The usage of genomics together with three breeding indices to pick bulls has positioned a Welsh herd within the spring on the prime of the rankings for fertility and protein manufacturing.
Rhys-Davies, who milks 100 Holstein Friesians in Flintshire underneath the Ffrwd prefix, initially milked Holsteins, however began rearing their calves in 2001.
Nevertheless, a examine journey to Eire as a part of a Farming Join administration trade 4 years in the past satisfied him that strong breeding choice instruments might assist him breed better-performing black-and-white cows.
Rhys Davies © BCBC
See additionally: How a herd of spring calves obtained began utilizing genomics
“The one purpose we crossed was as a result of we wished a simple delivery,” explains Mr Davies.
A few of the disadvantages of crossbreeding, he says, is that he could not do genetic testing for these animals, and the whites and whites appeared to outperform the crossbreeds.
Farm Details: Moore Farm, close to Holywell, Flintshire
- Milks 100 Holstein Friesian plus 80 Youngstock
- He sells milk to Arla
- Calves from March 1 to Might 10
- Promote breeding inventory
- Free of charge from March via November
- A mean of seven,500 liters with 4.59% fats and three.65% protein
- A cow produces 618 kg of stable milk yearly
- He purchased 10 hectares (25 acres) from the county council; He nonetheless leases 30 hectares (73 acres) from council and 40 hectares (100 acres) for silage from 4 house owners.
Davies determined to make use of a combination of Holstein Friesian genes from world wide to hurry up genetic acquisition.
These included bulls with excessive breeding indices estimated from Eire, bulls that ranked nicely for breeding worth (New Zealand Breeding Index) and prime bulls from the UK Spring Calving Index (SCI).
He makes use of AHDB’s Bull Finder to get a British evaluation of any non-British bulls, which he says turns every thing into “one language”.
training
Genetic cow calves are examined when they’re two weeks previous after which graded in response to protein share, fertility index, upkeep and mastitis.
Calves are matched with one of the best sires to stability the traits accordingly.
“Genomic testing of calves has turn into as essential as weekly turf gauging. With out them, I do not know which calves to maintain. It is like going into the unsuitable subject.
“If we get a cow that must be improved for cell depend, I’d use a excessive SCI Holstein bull.
“If we now have a calf with good well being traits, however they should enhance their substances, I’d use a excessive share bull from Eire or New Zealand,” Davies says.
Surplus calves are offered at fortnight or on the bullfight for £250, £300 and £1000 respectively.
Sexual semen is used on calves and cows for the primary six weeks of breeding and standard semen is used on any of one of the best repeat cows after the primary service.
Semen from Aberdeen Angus is used for the rest of the animals, together with the poorest animals from the beginning of the mating.
Cows that fail to conceive throughout the nine-week breeding interval are launched once more in November and offered to fall calves as soon as they’re confirmed to be younger.
“This makes £1,500 to £1,600 in earnings slightly than losing them as a culling,” Davies says.
Collars are used to detect temperatures, with 84.7% of cows giving delivery at 9 weeks.
Cows graze from March via November, with calves skilled on electrical fencing as soon as they’re weaned from milk.
The milkers transfer to contemporary grazing fields after every milking, in 12-hour shifts. The grass is mowed beforehand, which Davies believes stimulates intakes, particularly in early lactation.
Advantages
Alt and binary are actually within the prime 1% when it comes to fats, protein and fertility, primarily based on the weighted age index from Mr Davies’ most up-to-date AHDB herd genetic report.
Sooner or later, he hopes to enhance cell counts, because the flock is at present ranked within the seventieth percentile for this trait.
He additionally desires to deal with the EnviroCow trait, which can be launched in 2021. This consists of cow age, milk manufacturing, fertility, and feed conversion.
Rhys-Davies was talking on the 2023 British Cattlemen’s Convention on January 25