Almost 80% conception rate in Jalex heifers in synchronised AI trial

Ensuring optimal cow and heifer fertility levels will be crucial in helping to ensure the ongoing sustainability of these enterprises. Critical to making this happen is a tight calving pattern.

A recent synchronised AI programme, involving 150 Jalex replacement beef heifers, recorded a 78% conception rate to first service.

The work involved the input of HVS Animal Health in preparing the animals fully for the programme.

The Jalex herd, owned by renowned Randalstown sucker beef producer James Alexander, is home to a selection of Ireland’s elite commercial blood lines.

Paul Elwood, from HVS Animal Health, takes up the story: “The heifers were synchronised in early January with subsequent scanning confirming an almost 80% conception rate to first service. This was a tremendous result.”

Three weeks prior to the start of the programme all the heifers were drenched with HVS Liquid Gold Cattle, a proven source of bio-available trace elements and vitamin for suckler cows and other livestock.

Paul Elwood again: “Fertility in suckler cows and heifers is highly dependent on the animals’ mineral and vitamin balance. If these are sub-optimal then their ability to conceive will be negatively impacted.”

He continued: “Our Liquid Gold range supplies all the micro minerals and essential vitamins required by milking stock, cattle and sheep in a highly available form to help address the shortfall of micro minerals that so characterise the forages produced here in Northern Ireland.

“The products represent the next generation in chelated mineral and vitamin drenches.

“The use of Liquid Gold cattle will also help ensure a tighter calving pattern, which is an important contributor to the overall profitability of every suckling enterprise. ”

Paul added that suckler herd owners must seek to maximise the fertility performance of their livestock.

“The HVS Liquid Gold range has been developed to meet this specific requirement. The reality is that an animal can only perform to the level of the greatest deficiency or imbalance in its diet.

All forage diets can contain major mineral imbalances and consequently most animals never achieve their genetic potential in terms of growth, fertility, and immune status.”

Paul explained that for trace elements to be available to stock, they must be of a high quality 
and must link up with one or more amino acids or peptides in the rumen prior to being absorbed through the gut wall into the blood stream.

He added: “Ruminant animals are not ideally equipped to effect this ‘link up’ and a significant proportion of trace elements and vitamins supplied in conventional form, pass straight through the body and are excreted.”

Paul concluded: “The tremendous conception rate achieved with the Jalex heifers is confirmation of the key role that Liquid Gold Cattle can play in any suckler breeding programme.”

For further information, contact HVS Animal Health on (028) 4483 1700