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When it comes to key performance indicators in heifer reproduction, I continue to be amazed at how many producers around the country do not measure their heifer reproductive programs appropriately.
Historically, heifer reproduction has been overlooked because producers look at only a few reproductive measures and assume their heifer reproduction is performing well.
“Two for the price of one” is a common marketing scheme to tempt consumers to buy a product. After all, who wouldn’t want twice the value at half the cost? Unfortunately, in the case of dairy cow twinning, it’s a very bad deal.
Cows were not designed by nature to routinely carry, deliver and raise two calves simultaneously. While it can and does happen with frequency, twinning in dairy cows is not a desired outcome of a successful breeding program.
When summer winds down and temperatures begin to improve, dairy producers can tend to forget about the lag in fertility experienced as a result of heat stress.
Over the past decade, the dairy industry has undergone an unprecedented shift in the manner in which the underlying genetics are managed for improved productivity and health of dairy cattle.
Few individuals (experts or otherwise) saw this sea change coming.
The popular reproduction management strategies discussed during the 2013 American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Joint Annual Meeting in July revolved around new variations on synchronization protocols and a new drug for superovulation.
Editor’s note: This is the third and final article in a series following a Wisconsin dairy farm through the Repro Money program, administered by University of Wisconsin Extension. As a reminder, names have been omitted to not disclose the identity of the farm.
Tough economic times in the dairy industry call for refined breeding and feeding management techniques.
With the ever-increasing cost of feed, dairy producers are looking for ways to minimize feed costs, particularly in rearing replacement heifers. Another struggle is finding a market for their excess bull calves.
Reproductive performance of a dairy herd is a function of certain management policies and how well these are implemented in daily herd management.
It has long been known that there is an important economic advantage to be gained by efficient reproduction in dairy herds.
When looking at pregnancy rate data for many dairies, you can instantly tell when summer begins without even looking at the date.
It’s not uncommon to see pregnancy rates cut in half during the hottest periods of the summer. Pregnancy rates commonly slide back as conception and insemination rates are reduced from the summer’s heat.
This article was #24 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2013. It was published in the May 30, 2013 Extra e-newsletter.
Click here for the full list of the Top 25.
In an effort to improve dairy cow fertility, Dr. Pablo J. Pinedo, CVM, of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University, and Dr. Jose E.P. Santos of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, are leading a team of scientists to carry out a five-year grant project looking at the heritability of reproduction traits.
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