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Your Herd’s Reproductive Status

Published: January 27, 2017
By: Ray Nebel, PhD. / V.P. Tech Services Programs, Select Sires Inc.
Summary

Most dairymen can improve production and net income substantially by improving the reproductive performance of their dairy herd. However, before evaluation of the reproductive status can be made, some yardsticks to measure reproductive efficiency must be established.

Reviewed by John Currin, instructor, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Sciences

Maintaining a high level of reproductive efficiency is required if dairy herd profitability is to be maximized. Reproductive performance of a dairy herd is a function of certain management policies and how well these management policies are implemented in the day-today management of the herd.
The first step in evaluating the reproductive performance is to identify key measurements and use them as guides in developing or altering herd management policies and practices. The calving interval should be the starting point in evaluation of prior herd performance. For maximum production, a calving interval of 12.3 to 12.8 months must be achieved. When Calving intervals vary beyond this range, milk production drops significantly, with a sharp drop when calving intervals exceed 13.6 months. To assess why long calving intervals exist, one must evaluate performance in four areas: (1) management policy and philosophy; (2) heat detection; (3) conception rate; and (4) herd health. These areas are not mutually exclusive, but it is most efficient to deal with these individually. Outlined in Table 1 are realistic management goals for Days Open that should be used as benchmarks in evaluation of your herd’s reproductive performance. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the reproductive program will indicate what kind of management decisions may be most profitable.
Your Herd’s Reproductive Status - Image 1
Management Policy
Reproductive performance in a herd is affected by various policies set by management. Managers who recognize the importance of good performance usually have an understanding of the losses in potential income that occur when calving intervals are too long and when reproductive culling rates are too high. They are therefore motivated to develop and maintain an effective reproductive management program.
Good reproduction management begins during the dry period. Cows that experience problems at calving and cows that are in a severe negative energy balance after calving will be slower to resume cycles. Reproductive problems are rarely sudden in appearance and they are rarely due to a single cause. One of the best measures of how management policy affects reproductive performance is reflected in the interval from calving to first breeding. Table 2 gives an interpretation of various intervals from calving to first breeding and the effectiveness of management practices in the area of reproductive performance of the herd.
Your Herd’s Reproductive Status - Image 2
Heat Detection
Good heat detection is the single most important factor in shortening the calving interval. Greater emphasis should be placed on detecting early heats (before 50 days) on all cows so as to anticipate subsequent heat periods. All cows not detected in heat by 50 days should be watched closely and examined by a veterinarian to determine if the uterus is infected or if the ovaries are inactive or cystic. Special attention should be given cows with post-calving problems and cows bred three or more times. Knowledge of the percentage of breedable heats is essential in evaluating the heat detection program. For all DHI members, the percentage of breedable heats detected can be evaluated by using the “Yearly Reproductive Summary” information of the DHI-202 form under the column “percent of possible heats observed” (average for entire year). Table 3 should be used as a guideline for interpreting your heat detection efficiency as measured by the percent of possible breeding detected as reported by DHI. If you are not a DHI member, the number of breedable heats can be evaluated by this formula:
Your Herd’s Reproductive Status - Image 3
This formula assumes that the first breedable heat beyond a 45 day waiting period would be detected on the average at day 55 postpartum. The percentage of breedable heats detected can then be estimated by this formula:
Your Herd’s Reproductive Status - Image 4
Heat detection rates can be increased if dairymen (1) recognize factors that affect expression of heat, (2) record all observed heats and use records in predicting subsequent heats, (3) use heat detection aids carefully, and (4) know the percentage of breedable heats detected (DHI).
Your Herd’s Reproductive Status - Image 5
Conception Rate
This is a broad category when evaluating reproductive records. Conception rate at first breeding provides a useful estimate of the conception rate for a herd. However, it is a measurement that combines the effects of semen quality, fertility of the cow, timing of insemination, semen handling and insemination techniques, as well as factors such as high environmental temperature and stress. Breedings per conception should be interpreted according to the guidelines in Table 4.
Your Herd’s Reproductive Status - Image 6
Herd Health
Reproductive performance of a dairy herd is affected by its overall health. Good sanitation and vaccination programs can prevent many infections or diseases that lower reproductive performance. The effects of disorders on reproductive performance, culling, and profit are more severe in older cows. Cows that are assisted at calving or are treated for retained placenta are at increased risk to suffer additional disorders (uterine infections and cystic ovaries). Therefore, the key to preventing losses due to reproductive disorders must be found in the prevention of such disorders, not in their treatment.
This article was originally published in Virginia Cooperative Extension, publication 404-005.
Related topics
Authors:
Ray Nebel
Select Sires Inc.
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Joe Magadi
UFAC
31 de enero de 2017
Hi Ray, Many thanks for a comprehensive and yet well thought management information. I wonder if you could comment on critical aspects of nutrition and their impact on reproductive efficiency and health particularly in the transition period.
Richard Obongekpe
12 de septiembre de 2019
Thanks for the information seen in your research. Can you comment nutrition cum age on reproduction?
Ali Husnain
24 de mayo de 2017
Article was excellent to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of dairy herd. Thank you Dr. Ray Nebel. I would like to ask question does all these parameters would be same for those herd experiencing more hot and humid weathers that of the averages? Kindly respond
Paul Ngugi
21 de abril de 2017
I don't who I offend if I would start a discussion that give cows the opportunity to mate and populate naturally. It's time we start treating cows as animals and all hell about acidosis , low fertility etc etc will go
Mostafa Badri
7 de marzo de 2017
So many thanks.
Dr.harish Bhongade
19 de febrero de 2017

Very good categorizer of reproductive problems in field.

Satyaprasad Reddy Nimma
4 de febrero de 2017
Good categorisation of reproductive problems in this article but during early lactation animals may be in negative energy balance will not show heat symptoms so nutritional requirements including trace minerals supplementation also important,
Mohan At Ease
2 de febrero de 2017
Wonderful categorization of problems we are aware of and fail to prioritize... Nutritional aspects need to be added to make it complete.
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