Managing Herd Reproduction

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Managing Herd Reproduction

• AVS 346
• Dairy Cattle Technology

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Measures of Reproduction
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Measures of Reproductive Performance
Normal Values? Manageable?

• Peak Milk
• Persistency
• Dry Period
• Gestation
• Calving Interval
• Days Open
• DIM at First Service

• Voluntary Waiting Period
• Breeding Window
• Heat Detection Rate
• Conception Rate
• Pregnancy Rate

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Reproductive Cycle
Breeding Period
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Reproductive Performance
Maine DHI Statistics
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Reproductive Performance

• Begins with previous calving
• Dystocia Breeding Problem BCS
• Leads to another dystocia
• Carryover effect from CI to CI can be substantial

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Management from Conception to Dry Off

• Goal - BCS of 3.5 to 4.0
• Balance rations for body weight changes
• Consider BCS in moving cows between groups
• Cows past peak should be gaining weight.
• Monitor - BCS at Dry Off

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Effect of Body Condition on Reproductive
Performance
JDS. Supplement 1. 1986.
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Dry Cow Management

• Goals
• Maintain body condition
• Perform routine health maintenance
• Feed to prevent periparturient disorders
• Encourage intake
• Monitor
• BCS prior to calving
• DM intake of prefresh cows

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Calving

• Goal - A live healthy cow and calf
• Most important day of entire cycle
• Anticipate calvings
• Provide the cow with a clean dry environment
• Know when and how to assist
• Know when to call the veterinarian
• Monitor
• Number of periparturient disorders
• Dystocias
• RPs
• MF

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Reproductive Disorders
Stevenson and Call. 1988.
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DM Intake at Calving
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Voluntary Waiting Period

• Goals
• Allow uterus to involute and regain cyclic
  activity.
• Treat reproductive disorders.
• Maximize production and DM intake while
  minimizing body condition losses.
• Monitor
• Reproductive disorders and treatments.
• Cyclic activity
• Body condition scores
• Dry matter intake
• Lactation curves

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Onset of Estrus After Calving
Staples et al.
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(No Transcript)
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Energy Balance and Reproduction
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Prostaglandins Injections20 to 26 Days PP
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Breeding Period

• Most variable part of calving interval
• Goal - Conception
• Length dictated by pregnancy rate
• PR HD x CR
• Heat detection
• Conception rate
• Monitor
• Heat detection
• Conception rate

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Pregnancy Rate
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Summary

• Monitor and control BCS throughout herd
• Monitor and prevent periparturient diseases
• Emphasize good calving management
• Periodically check lactation curves of fresh cows
• Strategic use of prostaglandins
• Evaluate heat detection and conception rates