Creating extra heifers provides you many intriguing options – the option to expand, the option to sell extra heifers and the option to sell your low-producing cows.

World Dairy Expo brought together more than 72,000 individuals from around the world Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. While each came with unique experience and ambitions, this year’s central theme, “Dairy in our DNA,” drew on attendees’ shared interest in the dairy cow.

The Net Merit (NM$) Index is a dairy selection index that incorporates many different traits that have economic value associated with them. After the most recent revision of the index, it was calculated that an increase in genetic progress is worth $8 million per year to the dairy industry on a national basis, when using NM$ as the selection index.

Confirming more than 40 percent of cows pregnant from the first service and conception rates nearing 30 percent don’t just happen; these are the result of meticulous management, protocol adherence and teamwork.

Body condition scoring (BCS) is a relative measurement of the amount of fat tissue that cows store, which is also correlated to their energy reserve. The industry uses a 5-point scale (with quarter-point increments) to determine the body condition of dairy cows. By evaluating BCS changes, we can identify possible nutritional deficiencies, health issues and, by extension, potential impacts on milk production and reproductive performance.

Breeding your top females to the best bulls available may seem like a solid strategy for genetic improvement, but if those matings are closely related, it could have a negative impact on your herd.

Dairy producers in the U.S. typically breed their Holstein heifers and cows with semen from Holstein A.I. bulls on a random basis without regard to pedigrees and the potential for inbreeding.

Polled dairy cattle trace back at least as far as pedigree records have been kept. The polled gene in dairy cattle is dominant over the horned gene, yet horned cattle are still much more prevalent in the global dairy population because few producers ever chose to select for polled cattle as part of their breeding program.

Your best cow is in standing heat this morning. Just two weeks ago, she was diagnosed pregnant. Bummer! The first thing you want to do is find someone to blame. Usually, the veterinarian is first on the list. Just so you know, it is not likely to be the veterinarian’s fault. Please don’t blame the veterinarian.