The problems of getting summer calvers in calf

摘要

ADAS figures show that summer calvers are the most difficult to get back in calf. Judie Allen has been to see research consultant Tim Harrington for advice. Do you calve cows in the summer? The chances are that these cows, especially those calving inApril, May and June, are achieving the lowest submission and conception rates than cows calving at any other times of the year. Data from the ADAS Datamate service, which includes 300,000 cows recorded over a period of nine years, shows that submission rates (number of cows offered for service or insemination) for cows calving in April, May and June are about 60% and lower, For July, August and September calvers, this rises to nearer 70%. Furthermore, as many as 20% of cows which have calved in the three early summer months will reach their third eligible cycle, having not been spotted earlier or failed to hold to previous services.