Reproduction

Why early lameness detection matters for reproductive performance

arnold.harbers@nedap.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Mildly lame cows, or those just starting to decline, often go unnoticed. This hidden group is where the real losses begin to accumulate, especially when it comes to reproduction.

Reproductive performance evaluations enter a new era

taylor.mcwhorter@uscdcb.com — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:32:07 -0400

Ateam from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) and the USDA’s Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL) began a review process to find a way to modernize the traits to make sure genetic ability was being accurately measured.

Why embryo production is a worthy investment for your operation

raegan.jacobsbell@transova.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If your herd looks the same year after year, your genetics – and your profitability – are standing still. In today’s dairy landscape, standing still isn’t neutral. It’s falling behind. Reproductive strategy in dairies is no longer just about pregnancy rates; it’s about compounding progress across generations.

From the experts: A genetic planning guide for dairy producers

matti@agproud.com — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Progressive Dairy interviewed genetic experts from across the industry with one goal in mind: to arm you with the knowledge and questions needed to make an effective genetic plan.

Real Producer Exchange Episode 4: Skylar Gericke

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 08:16:39 -0400

Ohio native Skylar Gericke quickly learned how brutal Arizona summers can be on conception rates and getting cows pregnant. He did his best to get cows bred, and when he was done for the day, he started noticing other improvement areas on the dairy.

Creating pregnancies in the heat: Dickman and Sons Dairy

matti@agproud.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

How does a dairy that regularly sees temperatures over 110°F create pregnancies? Keeping cows cool. For Dickman and Sons Dairy, it really is that simple.

Gestation calculations: A better management lever than ‘days carried calf’

pjackson@bovisync.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

”Days carried calf” (DCC) is a familiar number – easy to filter and easy to build protocols around – but it can also be misleading. The issue is that DCC typically assumes a single fixed gestation length (often 280 days), while real-world gestation length shifts meaningfully with breed, parity, season/month, twinning, calf sex and sire genetics.

Planning your herd’s genetic future: 4 points to consider

gpowers@genex.coop — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Although the industry has achieved rapid genetic advancement, with today’s competitive market, return on investment (ROI) is imperative. Here are several steps to consider when planning your herd’s genetic future for the best possible return on investment.

Create the next generation with more precise data from genomics

adrianne.trennepohl@genusplc.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If a herd chooses to genomic test, the benefit of the tool is the access to data that will assist you in making better breeding decisions.

Energy reserves and reproduction: Why fertility starts long before the transition period

lxf5262@psu.edu — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Growing evidence suggests that events occurring during the previous lactation may also influence reproductive success in the subsequent lactation.

Protecting value in beef-on-dairy calves starts at birth

cparsons@lallemand.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Beef-on-dairy calves are one of the most valuable outcomes of modern dairy production. Protecting the value of these calves depends on how well rumen and gut health are supported from the start.

The story of fat and the future of protein: How genetics influence components

kevin.ziemba@stgen.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The modern Holstein is a component machine. That kind of progress does not happen by accident; it is the combined force of genomics, index-driven selection and breeders who started giving fat the respect the market was begging for.

From assumptions to actuals: What farm data can tell us about heifer supply

romulo.germano@parnell.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Higher beef prices have created opportunities for dairy operations to generate additional revenue through dairy-beef crosses, raising an important and recurring question: Should I be breeding more beef semen or more dairy sexed semen in my herd?

A reference guide for the inbreeding discussion

seaglen@naab-css.org — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

While messages in our industry about inbreeding can be mixed, the facts are clear. Published trends show a steep upward trajectory in inbreeding. This is a natural consequence of high selection intensity and rapid genetic gain. That gain has brought significant genetic progress, which, by current estimates, often outweighs the financial costs of inbreeding depression.

Progressive mating strategies drive genetic progress: Results from recent study

lb5624@psu.edu — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Herds that genotyped and used all semen types had heifers with more than a $100 advantage in net merit than those that used all semen types but did not genotype heifers.

Celebrating breeding efforts with Evergreen Dairy Resort

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Outside of the farming community of Antigo, Wisconsin, Evergreen Dairy Resort has been operating for nearly 20 years, growing significantly and improving the dairy’s breeding efforts along the way.

Genomics, meticulousness help repro shine at Blue Star Dairy Farms

matti@agproud.com — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

“Building a better herd gives you more options,” says Dean Meinholz, herdsman at Blue Star Dairy Farms in DeForest and Arlington, Wisconsin. Dean is referring to the decision made eight years ago to genomic test the Holstein herd – creating more flexibility with incoming heifers and additional revenue with beef-on-dairy calves.

From days to dollars: How beef gestation length impacts your dairy

lkimble@selectsires.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

With the ever-changing value of both replacement heifers and beef-on-dairy crosses at the front of many producers’ minds, optimizing inventory of both streams of calves has become a crucial element of producer strategy. Effectively managing the interplay of the two begins in the dry cow pens.

Adjust the voluntary waiting period to fit your reproduction needs

paula.molinari@genex.coop — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Determining the appropriate voluntary waiting period (VWP) is a critical component of any reproductive program. The optimal VWP may vary depending on the lactation number, season and the farm’s breeding strategy, and it is a fine line between maximizing fertility and ensuring timely conception.

Behind every straw: The story of safe artificial insemination

dgomez@naab-css.org — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Not all domestic semen is required to be certified by CSS. Consequently, semen straws from bulls with unknown health status that may also be produced with less-than-ideal practices, abound. They cross state lines; they hop from one semen tank to another; and they can introduced an unwanted disease to your herd.

Passion and vision fuel the future for Holstein Association USA’s 2025 Distinguished Young Breeder

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:10:44 -0500

Tim Rauen took his passion for pedigrees, excitement for genomics and a vision for genetic success to grow a dairy operation and influence the A.I. industry.

The role of trace minerals in embryo transfer pregnancies

louderdvm@gmail.com — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Open. It is a word no veterinarian enjoys saying during the herd check. While researchers continue to look for ways to improve the outcomes of live births, improving the trace mineral status of the cow may be a promising way to reduce hearing that dreaded word: open.

Impact of automated milking systems on dairy reproduction

dmeihak@lely.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While automated milking systems are widely recognized for their capacity to increase milk yield and enhance cow welfare, their sophisticated data collection capabilities offer substantial advantages for optimizing reproductive management in dairy cattle.

The economics of breeding for more dairy replacements: Striking the right balance

vcabrera@wisc.edu — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article outlines the economic outcomes of alternative breeding strategies that combine sexed, beef and conventional semen. Using both short-term decision support tools and long-term simulation models, we explored how reproductive performance and semen use strategies interact to shape profitability on dairy farms.

Why the placenta might hold the key to better breeding outcomes

kimberly.davenport@wsu.edu — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The placenta isn’t just a passive support system; it is an active, highly regulated organ that can make or break a pregnancy. The better we understand how it works, the better we can care for our cows and make smarter breeding decisions.

Have we overlooked heifer fertility?

douglas.duhatschek@parnell.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Do you extend the same level of discipline and innovation applied to cows to your heifer program? Has your trend in heifer fertility improved over time?

Improve reproduction and heat stress management, one data point at a time

tera.baker@nedap.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairies using activity monitoring technology to measure the effects of heat stress on their cows can unlock a valuable opportunity: integrating this data into breeding decisions as part of a comprehensive, data-driven herd management strategy.

Marketing opportunities for beef-on-dairy calves

jeremy.howard@simplot.com — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Beef prices remain strong, proving strong incentives for dairy producers to stay bullish on beef-on-dairy investments. Just as there’s no single way to run a dairy farm, the same goes for getting involved in the beef-on-dairy market. Here are some factors to ruminate on.

Across the country: Using sort gates to improve reproduction

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Technology continues to push the envelope when it comes to reproductive efficiency. Automated monitoring systems and sort gates have proven to be productive investments for dairy farms across the country.

Health events in dairy cattle: Prevent them all for optimal repro

axb779@psu.edu — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Health events are undesirable events in dairy farms and, in my opinion, are one of the biggest challenges the dairy industry has been facing. Although the incidence of some specific diseases – such as milk fever or clinical ketosis – has decreased in the last 20 years or so, the overall percentage of animals experiencing one or more diseases in the first 60 days after calving hasn’t changed.