Reproductive Management Tools (Part Two)
Transcript of Select Sires' Reproductive Moment Program
on DairyLine Radio Which Aired Nov. 11, 2004
With Jeff Stephenson,
Department of Animal Sciences,
Kansas State University
This week’s Reproductive Moment is with Jeff Stephenson from the Department of Animal Sciences with Kansas State University. Jeff, we continue our discussion from last week on Tools of Reproductive Management on dairy farms. Last week you talked about synchronized ovulation in cattle, the Ovsynch® protocol. Pre-synchronizing estrus cycles before using Ovsynch helps improve fertility in cows.
It takes advantage of the fact that we are getting those cows in a more fertile stage of the estrus cycle to start the Ovsynch protocol, so that we have better timed follicular development, corpus luteum regression prior to using timed breeding that is associated with the Ovsynch protocol.
You touched on improving those pregnancy rates, that is a definite, isn’t it.
It is in the studies that have been done, the research studies that have been published, and the literature. I work with a couple, in fact three, herds that are fairly close to my institution here their herds are in excess of 500 cows and they routinely use this system. They are very happy with it because it gives them pretty repeatable results throughout the seasons including summer when cows obviously have more fertility with seasonal changes that come with summer and humidity.
In those experiences has it proved to be economical?
That is a good question. It is only beginning to be addressed. One good study was done, recently, in which they compared one herd in which they split the herd and half the cows were inseminated based on visual heat detection, the other half the herd they used the Ovsynch protocol; then, they also had a second herd in which they did the same procedure. The herd that had the poorest fertility, the poorest heat detection rates by far, when they figured the economics of it were much further ahead using the Ovsynch protocol because they got more cows pregnant and the value, or the cost, of the pregnancy was significantly reduced with the Ovsynch protocol compared with the visual heat detection. In the herd that had a little better heat detection rates and a little better fertility it was about a break-even proposition. Of course if you look strictly at the economics you can say well, if a herd has pretty good heat detection rate, or well above average, and fertility is fairly normal it may not pay in the long run. It is about a toss-up but what is not figured in that whole economic analysis is what I call the “hassle-factor”. The reduction in hassle that is associated with being able to program breeding cows on certain days of the week, which takes a lot of the stress and some of the guess and “By-Gollies” out of getting cows pregnant these days. So, it is probably worth something and I don’t know how you would put a value on it, but that is still something I think is important.
So, with herds with poor to marginal heat detection, then, yes you could see it as an economical thing. But, in a marginal it is to really no advantage to good heat detection.
That is right. I don’t know where to draw that line. What is considered to be poor heat detection, or good heat detection; but in this study the poor heat detection herd was one where they were catching less than half the cows in heat. In the other herd they were catching about 60 percent, or a little bit more, of the cows in heat. It is kind of a break even proposition there and where you draw that line is difficult. The person has to evaluate, as well, the value that comes from being able to program these cows and breed cows at the same time each week. It is kind of a tough call and varies from herd to herd. But, that is what the data said in this one study.
That is Dr. Jeffrey Stephenson from the department of animal sciences at Kansas State University.
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