BREEDERWISDOM SHARED

4 February 2000

BREEDERWISDOM SHARED

What can we learn for the

future from young breeders

and those with a little more

experience in the industry?

Jessica Buss found out at

the recent British Cattle

Breeders Club conference

A NINE-YEAR move from Friesian to Holstein cows has seen milk yield increase from 6600 litres to peak at 9500 litres a cow on a Lancs farm with all cows now classified VG, GP or EX. But the farms future remains uncertain.

Chris Shepherd returned to the family farm in 1991 and since then it has almost doubled in size to 80ha (200 acres). Yields for its Windyridge herd now average 8500 litres, as producing 9500 litres was detrimental to labour and stocking rate, he told the BCBC conference, in Staffs.

Improving herd genetics has been achieved solely using AI. "Breeding always depended on price, and we have used indexes to select for production as well as type. We bought the best sires we could afford and have not used embryo transfer.

"Half the herd is derived from progeny test sires, and these cows are producing the same yield and are the same classification as the rest of the herd." The bottom 25% of the herd has always been bred to beef sires.

Although Mr Shepherd continues to milk the familys cows five times a week, he now works full-time for Cogent as a sire analyst.

But with his father considering retirement, Mr Shepherd must decide whether to run the farm or stay at Cogent.

"Quota, land, buildings and machinery all require high investment." But Mr he has some options for the farm.

He could increase cow and youngstock numbers, maintain a closed herd with no BVD, lepto or digital dermatitis or continue pedigree breeding and hope export markets opens up.

The family has also talked about giving up milk production, but have yet to decide the best option for the farm. However, Mr Shepherd believes opportunities may be better for him within the breeding industry.

"I can use my talents and interests at work, which is a pleasure; helping provide top genetics for all UK environments. My future has got to lie at Cogent." The future of the herd and farm is still being considered.

With his father considering retirement, Chris Shepherd has to decide where his future lies.

Breeding for good type and production is vital for cows that will last.