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.

Lynch 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.

Lynch said: “No matter what you do regarding breeding, you need to have a plan.

“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.

He noted that 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 said.

“We’re not endorsing any system in particular, but they will give you the correct time of AI when that cow is ovulated.”

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 have not 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 the video below 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.

One of the biggest mistakes Lynch sees is relying too heavily on a single sire.

“You’re hugely exposing yourself to EBI (Economic Breeding Index) changes if you use a small number of sires,” he said.

He recommended using 5–7 bulls when working with sexed semen to maintain reliability and guard against fluctuations in proofs.

On the Herdwatch App, farmers can set multiple bulls running with the cow on particular dates and due-to-calf dates are automatically generated.

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, They don’t want big calves at birth," Lynch said.

"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.

With the Herdwatch App, farmers can link their account with ICBF and get all their artificial intelligence (AI) and breeding events automatically synced to their app. 

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

That is 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, with 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.”

John Lynch’s parting message was clear: there is 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.