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As the saying goes, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Dairy producers put a lot of time and effort into reproductive programs, but effectively managing those programs requires performance measuring.
As the use of genomics has entered mainstream dairy production, lots of attention has been focused on the science, technology, predictability and economics of genomic testing.
Embryo production in cattle has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades, and its use will likely increase since now producers can better predict animal performance with the use of genomics.
It was not long ago that a 20 percent pregnancy rate (PR) was the gold standard for a productive dairy herd, but today, that bar is being raised beyond what many ever imagined.
Robotic milking has established itself more and more across the country – to the detriment of tiestall barns. Although this milking and herd management method provides several advantages, it also requires producers to adapt their level of management and choice of bulls in order to achieve success.
Precision agriculture has become a common term in agriculture. It was originally associated with crop farming and found its roots with the use of harvest equipment that had the ability to measure crop yields by location.
Trace minerals are critical for adequate immune function and metabolism in dairy cattle. Research shows that trace minerals have antioxidant functions and may help reduce the level of oxidative stress postpartum as well as improve immune response to vaccines.
Note: This information was presented during a Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council webinar earlier this year.
Anovular cows – those that are not cycling – are a significant concern and management challenge for U.S. dairy producers, as the incidence rate is quite significant.
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