The Milk Development Council has launched its latest Farm Improvement Programme breeding+. Free to all levy payers, the programme aims to improve profits from breeding in British dairy herds, whether commercial, milk-recorded or fully pedigree.

Once enrolled onto breeding+, dairy farmers have access to not only the most up-to-date research on breeding planning and management available, but also the tools and information to apply that research on-farm. .

Farmers using breeding+ are supplied with a manual that is updated regularly and supported by the breeding+ web site www.mdc.org.uk.

Within the manual, and integral to the programme, is a five-step plan on breeding planning, taking farmers through the essential stages and providing supplementary information to help improve each aspect.

"The five-step plan includes something for everyone, from the purely commercial producer to the specialist dairy cattle breeder," says MDC'S breeding+ co-ordinator Charlotte Bullock. "While some will already follow step one and set priorities for their herd, all producers can benefit from the advice offered on short-listing bulls and getting best value for money on semen purchases. There are even sections on alternative breeding strategies."

The programme manual also includes fact sheets and definitions of the technical breeding terms alongside their application in the breeding planning process. "The aim is that producers use it as a reference tool and dip into it as they need to."

breeding+ has been developed by an industry panel, including pedigree and commercial producers, vets and geneticists.

Leading the panel is Wiltshire dairy farmer and MDC Council member David Homer who believes that breeding+ has something to offer all types of herds.

"We have new breeding information coming through every three months through the breeding+ evaluations service, and even more now fertility and persistency PTAs have been added," says David. "Through breeding+, which is straightforward and practical, we have access to a tool that pulls it all together and directs us to the right places at the right time - a one-stop shop on breeding."

MDC's regional extension team will be supporting the programme buy inviting members to attend events in their area.

breeding+ five-step plan

1. Plan the improvement approach based on an objective assessment of current herd strengths and weaknesses

2. Short-list a number of proven sires with the right improvement abilities using the latest independent bull information from breeding+

3. Calculate annual semen requirement taking into account replacement and pregnancy rates and any semen stocks

4. Buy only the semen actually needed from several of the short-listed sires - negotiating the best prices, delivery arrangements and flexibility

5. Breed these sires to the best cows and heifers, matching specific type and production strengths to overcome any weaknesses.