Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
In Ireland most dairy farms operate seasonal calving grass-based milk production systems. Feed demand and supply are matched by having calving highly concentrated in spring. This requires high pregnancy rates within a short time following the start of mating in late April or early May, but has become increasingly difficult to achieve due to declining fertility in Irish dairy herds (Mee, 2004). In New Zealand, cows of North American Holstein-Friesian origin have poorer fertility than New Zealand Holstein-Friesians on pasture-based seasonal calving systems (Harris & Kolver, 2001). The present study sought to determine the effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian (HF) cow and feed system on reproductive performance within Irish milk production systems.
Citation
Horan, B.; Mee, J. F.; Rath, Myles; O'Connor, P.; and Dillon, P., "Effect of Strain of Holstein-Friesian Cow and Feed System on Reproductive Performance in Seasonal-Calving Milk Production Systems Over Four Years" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/themeA/8
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of Strain of Holstein-Friesian Cow and Feed System on Reproductive Performance in Seasonal-Calving Milk Production Systems Over Four Years
In Ireland most dairy farms operate seasonal calving grass-based milk production systems. Feed demand and supply are matched by having calving highly concentrated in spring. This requires high pregnancy rates within a short time following the start of mating in late April or early May, but has become increasingly difficult to achieve due to declining fertility in Irish dairy herds (Mee, 2004). In New Zealand, cows of North American Holstein-Friesian origin have poorer fertility than New Zealand Holstein-Friesians on pasture-based seasonal calving systems (Harris & Kolver, 2001). The present study sought to determine the effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian (HF) cow and feed system on reproductive performance within Irish milk production systems.
