Optimising suckler herd fertility

Optimising fertility is critical to the success of any suckler herd.

Nutrition, health and genetics all play a part.

Maintaining a compact calving period and taking steps to cull unproductive cows is key.

Tools such as recording and benchmarking performance, pregnancy diagnosis and body condition scoring (BCS) can help producers increase cow output.

This manual explains how these tools are used.

For example, it outlines the BCS targets for each stage of the production cycle of autumn- and spring-calved cows.

It also shows how appropriate feeding, breeding and health management can help. 

It examines the particular requirements of heifers and the bull – for, no matter how fertile the cow, if she is not in good working order, she will never get in calf.