Maternal Matters

The AHDB Maternal Matters campaign aims to highlight the connection between maternal performance and profitability in the suckler herd.

The campaign focuses on two key areas of maternal performance:

age at first calving
fertility

The two-year campaign will provide tools and information on replacement heifer breeding and development to optimise female lifetime fertility. We will follow normal heifer development practices, from selecting stock to breed replacements through to the management of first calvers.

Managing suckler cows

Managing suckler cows

Find out more about managing suckler cows

Selecting maternal traits

Selecting maternal traits

EBVs, breeding technologies and more

Managing heifers

Managing heifers

KPIs, nutrition and environment

Breeding replacement heifers

Breeding replacement heifers

Breed indexes and genetic selection

Calving heifers

Calving heifers

Considerations for successful calving

Post-calving herd management

Post-calving herd management

Caring for new calves

Further resources

Creating and using a suckler breeding plan

Creating and using a suckler breeding plan

The AHDB ‘Maternal Matters’ campaign aims to provide information and tools for helping suckler producers

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for maternal suckler traits

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for maternal suckler traits

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are a useful way to monitor fertility within your suckler herd.

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Breed Indexes for suckler herds

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Breed Indexes for suckler herds

Good breeding and carefully considered genetics lie at the foundation of any successful beef production system.

Videos

Topics:

Beef & Lamb Livestock Health Welfare Breeding Livestock Nutrition

Sectors:

Beef & Lamb

Tags:

maternal performance maternal traits maternal performance heifers Heifer development bulls suckler cows suckler herds suckler cow calving

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