Achieving High Reproductive Performance on Dairy Herds

Adapted by J.P. Martins, PhD - UCCE Dairy Advisor, Tulare and Kings Counties

Achieving high reproductive performance in high producing lactating dairy cows was once a nearly impossible task. However, during the last two decades, several advancements were made in reproductive management, and new technologies became available, making it more common to find high production herds achieving high reproductive efficiency. Every year, the Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council (DCRC) recognizes and honors top US dairy producers who have successfully achieved high reproductive efficiency. Last November, during the DCRC annual meeting in Reno, these producers shared their strategies during a round table event, and a summary of the Dairy Comp 305 data from the awarded herds was presented.

All 24 awarded producers combined timed-artificial insemination (timed-AI) protocols with estrus detection (ED) for their reproductive management strategy. Timed-AI protocols’ efficiency is undeniable. Protocols such as Presynch-Ovsynch, G6G-Ovsynch and Double-Ovsynch increase both service rate (estrus detection rate) and fertility of high producing, lactating, dairy cows (the most efficient timed-AI protocols were covered in the January 2017 edition of the California Dairy Newsletter). However, traditional ED is still a useful tool for finding and breeding non-pregnant cows sooner. Estrus detection also reduces costs associated with reproductive hormones. Eleven of the 24 awarded producers used only timed-AI protocols for first service, while the other 13 producers used timed-AI (Presynch-Ovsynch) in combination with ED (cherry-picking) for first service. All awarded producers used a combination of ED and resynchronization protocols to re-inseminate cows. Cows not detected in estrus and inseminated after first service were listed for pregnancy diagnosis (“preg check”) and enrolled to a resynchronization protocol, if not pregnant. Producers emphasized that managers, employees, and technicians must have a good understanding of the reproductive strategy implemented.

Awarded producers also payed close attention to other areas of management that have negative effects on the fertility of lactating dairy cows, including transition cow management and heat abatement strategies.

Transition period: Producers must reduce the percentage of cows with problems during the transition period to achieve reproductive success. Cows that struggle with severe negative energy balance, loss of body condition score (BCS) and clinical or subclinical diseases during the transition period will delay showing heat and have reduced fertility and greater chance of pregnancy loss. Thus, cows in the transition period must receive special care in the areas of nutrition, cow-comfort, grouping strategies and health monitoring to maximize reproductive potential later in lactation.

Heat abatement strategy: Last summer (2017) was the second consecutive record warm summer (Source: NOAA). Heat stress has a huge negative impact on production and reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows. Lactating dairy cows during heat stress have a substantial reduction of pregnancy rates and a significant increase in the percentage of pregnancy losses. Enhancements in milk production per cow has made the regulation of cows’ body temperature even more difficult. To reduce the deleterious effects of heat stress on production and reproduction during summer, it is critical to optimize the heat abatement strategy used (more information in the April 2017 edition of the California Dairy Newsletter).

Achieving high reproductive efficiency requires effort in many areas of management but it can be done. It is also essential to keep accurate breeding records on cow ID, breeding rate, technician, sire ID, and breeding code (e.g. standing in heat, timed-AI program, resynch) to evaluate the reproductive strategy used.

Congratulations to the 2017 DCRC awarded dairy farms from California: Jer-Z Boyz Dairy, Platinum Award (Gary and Daniel De Graaf, Pixley), and K & R Blount Dairy, Gold Award (Kevin and Ryan Blount, Crows Landing).Congratulations to the 2017 DCRC awarded dairy farms from California: Jer-Z-Boyz Dairy

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