Fertility key to new cattle project

A MAJOR industry project is looking to boost both the profitability and environmental credentials of beef farms in Wales by bringing farmers and vets together in an initiative to maximise herd fertility.

Improving the fertility of cattle – through proactive measures such as timely pregnancy detection and monitoring the health of cows – is a recognised way of improving the efficiency of beef herds and reducing the output of greenhouse gases.

Now, out of over 100 beef enterprises enrolled on the Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Stoc+ animal health project, 47 have signed up to take part in an intensive project to maximise their cattle fertility.

The Stoc+ Project promotes proactive flock and herd health management – to help Wales lead the world in animal welfare, sustainability and efficiency – and is one strand of the Red Meat Development Programme, a five-year Welsh Government and European Union-funded initiative.

HCC Flock and Herd Health officer Lowri Williams said: “The project will encourage farmers to carry out routine timely pregnancy detection, pelvic scoring and body condition scoring to improve calving interval, the ease of calving and increase the overall health and productivity of suckler herds.”