Dairy
Breeding is well underway now, yet not too many fields you look into will have stocks bulls out yet, as most farmers go with AI first.
A lot of farmers will begin to wrap artificial insemination (AI) and let out stock bulls to run with the herd for the next number of weeks.
N.Ireland
Coming to the end of May, many farmers may be tempted to finish up dairy AI and let out the stock bulls, or to start using beef AI.
Farm safety must be a priority as the busyness on farms ramps up with cows having to get back in calf and first-cut silage underway.
Most spring-calving dairy herds typically start breeding in early May, so by now most farmers should have completed four weeks of Artificial Insemination.
Beef
With the breeding season just around the corner for both beef and dairy farms, it's time to give your bull the final check over.
"Buying a stock bull is easy – making sure he gets cows in calf in a compact breeding season is more difficult," Dr. Weatherup explains.