Suckler Herd

Suckler Herd

• Ideal Suckler Cow
  50% dairy and 50% continental beef animal (hybrid vigour)
  Crossbred suckler dams have:
  –Higher fertility
  –Lower calf mortality
  –Longer reproductive life
  –High milk yields which result in a higher growth rate in calves
  –Hardier calves
• Suckler Calves
  Calves from a suckler herd have higher growth rates
• Management of Suckler Herds Out On Grass
  Suckler herd should graze grass rotationally.
  Good quality grass will ensure dam will have good milk production for her calf.
  Calves should be allowed to creep graze concentrates or better quality grass.
  Heat detection aids should be used to identify when the suckler cow comes back into heat.
• Management in Year Two
  Management of the calf in the second year is the same as that of the calf to beef in two years.
• Reproductive Efficiency and Calving Interval for a Suckler Herd
  The reproductive efficiency of a suckler herd is the number of calves weaned per 100 cows served.
  Suckler cow or heifer must be at the correct BCS of 2.5 at mating.
  Heat detection is vital to keep calving interval at 365 days.
  Calving interval is the time elapsed between successive calvings.
• Other Types of Beef Production
  Bull beef production: bulls have better food conversion ratios. Presence of testosterone increases live weight gain. Bulls have more lean meat on their carcase than steers and attain better conformation scores.
  Heifer beef production: involves beef-crossed heifers from dairy herds. Lower growth rate than steers. Heifers finish at lighter weights.
• Cull cow finishing: culled cows from the dairy herd must be well fleshed with a BCS of 3.5 to attain a condition score of P+ and a fat score of 3L or 4L after slaughter.
• General Husbandry
  Castration: male calves not intended for breeding should be castrated at 8 to 12 weeks old. Castrated animals are easier to handle than bulls.
  Dehorning a calf: to prevent injury to other animals and anyone handling the calf.
  Tagging: traceability
• Dosing: calves are dosed routinely as large numbers of parasites set back the calves’ growth.
  TB and brucellosis testing: an eradication programme is in place to control TB. Herds are tested every 24 months for brucellosis unless a herd is being moved.