Improving heifer productivity by integrating FTAI into Commercial Cow Enterprises

Summary

This producer demonstration site aimed to demonstrate that heifer productivity can be improved through implementing fixed-time AI and adopting best practice reproduction management (CMW, EBVs, etc).

Objectives

By December 2020, in the Esperance region of WA this project will:

1. Demonstrate on at least 20 properties (core producers) that tighter joining periods via adoption of FTAI and the use of genetically superior sires can:

a. Reduce dystocia indicators in maiden heifers by an average of 40% (e.g. 6% vs 10% dystocia, 2.4% vs 4% calf mortality, 0.6% vs 1% heifer mortality)

b. Reduce empty rate in short mated heifers by 30% e.g. from 15% to 10%

c. Reduce empty rate in the heifers subsequent mating by 20%

2. Result in at least 50% of core producers continuing to adopt tighter joining periods via adoption of FTAI and the use of genetically superior sires in their commercial heifer breeding program post the project.

3. Increase awareness and knowledge of heifer management strategies to reduce the prevalence of dystocia in maiden heifers by at least 75% of observer producers attending demonstration sites! field days, with 20% indicating they will adopt the practice.

Progress

This now compelted project, with beef producers in the Esperance Region in WA has demonstrated that integrating Fixed Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) into heifer mating programs using selected AI bulls has the potential to improve heifer pregnancy rates, improve dystocia parameters, improve subsequent pregnancy rates, and wean more kilograms of calf per mated heifer. The four-year project, run by Swans Veterinary Services and livestock grower group ASHEEP has recently finished with some impressive results. The PDS project showed that each FTAI pregnancy returned an additional dollar benefit per pregnancy to the producer, before factoring in genetic improvement or cow performance beyond her second pregnancy.

Key findings

This PDS has demonstrated that within a southern beef breeding production system, integrating fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) into commercial producers' heifer mating programs can address dystocia, improve rebreeding rates and improve weaning weights.

There were ten producers involved in this project, representing 15 mating opportunities over three years.

The project showed that, on average, the integration of FTAI using calving ease sires reduced dystocia, calf mortality, and heifer mortality. The average farm demonstrated a reduction in dystocia of 51%, calf mortality of 60.4%, and heifer mortality of 94%.

The project demonstrated an improvement in pregnancy at testing as a result of the intervention, with 11 of the 15 sites showing an improvement in pregnancy rate.

As a result of synchronisation, the project also showed a statistically significant improvement in calving distribution over the first 28 days of the calving season, resulting in the majority of heifers from the FTAI integrated group calving well in advance of the heifers from the control mated group

Benefits to industry

This PDS demonstrated the productivity and financial benefits of integrating FTAI into commercial heifer mating programs and supported wider adoption of FTAI within commercial beef enterprises.