Farm rearing protocols – based on farm assurance Sow feeders used for feeding calves concentrates. Automatic feeders used on farm to feed milk replacer. Calves stay on farm until 12wks and then are transported to the finisher units.

VISIT 5: MEADOW QUALITY LTD

Meadow Quality are the largest multi- species livestock company in the UK and are British Farmer owned The FIV group met with the CEO Matt Nightingale Approx. 1000 calves per week are sorted within the collection centre Calves are collected/delivered within a 60 mile perimeter of the centre Currently use a weight for age

• specification. Calves are also graded at the

centre Premium paid if the sire is named on the animals passport

VISIT 6: MORETON MORRELL COLLEGE

Genus Momentum programme to collect and evaluate British Blue Progeny from the Dairy cows between Genus ABS and Meadow Quality Ltd. Testing unit has a Growsafe feeding trial and collects data on progeny from rearing to finishing Intakes are measured over a 45day feed period Aim 15-16month slaughter

• Heifers – 580-620kg
• Steers – 640-660kg

WRAP UP SESSION

Potential to add a new business to the current suckler herd

• During the summer to use building to rear calves when the

suckler herd are at grass.

RMS would work well in autumn calving herd when the cows are housed during the winter Large potential to use sexed semen within the suckler herd Positive take home message – the group learnt from each other on the trip

ANY QUESTIONS?