New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
The potential for use of surplus dairy herd reproductive capacity for beef
production
Y. Q. TIAN*
D. G. MCCALL
W. H. MCMILLAN
AgResearch
Ruakura Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
*Present address: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd,
P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Abstract A quantitative analysis of the potential benefits of
using in vitro-produced embryos and embryo transfer (IVP and ET)
technologies for beef production from spring-calving dairy herds is presented.
The study was conducted using computer simulation. Additional profit was
assessed from the production of high quality 4-day-old calves for the beef
industry, which are derived from surplus dairy industry breeding capacity.
Twelve IVP and ET scenarios were investigated for comparison with artificial
insemination (AI) methods. These IVP and ET scenarios were combinations of
sex-controlled or sex-uncontrolled embryos with conception rates ranging from
35% to 60%. The study demonstrates that sex-controlled embryo technology is
able to capitalise on the significant beef production potential from dairy
herds. Profit opportunities for the dairy farmer will be significant if beef
IVP and ET costs are no more than AI costs and conception rates for the embryo
transfer technology are at least 50%, otherwise oestrus synchronisation
technology is required to maintain annual calving patterns.
Keywords embryo technology; calf production; reproductive
management; oestrus synchronisation
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1999, Vol. 42: 405-414
0028-8233/99/4204-0405 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1999
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (731K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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