| Moyle Pathfinder - Invest in the Future |
| AI and ET at Pathfinder In the next 12 months about 1350 Pathfinder cows will calve. About 75% of them will have been conceived using AI, about 9% will have been conceived using embryo transfer (ET) while only 16% will have been conceived using natural mating. In a commercial herd, natural mating’s are simple, straight forward and the lowest cost/calf. Provided both the cows and bulls are healthy and in the right condition, close to 100% conception can be expected within 9 weeks of joining. On farm, one bull would commonly sire 30 - 40 calves per year; however this can be doubled if there was both an autumn and a spring calving herd. The productive life of a bull is 3-4 years. There is only one simple reason for the emphasis being placed on artificial ways of achieving a pregnancy – to access elite genetics for the next generation of profitable beef production. Pathfinder searches the world for bulls of exceptional genetic merit to increase the rate of genetic improvement in the herd. With AI and ET it is possible to join each female to the best genetically suited bull in the world, with the aim of maximizing each cows overall performance. Although some of the bulls Pathfinder breed will have unique figures and phenotype for use within the herd, artificial insemination and embryo transplant give the stud the scope to be able to reach the next level in genetic improvement. The time and cost involved in getting a live calf using AI is substantial. In addition to the direct costs, such as the drugs and semen, there are management issues associated with AI. However, the real cost is the overall lower pregnancy rate from interfering with the cows natural cycle. Pregnancy rates are inevitably overestimated by semen sellers and the reality is a large group of empty cows all returning on heat at once after the AI program. The backup bulls cannot serve this concentration of cows in their few days of cycle and results in overall lower conception rates. Nick and Harry do all the AI on Pathfinder. Approximately 50% of cows become pregnant with each round of fixed time AI or ET. A pregnancy test at 4 weeks gestation identifies animals to be programmed for a second round of AI or ET. The cows empty after the program are put to herd sires for natural mating, or used as recipients in the ET program. The key to the breeding success of the Pathfinder program is the research that goes into selecting the sires. Every year, sires are inspected in the major US, Australian and New Zealand collection centers. The sires that fit the criteria for exceptional performance with good temperament and structure are followed through, to look at progeny where possible, to help confirm any decision. Too many bulls are sold without the research or proven genetics behind them, resulting in commercial producers missing out on the profitable potential of their beef herd. Embryo transfer An ET program is only used on the elite females. Although restrictive because of its expense, it has the potential to increase the progeny of these cows up to five times. These cows have proven to be the top performers from one of Australia’s largest performance recorded herds. Mike Boerimer, cattle veterinarian, has been working with Pathfinder for the past 20 years, and with Nick, has developed a program that has become more efficient and productive. In 2012, 12 donor cows were flushed twice for embryos. resulting in 150 lower performing cows implanted as recipients. Producing over 1000 bull calves annually allows us to select 250 of only the very best in our two annual auctions. |
| 2014 SA 120 Bulls - 13th February Vic 100 Bulls - 19th February |
