As concerns over falling reproductive performance escalated around the turn of the century, dairy cattle breeders and advisers decided to take on this trend by putting more emphasis on reproduction-related genetic traits (e.g., Daughter Pregnancy Rate [DPR] and Sire Conception Rate [SCR]) and seeking out effective heat detection tools.

As the dairy industry embraces automation, there is a shift to move calves indoors rather than house them outside in hutches.

As technology races on at a dizzying pace, tools are introduced to the dairy industry with the promise of helping improve productivity. Robotic milking is one such technology that promises a wide range of benefits.