If we are serious about properly managing our suckler cows this autumn, winter and even next spring prior to calving, pregnancy scanning is an absolute must. Some of the spring-calving BETTER Farm beef challenge participants have full scanning results already, some have preliminary results but all will have scanned by the end of the month. Figure 1 shows the results to date.

Obviously the main objective is to find out what is in-calf and what is not in-calf. Empty cows should be removed from the main herd immediately. Cows coming in heat every 21 days are going to put severe stress on bull calves and heighten the risk of injury and/or sickness such as chills or pneumonia at this time of year.

Scanning will also show up cows that may be carrying an unviable embryo that for one reason or another will not go full-term. It’s an uncommon occurrence but still useful information to have. The options for selling empty cows are detailed below.

As well as determining if a cow is in-calf, scanners will also be able to give an estimate as to the number of days/weeks each cow has been in-calf. By working off a gestation length of 283 days, you will be able to generate a predicted calving date. The scanner will also be able to identify any cows carrying more than one calf.

For proper herd management this winter and spring, this information is vital. Factors like diet (feeding requirements and mineral allocation) and health (when to administer scour vaccination) can be controlled better. Even picking out cows to go into the calving shed next spring will be a much more informed decision. By getting projected calving dates of all the cows in your herd, you will also be able to predict the peak calving period. Use that information to plan ahead and sort out extra labour or when you may need to take time off work.

Timing and targets

Scanning can take place 30 days after the stock bull was removed or 30 days after the last AI insemination. The optimum time to scan is between 30 and 70 days. Accuracy, in terms of projected calving date, will be greatly reduced when a cow is in-calf over 110 days. Sex can be detected in a foetus that is anywhere from 55 to 85 days old.

The cost of scanning is approximately €3/cow plus a call-out charge (€20-€50). Rates will vary and may be dependent on the number of animals being scanned.

On the whole, if the scanning reveals more than 10% of your cows are empty, this may signify that there is a fertility problem in your herd. Maybe it was a bull issue or perhaps a mineral deficiency or a disease problem. Either way, it should prompt you to investigate the issue further.

Sell immediately after weaning

Thanks to a good spring and an excellent summer, most cull cows should be in reasonably good condition and may be coming fit for sale in a lot of cases. Any cows that are due to be sold after weaning should be fed concentrates now to compensate for colder, longer nights, declining grass quality and suckling a strong calf. On top of that, offering concentrates will also have the added benefit of introducing calves to ration. Allocating 3-5kg/cow and 0.5-1kg/calf of a high-energy (minimum 0.94 UFL/kg as fed), medium-protein (14-16% CP) ration will suffice. The medium protein is to cater for the growing calf.

Sell prior to housing

For beef cows that are slightly under-fleshed or too light, there is an option to wean them early, get them dried off and get a 40- to 50-day finish on them for slaughter prior to housing. Calves need to be weaned in the next 10 days and cows dried off for 10 days. Starting in the last week of September, feed 4-5kg of a high-energy (minimum 0.94 UFL/Kg as fed), low-protein (12-14% CP) ration and offer the best quality grass possible.

House and finish

Cows not fit for sale off grass can be housed and finished for between 60 and 100 days. Good-quality 70-75% DMD or above silage plus 6-7kg/head of concentrates (3-3.5kg fed twice daily) will give high weight gains. If silage is only of moderate quality, less than 70% DMD, concentrates will need to be fed ad-lib. The ad-lib option will significantly limit the profitability of indoor finishing so the decision about whether to house may be largely based on the quality of silage available.

Tom Bolger – Carlow

Preliminary scan showed 13 out of 14 heifers in calf. Empty heifer had an ovarian cyst and would not breed. Twenty-four out of 29 cows in calf. Two of the five empty have been seen in-heat, other three assumed in calf. Final scan will take place shortly.

The Flahertys - Kerry

Thirty-two out of 42 cows were pregnant after an extremely tight seven-week breeding season and 100% AI. Disappointingly, after a no-expenses-spared synchronisation programme followed by fixed-time AI, only seven out of 17 heifers scanned in-calf.

The Breen’s – Wexford

Forty-five out of 77 cows have been scanned so far – 44 were in calf. The remaining cows will be scanned shortly. All 11 replacement heifers scanned in calf too.

Ricky Milligan – Kildare

Preliminary scan when the bull was taken out showed 34 cows to be in-calf and 6 inconclusive. Three of those are expected to be empty. Final scan will take place next week and will include seven maiden heifers.

Brian Doran – Wicklow

Two out of 43 cows and heifers were scanned in calf on 10 August. Included on this are five sets of twins. Approximately 30 cows are due to calve inside a three-week window.

The Lalors – Laois

After a 10 week breeding season, 36 out of 38 maiden heifers scanned in calf and 87 out of 94 mature cows are in-calf too.

Ger McSweeney – Cork

Operating 100% AI, 33 out of 37 cows and heifers scanned in calf recently

John McSweeney – Cork

It was a disappointing 50% conception rate with just 18 out of 36 cows and heifers proving in calf after 9.5 weeks of breeding. The cause appears to have been fertility issue with the stock bull.

Glen McDermott – Sligo

A combined cow and heifer total of 65 were scanned, with 55 proving in-calf. An underlying IBR issue may have hit fertility somewhat.