Select Sires

Effective Artificial Insemination Planning (Part 2)
Transcript of Select Sires' Reproductive Moment Program
on DairyLine Radio, Which Aired June 12, 2003
with Dr. Paul Fricke, assistant professor and extension specialist,
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Last week Paul Fricke, assistant professor and extension specialist with the dairy science department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, provided tips for developing a successful A.I. program. Taking that a step further, Paul, what should producers consider when deciding whether or not to use timed breeding in their A.I. program?

Last time we talked about some of the aspects of a good A.I. program. If heat detection efficiency or accuracy of heat on a farm is poor, I think it is time to then consider implementing a controlled breeding program such as Ovsynch or Presynch. These programs allow for fixed-time artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows. I work quite a bit with these programs and troubleshooting them on farms. The success or failure of these hormonal protocols that allow for fixed-time A.I. is primarily dependant on one or two factors, or both of these factors together.

The first question is, "Does the protocol itself physiologically synchronize follicular luteal function to allow for fixed-time A.I.?" The answer to that question in most circumstances is, "yes." Research has shown that high-producing, lactating dairy cows synchronize very well to Ovsynch and Presynch. However, in a recent study that we conducted here at UW Madison, lower-producing lactating dairy cows managed in a grazing-based dairy system synchronized very poorly to Ovsynch and resulted in a poor conception rate. Similarly, virgin heifers synchronized poorly to Ovsynch. We are currently working on researching methods to use fixed-time A.I. in heifers.

The second question that needs to be asked about these types of A.I. programs is, "Can the protocol be successfully implemented on the dairy?" Many times the primary failure of Ovsynch or Presynch occurs because the hormonal injection scheme was implemented incorrectly. If the right injection is not given to the right cow on the right day followed by fixed-time A.I., then failure is sure to result. So, careful management of reproduction in the dairy herd will result in an A.I. pregnancy rate equal to that of natural service bulls. Natural service bulls should not be used in a breeding program to compensate for inadequate reproductive management procedures.

Paul, you started this discussion about A.I. tips by saying how important record keeping is when managing a successful breeding program, specifically what things should producers record to help them get the most out of their reproduction program?

Some of the things that you might think about recording would be the dates of estrus’- when those actually occur, the breeding dates, and dates and results of all preg-checks that you are going to have on the farm. With that kind of information you can basically calculate most of the things that you need to calculate as far as reproductive indices are concerned. Tracking these sorts of things just allows producers a lot more flexibility over how to manage the nutritional aspects of their farm, as well as to know when the cow should be moved into, for example, pre-fresh rations and things like that.

Paul Fricke, assistant professor and extension specialist of the dairy science department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

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