Will Your Calves Make the Cut? – Why Breeding Smarter is the Big Talk in 2025

As breeding season gets underway, Irish farmers are facing the same age-old challenge, getting cows in-calf but with a very modern twist: the calves coming out the other end need to be market-ready, sustainable, and saleable.

With growing concerns around calf exports, dairy-beef integration, and fertility targets, this year’s choices matter more than ever. That message was loud and clear during a recent webinar hosted by Herdwatch featuring John Lynch of Dovea Genetics, who pulled no punches on what farmers need to focus on right now. John shared valuable tips for farmers this breeding season, highlighting how preparation and recording observations and breeding data with Herdwatch can lead to a more successful and efficient season.

Good Planning is key

“No matter what you do regarding breeding, you need to have a plan,” Lynch said. “There’s no point thinking about it when you’re starting breeding, talking about what bulls to use then, it needs to be in place now.” Lynch emphasised that pre-breeding is everything,  from condition scoring and scanning to vaccination protocols and bull selection. For farmers using sexed semen, the margin for error is even smaller, making planning and timing critical.

“Sexed semen is working best where there is some heat detection in place,” he noted. “We’re not endorsing any system in particular, but they will give you the correct time of AI when that cow is ovulated.”

Pre- Breeding and Observation

The Herdwatch app takes the hassle out of pre-breeding prep by allowing farmers to easily record pre-breeding scan results and heat observations on the go. Once a heat is logged, Herdwatch automatically sets reminders for the next expected cycle, typically around 21 days, so cows can be closely monitored for signs of returning to heat. The app also flags cows that haven’t shown signs of heat within the expected window, automatically generating a list of non-cycling cows. This helps identify problem animals early, allowing farmers to take action or consult a vet before the breeding season ramps up. The Watchboard feature keeps everything in one place, with real-time alerts and updates to keep breeding on track and maximise fertility performance. Watch here to see how this dairy farmer from Co. Offaly is getting prepared for breeding season by recording heat observations and getting ahead of any potential breeding issues.

For Better Beef Calves, Breed Like It Matters

With dairy-beef integration becoming a necessity, farmers need to think about the type of calf they’re breeding. “The dairy farmer wants a balance,” Lynch said. “They don’t want big calves at birth… The beef farmer wants big performance, good carcass weights, and confirmation.”

Bulls like Carmel (Angus) and Ringfort Carlos (Hereford) are helping strike that balance, offering solid carcass traits with acceptable calving difficulty for dairy cows. And for those looking to push the envelope early in the season? “Push your limits on a beef bull you can use,” Lynch suggested. “We have a great selection of Belgian Blues… breeding super calves.” With the Herdwatch App, Farmers can link their account with ICBF and get all their AI and breeding events automatically synced to their Herdwatch app. 

Why More Farmers Are Turning to Herdwatch

A takeaway from the breeding webinar Lynch left viewers with was “You can have all the parts of the jigsaw in place,” Lynch said, “but if you’re not observing your cows morning and evening, AI won’t work properly for you.”

That’s where tech like the Herdwatch App comes into its own, combining the best of hands-on farming with real-time breeding records, reminders, and fertility tracking. Farmers can now keep track of heats, repeats, AI records and more straight from their phone, no need to depend on unreliable paper records that get lost.

The Herdwatch breeding feature helps streamline the entire season, offering:

• Heat detection recording, pre-breeding records, and pregnancy scan results
• Syncing AI records with ICBF for better streamlining
• Access to ICBF from animal profiles
• Built-in reminders for repeats and possible heats
• Full traceability for Bord Bia inspections
• Calf Registration

“Herdwatch is a huge plus here, tracking your heats in the herd,” Lynch said. “Tail paint is a huge help, teaser bulls… but the big thing here is observation and recording on the Herdwatch App.”

Make Every Calf Count

John Lynch’s parting message was clear: there’s no excuse for poor planning or poor calves in 2025. With tools like Herdwatch, expert sire advice from Dovea, and proven innovations like Sperm Vital, Irish farmers have everything they need to breed smarter, not harder. “We’re here to help at any stage we can,” Lynch said. “There’s quite a large team of us… and we’re committed to keeping that quality.”

Find out more about the Herdwatch App today and Join over 20,000 farmers using the Herdwatch App to stay on top of their breeding records and remain compliant for 2025.