Navigating unfavourable conditions for a successful breeding season

Author: Mick Hogan

9th May 2024

IAS

Agriculture

As heavy rainfall persists across Ireland this year, there are more than a few concerns on dairy farmers’ minds. An important one is that, with flooded fields and subsequent low grass growth, how can you ensure a successful breeding season?

Read on to find out more about the challenges dairy farmers throughout Ireland are currently facing due to the weather, how minerals affect breeding cows, how to ensure cows are getting all they need in their diets at such a crucial time of the year, and how IAS Laboratories can help.

What are the challenges dairy farmers are facing due to the weather?

Heavy rainfall throughout 2024 and low soil temperatures are posing significant challenges for fresh grass production. Not only are farmers reporting reduced grass growth, resulting in low silage yields, but 70% of grass samples taken in Ireland are currently low or deficient in copper, magnesium and iodine—key requirements for a trouble-free breeding season.

Additionally, the high levels of rainfall recorded over the last few months has prevented many farmers letting their animals out to grass regularly, with some only able to graze for 2-3 hours a day. This means that you may have had to increase your reliance on expensive artificial feed, drastically affecting your bottom line and making livestock nutrition far more difficult than usual.

In fact, as crop yields have declined across the country due to flooded fields, washed-out seeds, standing water, and thin crops, feed prices have been adversely affected. Increased market prices due to scarcity in turn affects livestock feed prices. So, the joint issue of needing more artificial feed and raised prices for this feed may mean that you have found it more difficult to balance costs this season.

How do minerals affect breeding cows?

Nutrition is a cornerstone of a successful breeding cycle, with minerals playing a pivotal role. The timing and composition of a breeding cow’s diet are crucial for nurturing healthy and productive animals, which, in turn, helps to maximise profitability.

Essential trace minerals, including copper, iodine, zinc, and vitamin E, are indispensable for supporting a cow’s immune system and ensuring robust heat expression. Selenium is instrumental in fostering a healthy immune system and womb environment, driving optimal fertility rates. Adequate levels of organic selenium have been demonstrated to notably reduce instances of metritis and services per conception.

Deficiencies in key trace minerals can precipitate infertility issues if left unaddressed. Anoestrous behavior and silent heats often stem from deficiencies in copper, iodine, and manganese, whilst major minerals like phosphorus play a pivotal role in ovulation and cycling. Imbalances in antagonist elements such as molybdenum, iron, and aluminum can hinder the absorption of vital trace minerals, highlighting the importance of comprehensive management and husbandry practices.

Understanding the intricate interplay of these trace minerals and their interactions with soil types is essential, as variations can have profound effects on grazing animals. By prioritising mineral analysis and tailored livestock nutrition strategies, you can optimise breeding success, ensuring healthy herds and boosting productivity.

How can I ensure my cows are getting all they need this breeding season?

Ensuring the efficiency of milk production is a primary objective in Irish grass-based livestock farming. Calving pattern is an essential element of this, where the duration and effectiveness of the breeding season wields significant influence over profit margins.

A short and effective breeding season, leading to the maximum number of cows conceiving, can profoundly impact profitability. However, timing is critical. Cows with elevated nutritional levels later in the year may produce calves with higher birthweights, increasing the risk of dystocia (calving difficulty). Conversely, calving too early can lead to a loss of condition and reduced re-conception rates due to limited grazing opportunities.

It’s also important to check the nutritional value of available fresh grass and silages using an accredited laboratory. Analysis will help you optimise your livestock nutrition plans by identifying nutrient deficiencies and adjusting diets accordingly. This not only ensures the health and wellbeing of your livestock, improving productivity and ensuring a successful breeding season, but also helps mitigate the financial impacts of fluctuating feed prices.

Analysis can also help you navigate the unfavourable weather conditions we have seen this year and make informed decisions regarding your livestock and crop management practices. At IAS, we offer a pre-cut silage grass test, which determines the minerals that are in the grass before it is cut for silage. You can use this test to establish the best time to cut your silage, including an estimation of how many days you might be away from cutting. If the nutrients (primarily sugars and nitrates) are low, then the silage is not of optimal quality, so cutting too early can affect animals towards the back end of the year.

You can also opt for a grass mineral scan, which analyses the nutrient content of fresh grass and silages after cutting. This involves quantifying deficiencies and imbalances in both major and trace minerals, helping you consider all the dietary needs of the herd and decide whether artificial feed or supplements are required.

How IAS can help

With breeding season underway across many Irish livestock farms, there’s no better time to integrate thorough analysis into management plans. Reliable and precise data can substantially elevate the likelihood of a successful breeding season, translating into optimal profitability.

Independent Analytical Supplies (IAS), leading Irish agricultural and environmental testing laboratory, offers grass and milk profiling analysis to help ensure a successful breeding cycle. IAS Laboratories has a proud tradition helping Irish farmers improve their management plans for more than a quarter of a century.

We also offer a dairy mineral scan from a bulk milk sample, which gives you a full picture of your farm when used in conjunction with grass analysis.

For more information and to receive your free analysis kits, contact us.

References

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2024-04-24/12/