Select Sires

Reproductive Management Practices (Part One)
Transcript of Select Sires' Reproductive Moment Program
on DairyLine Radio, Which Aired Oct. 14, 2004
with Dr. Jodie Pennington,
professor and extension dairy specialist,
University of Arkansas

This week Dr. Pennington, we are talking about reproductive management practices. What are some good, reliable reproductive management practices that are out there?

Well, Bill, we have a checklist that we go through to indicate what type of program an individual should set up. One of the first things he needs to do is set realistic goals. Some people think that conception rates should be 60 percent on high-producing cows. Basically, what they need to do is look at the DHI average in their area and try to be a little better than that, if possible. Of course, to do this they need accurate records, and that would be the second thing that would be very essential for a reproductive management program. Once they get that set up they would need a good heat-detection program, and along with this they would record those records so that they would know when an animal is bred, what her status is and then monitor that through the next pregnancy.

When we talk about a good heat-detection program, it seems like there are various ones out there. Heat, obviously, is the physical evidence that your cow or heifer is sexually active and is ready to be bred. Do you have any recommendations for a heat detection program?

Well, yes. Generally we recommend, of course, that producers start with the fact that they need to have these good records so they know when to expect her in heat. Of course, cows are going to come into heat every 21 days or so, but there is quite a bit of variability. They need to know when to watch for her in heat, and then know what those signs of heat are. Of course, a cow, when she does come into heat is going to stand to be ridden, and that is the only true indication that she is in heat. However, she may have some other signs such as riding, having other animals sniff her and she will sniff them, or just following and smelling other animals. Once we catch her, we might notice that she has a moist, red or slightly swollen vulva. Some dairy producers will even palpate a cow and then if she has a clear mucus they will assume she is in heat.

What is the most reliable sign that a cow or heifer is in heat?

The most reliable sign that she is in heat is standing to be ridden, in which we do have a lot of variations in terms of how many times a cow will stand to be mounted. In some continuous observations that were made, some animals will stand to be mounted one to two times, and others will stand to be mounted fifty times. However, there are these additional signs, such as restlessness, following and smelling other cows, attempting to mount other cows, and we have to use these signs sometimes for those cows that just have females to determine that they are in heat.

We’ll talk more about dealing with heat-detection in next week’s Reproductive Moment with Dr. Jodie Pennington, professor and extension dairy specialist at the University of Arkansas.

Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 North, Plain City, Ohio 43064 / Phone: (614) 873-4683 Fax: (614) 873-5751