The World's source for Bovine Genetics
SELECTIONS - Summer 2005
Achieving 20 Percent Pregnancy Rates
With Select Reproductive Solutions™


The profitability of any dairy enterprise hinges on both sound production and reproduction. Over the years, the general trend in the average dairy herd has been toward more cows, more milk, but reduced reproductive performance.

More intense use of estrus synchronization and/or early pregnancy diagnosis to combat reproductive problems has lead to greater recognition that it is not necessarily estrus detection rate nor conception rate that is the primary driver of reproductive profitability. Rather, it is the product of these two measures (pregnancy rate) that is truly most important.

Table 1: DairyMetrics query of production and reproduction characteristics of Holstein herds in the United States.


What is average?

To recognize and appreciate above average production and reproductive performance, it’s important to establish a clear picture of “What is average?” A popular national benchmarking system (DairyMetrics, Dairy Records Management Services, Raleigh, N.C.) indicates the average Holstein herd east of the Rockies milks about 130 cows, has a rolling herd average of a little over 20,000 pounds of milk, and maintains an average annual pregnancy rate of 15 percent (top segment of table lower right).

Reproduction in Herds with Above-Average Production

All the recent discussion related to the effects of high milk production on reproduction may lead some to believe that if your cows milk too much you’ll never get them bred back. Although herds selected for above average milk production (=22,000 pounds of milk RHA) appear to have slightly reduced conception rates, greater estrus detection rates make up the difference resulting in identical pregnancy rates to the average herd (Section 2 table lower right). The more aggressive approach to estrus detection and/or synchronized A.I. submission also resulted in fewer average days to first service and shorter average days open for these high milk production herds.

Production in Herds with Above-Average Reproduction

The production-reproduction debates might lead some to believe that herds with above reproduction must be herds that are of below average production. To the contrary, herds selected for above average reproduction (=20 percent pregnancy rate) have identical levels of milk production to the average herd (Section 3 table lower right).

Can we have both?

To this point, it’s clear that we can select herds for one trait (production or reproduction) and not impact the other. However, is it really possible to have both? The fact that only 705 of the original 12,011 herds remain when we screen for both traits (=22,000 pounds RHA and =20 percent pregnancy rates) is a testament that this is not necessarily an easy task (Section 4 table lower right). Although we need to interpret these numbers with caution, the tendency for increased average herd size in this highly selected population does not support the myth that only small herds can achieve high levels of both production and reproduction. And, as you'll see in the testimonials that follow, there are herds out there that are achieveing the best of both worlds.

Solutions

The variation in reproductive approaches for each of the herds on the next two pages illustrates that there is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution to reproduction in large, high-producing dairy herds. No one recognizes this better than your Select Sires Reproductive Solutions™ Specialist. From a total Ovsynch program using on-farm personnel to Select Sires professional tail-chalking technicians and everywhere in between, take advantage of our “team approach” to develop a 20 percent pregnancy breeding program in your herd.



™Select Reproductive Solutions, Select Sires Reproductive Solutions are trademarks of Select Sires Inc.

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