BQI beats the breeder's blues

Richard Mowbray farms on the slopes of the Sperrin Mountains at Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. The farm consists of continental type suckler cows and breeding ewes. Richard successfully completed the Beef Quality Initiative (BQI) Pedigree Breed Improvement Programme in 2003. Since then he has applied the principles he learned during the programme to the running of his herd. One such principle now being adopted within the herd is embryo transfer.

Embryo transfer increases the rate of genetic progress by removing fertilised embryos from cows of high genetic merit and implanting them into cows of lower genetic merit. BQI promotes the use of embryo transfer by offering assistance £240 for each eligible embryo implanted.

Richard purchased three Belgian Blue Heifers in 2004, to establish a new pedigree herd alongside the existing Droit herd of pedigree Blonde D’Aquitaine cattle. The heifers were selected based on performance information and visual appearance. Each heifer is classified as superior status under the BQI scheme. Richard has maximised the breeding potential of these heifers through a flushing programme to extract embryos that have been implanted into commercial crossbred cows. His main aim is to increase the sale income from of pedigree Belgian Blue breeding stock.

Cow and bull selection is very important. Use of A.I. from bulls selected for specific Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) allows Richard to select bulls that will compliment each individual cow. Calving ease and milk supply are the main traits considered when selecting cows and calving ease and muscling are the desired traits when selecting a bull. Attention is also given to physical attributes such as height, length and feet. The Belgian Blue bulls used through A.I. to date include Twyning Ash Troy, Hazelwood Freshman and Tamhorn Sumo. All are registered BQI elite carcase sires.

Donors are synchronised using CIDRS and inseminated with two semen straws 12 hours after heat detection. A second insemination occurs 12 hours later. Donors are kept in a body condition score of 2.5 to obtain the best ovulation rates and stress is minimised. Donors also receive minerals to help boost fertility prior to flushing, in an attempt to increase ovulation rates.

Recipients range in age and breed, but 18 month old heifers are preferred, as they tend to have higher pregnancy rates. Richard also prefers Friesian X Continental recipient females, as their good milk yields boost calf performance and reduces concentrate requirements. Calves are weighed at regular intervals through the Breedplan recording system, which allows all aspects of herd performance to be continually monitored.

Richard admits that embryo transfer is a work in progress and still very much a learning exercise. Results can be varied, but he expects the number of successful implants to improve with experience. Last year, the heifer, Annanwater Verona produced 18 embryos in a single flush, which were all implanted fresh, but unfortunately only five resulted in pregnancies. This year, Verona produced nine embryos with seven resultant pregnancies. Springfield Ulanda produced six embryos last year and seven embryos this year with five pregnancies on each occasion, whilst a third heifer produced two pregnancies on each flush.

The financial assistance of £240 towards the cost of embryos has made the process an attractive breeding option in the Droit herd. With this financial support through BQI, Richard has put theory into practice and is now confident in the embryo transfer technique. He will continue to use embryo transfer without the aid of BQI and is intending to increase the number of females to be flushed this year.

For more information on BQI, contact BQI admin at Greenmount Campus on 028 94 426880.

Embryo calf bred from Annanwater Verona and Hazelwood Freshman.

Embryo transfer calf with a cross-bred recipient female.