STOCK EMBRYO TRANSFER
From left, Gina, Ivan and John are managing the business of 450 embryo transfer calves born at Bellevue Enterprises.
High-tech breeding yields genetic gain The pressure to ensure calf survival is higher when you’re managing some of the best genetics in the country, yet Bellevue Enterprises farm manager Ivan Deed takes it all in his stride. Sheryl Haitana reports.
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ome of the country’s top dairy genetics are born at Bellevue Enterprises’ dairy farm, a 10-minute drive from Hamilton. The company was founded by Waikato and Canterbury farmers in 2013 and works with Animal Breeding Services (ABS) to breed dairy and beef calves with high genetic merit. The focus is on genetic gain through using the best breeding technologies on behalf of NZ breeding companies and individual dairy farmers. Farm manager Ivan Deed is usually on midwife patrol doing most of the night 70
checks on the springers, which calve all year round. Checking on a cow at 10pm and not going back until the morning is not good enough when the calf is potentially worth thousands of dollars. “It’s much like a foal watch. It’s long hours and late nights but it’s a rewarding job – it’s definitely not boring,” Ivan says. He doesn’t hesitate to intervene early either if he feels a cow needs help calving and will make the call early to get in a veterinarian if necessary. An embryo transfer (RT) Friesian calf can weigh up to 45-55kg and the health of both cow and calf are vital.
“The ET calves traditionally are a little bit bigger: when it comes to assisting them or calling in a vet I make the call and make it early. “You can cause cows more harm than good by leaving them too long to calve on their own.” Recipient cows can have less of a bond with their calf and can sometimes show fewer labour signs, he says. Ivan and his staff do several checks on the springers during the day, looking out for the cues and monitoring individual cow behaviour. Ivan’s skillset is invaluable when it Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | July 2020
