Optimising suckler herd efficiency is key to a profitable suckler beef enterprise.
Beef technologist Dr Norman Weatherup, from Northern Ireland’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), was the guest speaker at a series of AHDB Beef & Lamb BRP events. He presented on key elements of suckler herd efficiency, namely improving herd fertility, bull selection using EBVs and breeding and management of replacements.
To view clips from Dr Weatherup’s presentation on YouTube, select from the links below:
Introduction |
Measuring efficiency |
Herd targets and health |
Cow weight and size |
Fertility and body condition |
Breed selection |
Compact calving |
Replacement rates and selection |
Heifer age at calving and management |
Heifer development programmes in the USA |
Bull selection |
Using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) |
Bull for producing replacement heifers |
Bull for mating with heifers |