Scanning maiden heifers for pre-breed assessment reveals negative impact of a harsh summer

On a farm outside Clonaslee, Co. Laois, we conducted a pre-breed scan of a dairy herd and maiden heifers.  The scan revealed that 20% of the heifers which were over 14 months of age were not suitable for breeding.  These heifers were in a pre-pubertal state.  They showed signs of poor thrive associated with the […]

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Schmallenberg virus causes fear to a client with embryonic and foetal death in pedigree stock

This virus has been recently detected in cows that have aborted in West Cork, other symptoms include severe milk drops. This virus has also resulted in the cessation of live cattle exports.

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Scanning Holstein cows in Northern Ireland reveals a collapse in Holstein bull calves

Holstein bull calves are now only making £1, which is associated with a drop in demand for live export calves. The negative value associated with the bull calf has forced farmers to consider the use of sex semen in dairy cows.

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Cases of Johne’s in a commercial suckler herd

Visited a suckler herd in West Clare, where a farmer informed me that he had a number of cases of Johne’s detected in the last year by taking blood samples. However, dung samples give a more reliable assessment of infection. This procedure should be considered in all cows which have a high reading in the […]

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Scanning cows aids the use of sex semen

Visited a client outside Portlaoise, Co. Laois, the incidence of multiple ovulations was 12%. We were able to identify cows on heat, coming on heat, and those cows with multiple ovulations. Those cows considered fit for breeding, we were able to advise the client on which uterine horn to use a deep horn insemination with […]

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Johne’s disease in a suckler herd

Visited a Pedigree Limousine breeder in Co. Clare, he revealed that he is trying to address the elimination of Johne’s disease from his herd for the past 4 years. He has restored to taking blood samples at 6 month intervals those animals coming up with high readings are tested again using dung samples. It is […]

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Scanning cows reveals importance of identifying twins

A client rang me from Co. Clare to thank me for identifying a cow that was carrying twins.  He did not expect the cow to have twins.  The cow had one calf but he checked the cow again on the basis of the information I had given him.  The cow had a second calf in […]

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Scanning cows reveals ochrus

On a farm visit a client presented 30 heifers which we assessed as not in calf 4 months previously and they were in a pre-pubertal state. We scanned the same heifers today. None of them were in calf and they were in a deep pre-pubertal state. This revealed that the heifers had regressed in terms […]

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Scanning maiden heifers in conjunction with the use of sex semen

Visited dairy farmers in both Co. Clare and Limerick, where the clients presented maiden heifers, for scanning to evaluate their suitability for the use of sex semen by applying Ultrasonographic Assessment Reproductive Technology. [U.S.A.R.T.].We have developed U.S.A.R.T to a stage where the heifers can be programmed for breeding at specific time points. Both of the […]

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Scanning cows reveals the importance of data recovery for report generation

Visited a dairy farmer outside Rathcormac, Co. Cork where we had excellent records of events pertaining to his herd. Recorded from the time cows calved right through to the breeding program. This information was relayed to our central database, and from there to our handheld computer, which in turn bluetoothed the information to my headset […]

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