Basic HTML Version
F A R M S K I L L S
WINTER 2011 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
18
Having run our herdsman certificate course
of four basic modules twice now (mastitis
control, dairy nutrition, fertility and obstetrics
and calf rearing from birth to weaning) we
decided to develop a series of ‘advanced’
modules aimed at people who had already
completed the first course. To get a feel of
what subjects might interest our clients, I sent
out a questionnaire with a list of 12 subjects
to previous FarmSkills attendees. The most
popular ones were heifer rearing part two
(from weaning to first calving), protecting the
freshly calved cow and dairy genetics.
Following the previous model, clients could
attend either single workshops, or all three
for a discounted rate.
The genetics course was one that I thought
might be particularly helpful for our clients
as it is a subject that is surrounded by much
‘myth and magic’. I wanted farmers to be
able to decipher all the jargon that is thrown
about by the semen companies, so that they
felt able to make decisions on choosing
bulls that would be best suited for their herd.
First of all, I came up with the following
objectives:
l
Define Genetic index and describe how
genetic index can be calculated.
l
List traits that might be included in a
genetic index and rank them in order
of importance for your own farm.
l
Define £PLI and describe how the
emphasis on fertility and fitness traits
has changed since the old PIN system.
l
Understand how the reliability of genetic
index can be assessed and how this can
vary between different indices.
l
Understand all the relevant parts of a bull
proof as set out by Holstein UK and rank
a selection of bulls in order of £PLI.
I enlisted the help of an external speaker,
Mike Coffey of the SAC, for the morning
theoretical session. He explained some
basic genetic terminology and concepts and
how the current UK genetic index was
developed. He also demonstrated that
genetic improvement is ‘permanent,
cumulative over generations and is cost
effective’ using examples from research.
Mr Coffey stressed that genetics is only
part of the equation and that environment
still plays a very important part in an
animal’s performance.
I led the afternoon session which mostly
involved discussion and round the table
farmer interaction. I started by explaining
all the parts of a bull proof using real
examples. Farmers then listed traits that
they wanted to try to improve on their
farms and then ranked them in order of
importance. I then split them into two groups
and using hypothetical farm scenarios (one
mastitis and one fertility), got them to choose
three bulls that they could use to try to
improve these situations using a selection
of bulls from Holstein UK. Other subjects
that came up in the afternoon discussion
included cross-breeding, genomics and
the use of sexed semen.
One of my clients, Andrew Gilman (pictured
below), found the course particularly useful.
The subject got his attention because he
had always seen genetics as a ‘different
language’ and felt that, because his isn’t a
pedigree herd, it is a bit of a closed door to
him. Coming on the course has meant that
he now makes the primary decision about
buying semen, rather than being sold it.
Andrew’s main breeding objective was to
select bulls for high fertility so he now makes
a list of bulls with the highest £PLI that he
can afford and then chooses the bulls with
the best fertility index out of these. Andrew
does his own AI so this extra involvement
will make it even more rewarding when he
gets the heifers down on the ground.
I find it very rewarding running these
courses, especially when I get feedback
like that. I think it provides another
great example of FarmSkills working in
practice. I would like to try to keep
the momentum going and am currently
planning our next series of modules
for 2012.
FARMSKILLS
EAST MIDLANDS
Rose Jackson
Scarsdale Vets