{"id":8567,"date":"2024-03-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-test.absglobal.com\/uk\/?p=8567"},"modified":"2024-03-15T04:37:08","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T09:37:08","slug":"staffordshire-family-accelerate-herd-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-test.absglobal.com\/uk\/staffordshire-family-accelerate-herd-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Staffordshire family accelerate herd performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A family in Staffordshire have been utilising GENEadvance\u00ae<\/a>, a new herd improvement programme, which uses female genomic testing to accelerate herd performance. They are now ranked 34th in the top 50 \u00a3PLI heifer herds in the UK by AHDB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neil Swift and his daughter Lauren operate the dairy set-up at Red House Farm in Staffordshire with their wider family. The farm spreads over 1,500 acres and holds 560 milking cows plus additional youngstock. They also have 500 acres of cereals combined with a sheep operation which oversees the lambing of 3,400 breeding ewes and the intake of 12,000 store lambs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The herd is milked twice a day in a rotary parlour and has an average yield of 9,300 litres per year. All milk is sold to Meadow Foods<\/a> who pay one quarter of a penny per 0.1% of fat provided. Their milk buyer requires their somatic cell count to read below 200, placing emphasis on the health of their herd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How has GENEadvance\u00ae improved herd performance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prior to using genomic testing, the Swift family struggled with data accuracy and milk production. Neil Swift explained: \u201cOur herd was never particularly milky, but we are getting there now (with GENEadvance\u00ae.) We\u2019ve got heifers doing well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When explaining the importance of genomic data when making breeding decisions, Neil said: \u201cYou can\u2019t tell (how well they will perform) by looking at them, information is the key to everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When their Genus ABS Breeding Advisor, David Gough, recommended using GENEadvance\u00ae, a herd improvement package with personalised breeding plans and expert support from genetic specialists, the family found their decision to be simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDavid showed us the figures which showed it would pay for us to do it. It\u2019s a price per heifer but it paid on the return you would get. It was easy enough to see how that would happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"high<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What was their previous breeding strategy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Breeding previously took place with the help of a sweeper stock bull, which they later found to actually be hindering the genetic progress of the herd when David showed them their herd genetic review. The traits for the bull turned out to be negative and was therefore forcing the herd to regress in terms of improvement. Neil claimed without the insights provided as part of GENEadvance\u00ae, they would never have known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before using GENEadvance\u00ae, the family would service all heifers in the herd once to sexed semen and would never use sexed genetics on their cows. Their strategy was \u2018serve everything once to black and white, and then on to beef.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being on GENEadvance\u00ae, the Swift family have taken a different approach with their breeding strategy. Now, their focus is on their heifers. Neil explained that they want to produce their heifer replacements from their genetically superior animals. This is mostly their heifers; however they also breed from their milkers if they rank highly enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neil says he just follows what it says on the personalised breeding plan and now seeks marginal gains. This will add up because his herd is now in a great place already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeking a more efficient herd, they breed their cows to have a smaller stature. Doing so reduces the maintenance intake whilst driving milk production. The smaller cow theory is both better for the environment and overall profit from the herd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What benefits have they gained from GENEadvance\u00ae?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key benefits of using GENEadvance\u00ae so far for the Swift family have been the opportunity to see and read accurate information and data of the herd. Neil said it has enabled them to know what each of their animals is capable of. This has further helped them with their sexed and beef strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their dairy animals are bred to Sexcel\u00ae, Genus ABS\u2019 sexed genetics. Their lower-ranked \u00a3PLI animals go to NuEra\u2122 Beef Genetics to ensure easy calving. Neil added: \u201cI think Sexcel\u00ae is as good as conventional in terms of fertility, I\u2019ve never really noticed a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously, they relied on the pedigree information of their herd. Since gaining genomic data, the reliability of their figures has increased to 68%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their genomically tested heifers are now performing better than ever and are producing more milk. The milk production from their heifers has since increased by four litres per day since using GENEadvance\u00ae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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