Technical information
Reproduction
Argentinean insight into Fixed Time AI benefits
South American cattle producers have embraced Fixed Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) technology enabling them to adopt cost-effective large scale artificial breeding programs achieving 50-55 per cent pregnancy rates.
Evaluation of breeding soundness in bulls
Vendors of bulls need to give serious thought to pre-sale assessment of their animals. The failure of a bull to reproduce can be an expensive exercise for both vendor and purchaser, with possible legal and insurance complications.
Planning AI programs
Artificial insemination (AI) is being increasingly used on south east Queensland beef properties. The reasons for its use are varied, however, mainly it is used as a cost effective method of introducing superior or new genetics into a breeding herd.
Artificial Breeding and Proper Techniques
All the advantages of artificial breeding can be lost with decreased conception rates by improper handling of frozen semen and insemination short cuts.
AB and Synchronisation
Synchronisation has been available for more than 20 years but more recently has witnessed increased use due to the mating of groups of heifers and/or embryo transfer programs.
Understanding semen evaluation
The following article is re-printed from the Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians “Veterinarians Examination of Bulls” handbook; edited by M McGowan, D Galloway, E Taylor, K Entwistle and P Johnston.
Pregnancy Testing of Cattle
Beef producers can improve the efficiency of their enterprise by better managing reproductive performance in their herds, which has flow-on benefits for marketing, nutritional management and disease control.
Cost effective strategies for improved fertility
The paper reviews methods of improving fertility in extensive and semi-extensive conditions in the dry tropics of northern Australia. Basic issues such as sustaining the pasture resource and effective cattle control are prerequisites for efficient implementation of management options. Management options can be classified at 3 levels and should be incorporated sequentially into breeding herds to improve fertility.
Understanding Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BBSE)
A BBSE can include evaluation of the Scrotum, other Physical attributes, Crush-side Semen assessment, laboratory evaluation of Sperm Morphology, and in many situations, Serving assessment. All components of a BBSE are important. Semen evaluation is critical because it is a bull’s genes that are really the objective in his purchase. Other aspects of a BBSE relate to a bull’s ability and willingness to deliver the semen.
Revolutionising the north Australian cattle muster
It’s a northern cattle producer’s dream: a single calf drop, timed to perfection, matched to environmental or production cycles, year after year.
Do fertile bulls breed more fertile progeny?
New Beef CRC research is investigating whether fertility traits in bulls, such as scrotal size, semen quality and various hormones and proteins are linked to fertility traits in both their male and female progeny.
Profiting from better reproduction in the north
The secrets of cow reproduction are being investigated by Beef CRC researchers, with the aim of bringing the power of genetic selection to bear on one of the major profit drivers in northern Australia’s beef industry.
Fertility Have you done the calculations?
Most cattle breeders would agree that fertility is an extremely important trait due to its huge economic impact on an enterprise.