SELECTIONS - Winter 2005
20 Percent Pregnancy Rates
With Select Reproductive Solutions
Emerald Spring Dairy Inc., Plainview, Minn.
At Emerald Spring Dairy, Minnesota/Select Sires
technician and Reproductive Solutions Specialist
Dave Houghton is responsible for the tail chalking
program and works with the veterinarian and herdsman
to ensure the prostaglandin, Ovsynch, and Resynch
breeding programs are administered properly. The
voluntary waiting period is a strict 50 days. Cows
receive a therapeutic injection of prostaglandin at
about 35 days in milk and their first breeding
injection 14 days later. About 65 percent of cows
are bred to detected estrus over the next two weeks
and the remaining 35 percent are put on Ovsynch to
achieve 100 percent first breeding by 90 days in milk.
Cows that do not return to estrus are placed on a
Resynch program beginning with GnRH seven days before
the ultrasound pregnancy check at 35 to 42 days after
breeding. Pregnant cows receive no further treatment,
while open cows receive the remainder of the Ovsynch
protocol with a timed re-breeding three days after open
diagnosis. When asked about the key ingredients to the
herd's reproductive success, owner Maurie Young promptly
responded, "Dave Houghton and his tail-chalking program."
Prior to Dave coming aboard, a similar breeding approach
was being used by the dairy with good results, but their
goal of improving efficiency in this area was not being met.
Dave is another set of eyes on the dairy, helping to head
off herd-health issues before they become real problems by
working closely with the herd's veterinarian and nutritionist.
Maurie notes that what Dave does would equate to a part-time
position on the dairy. Dave has freed up time for both the
herdsman and assistant herdsman so that they can focus on
their tasks more efficiently.
"We're really happy with the results we've seen. We've seen
a savings in labor, the economic benefit of fewer shots, and
improved reproductive efficiency, which means more offspring.
We’re impressed with the results that we've seen, considering
the small amount of time Dave is actually here. It's just remarkable."
The pregnancy rate for the herd went up 4 percent after switching
to tail chalking. Maurie stated that some sources indicate each
point could equate to a savings of $15 to $20 per cow per year,
and he estimates that between reduced expenses and improved
conception, Dave's tail-chalking service is generating an extra
$40,000 for the herd annually compared to when they ran the
breeding program themselves.
Maurie says other key ingredients to the herd's success are
the synchronization programs, overall herd health and nutrition.
"We've made great strides," he concludes, "but the biggest change
is the result of going to tail-chalking."
Cary Dairy, Battle Creek, Mich.
Cary Dairy pumps out a RHA of 28,000 pounds on 630 cows in the
milking string. Cows receive a set-up PGF injection at 47 to 53
days. A second injection is given to all cows at 61 to 67 days
but only 2-year-olds are bred if detected in estrus. A third
injection is given at 75 to 81 days and all cows detected in
estrus are bred. Cows not bred by about 83 days (approximately
50 percent of herd) are put on Ovsynch. Pregnancy checks are
every other week for all cows more than 34 days after breeding.
Open cows at all pregnancy checks go immediately back on Ovsynch
and those that have had two or more previous breedings also
receive a CIDR. The staff of Cary Dairy selectively applies the
tail-chalking program to all cows that are injected with PGF for
breeding and Select Sires Reproductive Solutions™ Specialist Ed
Nichols is always there to lend an arm on Ovsynch day. Gary
Bivens credits the secret of the herd's success to watching
feed intake and in protocol compliance.
"We minimize hormone cost by breeding most of the cows to detected
estrus. For set up on Ovsynch, we have too much invested to risk
compromising results because we did give the right cow, the right
shot at the right time. Compliance is critical," says Gary.
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The reproductive team at Landwehr dairy includes, from left: Mike and Dennis Landwehr, herdsperson Isaac Miller, assistant herdsperson Astrid Gottschalt and Minnesota Select Sires Reproductive Solutions Specialist Daren Johnson.
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Landwehr Dairy, Watkins, Minn.
Landwehr Dairy has a 60-day VWP for cows and 75 days on first-calf
heifers with a little flexibility for healthy cows that are "close"
when detected in estrus. Cows receive Presynch beginning 18 to 32
days after calving and HeatSynch beginning 14 days after the second
PGF injection. HeatSynch cows are only bred to standing heats.
Herd manager Isaac Miller says timed breeding to HeatSynch failed
miserably and it took two years to figure that out. First-calf
heifers follow the same program starting two weeks later (32 to
46 days after calving). Minnesota Select Sires Service Specialist
Daren Johnson arrives at 6:30 a.m. every morning and walks every
pen checking heats and re-chalks cows as necessary. Cows begin
Resynch seven days before pregnancy diagnosis, which occurs every
other week. When asked about the key ingredient for the herd's
successful reproductive program, Isaac responds quickly.
"Teamwork – everyone working together for the same goal. Daren is
really important in the whole mix. He knows each one of the cows
and their habits. Daren knows the cows just as well as anyone
else at the farm."
Team meetings are conducted at least twice a year (more frequently
if the need arises) with the veterinarians, nutritionists,
Select Sires Reproduction Specialist, and other consultants.
Horning Dairy, Manchester, Mich.
Horning Dairy is averaging just shy of 27,000 pounds of milk
on 310 cows with a 22 percent pregnancy rate. The Horning dairy
does not have fresh cow checks. At 21 days, cows exhibiting cloudy
discharge or other signs they have not cleaned will receive PGF.
Cows then receive their first PGF breeding injection at 57 days
in milk and a second PGF breeding injection two weeks later to
those cows not detected in estrus. These PGF injections and tail-chalk
are applied on Friday afternoons to facilitate estrus detection on
Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, which best accommodates herd
management and labor availability. Cows not bred to estrus after
either PGF injection (approximately 50 percent of the herd) are
placed on Ovsynch at the next regular vet check. Pregnancy diagnosis
is performed at 32 days after breeding and all open cows are immediately
placed back on the Ovsynch program. When asked about the key to the
herd’s success, Jeff Horning promptly responds, "People! Without
good people that take their job seriously, there's no way we
could achieve what we do."
Similar to Cary Dairy, the staff at Horning Dairy are sticklers when
it comes to protocol compliance, even down to ±0.5 hours on the timing
of Ovsynch injections and breeding.
Matshe Farms, Birnamwood, Wis.
In addition to using a similar breeding protocol as Horning Dairy,
Matshe Farms also takes advantage of NorthStar Select Sires
tail-chalking technician Bruce Nedza to achieve 21 percent pregnancy
rates. Cows receive a set-up injection of prostaglandin at 28 to 30
days after calving and their first breeding injection at about 45
days in milk. Cows are bred to standing heats and tail-chalked for
the next three to four weeks. Cows not bred by 80 days in milk are
put on Ovsynch. Pregnancy checks are conducted weekly and open cows
with a good corpus luteum receive PGF and all others go on Ovsynch.
Problem cows receive Ovsynch plus the CIDR treatment. Scott Matshe,
herd owner, credits the herd’s outstanding success to the nutrition
program and to Bruce’s dedication to the details in the heat detection
and breeding program.
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Dick and Greg Ostrowski rely on management and tail-chalking to achieve
reproductive success.
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Ostrowski Farms, Birnamwood, Wis.
The Ostrowskis also take advantage of NorthStar Select Sires
technician Bruce Nedza's tail-chalking expertise in their 800-cow,
25,000-pound herd. However, the Ostrowskis' approach is an interesting
contrast to the other herds described in this article. Cows are bred
almost exclusively to standing heats as detected by Bruce's professional
tail-chalking service. No Ovsynch is used in the Ostrowski herd, although
sporadic use of prostaglandins helps to facilitate estrus detection.
Bruce credits a very conservative approach to estrus detection for the
outstanding conception rates in this herd. Although all cows are sent
to the bull pen at 120 days in milk, the poor guy really doesn't have
much work to do, as about 65 percent to 70 percent of the cows are
already pregnant to A.I. He simply helps to polish off a few problems
to achieve 85 percent pregnant by 150 days in milk. The Ostrowskis are
a real world example that if management is dedicated, traditional methods
of breeding cows (heat detection) can still achieve outstanding results.
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Team management is key to reproductive success for
Stardust Dairy. Bernadette Van Den Tillaart and Frank
Van Genugten are shown with sons Jesse and Ruben.
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Stardust Dairy, South Solon, Ohio
Frank Van Genugten, Stardust Dairy, relies on a strong team to
manage the dairy's reproductive system. The team consists of
veterinarian, Dr. Don Sanders; COBA/Select Sires tail-chalking
technician, Brian Alkire; herdsman, German Valles; Frank, and a
nutritionist. Dr. Sanders remarks that there are three keys to
the success at Stardust.
"First they have a strong nutritional program including body
condition scoring. Second, they vaccinate and have a disease
surveillance program; and third, an aggressive presynch program."
Frank starts his presynch program at 29 to 35 days with a VWP
of 50 days. Another key element – weekly ultrasounds at 34 or
more days. Resynch is used on all cows to be pregnancy checked
prior to herd check. Open cows are Ovsynched, painted a second
color and bred off standing heats or timed A.I. at 72 hours.
This accounts for only 32 percent of total breedings. Cystic
cows at herd check are given a CIDR plus Ovsynch. A daily whole
herd tail painting system that is crosschecked with AfiFarm and
herd observation achieves a high level of heat detection. Frank
or German also do a walk-through in the evening and record any
data for Brian to review the following morning. All this effort
has yielded a 23 percent pregnancy rate and a 33 percent conception
rate. The herd averages 65 days to first service and 119 days open.
Frank feels that the attention to detail along with the conscientious
efforts of technician Brian Alkire is what makes the difference.
"Brian is consistant and reliable, he gets cows to herd check that
require special attention, that would be missed otherwise," says
Dr. Sanders.
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Ted and Cindy Van Raay utilize a team approach and intense fresh cow program to achieve their 26,625-pound RHA and reproductive success.
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Ted and Cindy Van Raay, South Charleston, Ohio
Ted and Cindy Van Raay milk 692 cows with a herd average of 26,625 milk.
Ted works with Dr. Don Sanders, his veterinarian specializing in
reproduction, as well as Brian Alkire, COBA technician, to achieve
reproductive success. A key component to their reproductive success
is the intensive fresh-cow program. Ted believes firmly in preparing
cows to be bred. All fresh cows are checked at 14 days for reproductive
complications from calving and problems are dealt with at that time.
Fresh cows will then start a presynch program at day 28. Ted's goal is
to have all cows pregnant by 150 days. There are weekly herd checks for
cows bred 34 days plus, and all open cows then start an Ovsynch program.
All cystic cows as well as any open cows with four or more services are
implanted with a CIDR plus Ovsynch. Timed A.I. is used on all Ovsynch
cows without any heat signs by 72 hours.
According to Ted, "Brian's really good tail painting system is a key."
Have Questions?
Contact your Select Sires representative for more information on
the Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) portfolio of reproductive
services and what it can do for your herd.
™Select Sires Reproductive Solutions and SRS are trademarks of Select
Sires Inc.
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