Pablo Roque is an A.I. technician from Jerome, Idaho, who works for several dairies across the southern region of the No. 3 milk-producing state in the U.S. He breeds cows and performs preg checks. Originally from Tomatlán, Jalisco, in Mexico, Roque began his dairy career in the state of Washington managing several dairies.

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Although the technology of sexed semen has been around for a while, many still question if it’s worth the investment. After all, the price of sexed semen for many producers is significantly higher than the cost of conventional semen.

One of the major factors determining dairy herd efficiency is the amount milk sold per cow per day of life. Several factors contribute to pounds of milk sold per day of life, but reproductive performance is a major contributor. The two main reproduction influences on lifetime milk production are age at first calving and percentage of time a cow spends in the first months of lactation.

Heat stress has long-term consequences on the reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle. Dairy cows begin to show signs of heat stress when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) reaches 72. This heat index takes into account the combined effects of air temperature and relative humidity. Although heifers may not show as much discomfort, they also require attention during times of heat stress to prevent negative effects on fertility. According to the DCHA Gold Standards II, Holstein heifers 6 to 12 months old should receive protection from direct sunlight when the THI meets or exceeds 77. Heifers 12 months old to freshening should have shade when the THI meets or exceeds 72.

The term “preg check” is a misnomer that has been used in the dairy industry for decades. No matter how you determine the reproductive status of cattle following insemination, the goal of the task is to actually find the open cows.

, is currently trending as one of the most-read A.I. and Breeding articles. to jump to the article. Summary: University of Idaho’s K. Scott Jensen explains that every person on the dairy responsible for heat detection should follow the same decision-making process every day with every cow. The key to developing a system for getting cows bred is consistency, he says.

It’s simple – accurate heat detection programs lead to higher pregnancy rates. Higher pregnancy rates result in more pregnant cows, fewer days open and more profitability for the dairy. Having spent 11 years as the manager of a breeding team in Saudi Arabia and 14 years on different dairies (in Arizona and Oregon), I have seen firsthand the universality of good heat detection programs. Regardless of herd size, facility setup or climate, a successful reproductive program begins with knowledge and application of heat detection principles.

Reproductive failure is the number one reason for involuntary culling, which contributes to the economic importance of getting cows pregnant in a timely manner. Fertility results from a combination of many factors, including increase in milk production per cow, management and environmental factors such as heat stress.