A.I. & Breeding

Historically, to a lot of dairymen, calving ease has been a bit of a secondary trait. In many cases semen buying decisions were more centered on how much production or how much type a sire had. Calving ease was thrown into the mix almost as an afterthought, or as something to use on the heifers.

However, the most stressful part of a cow’s life cycle is the calving process and its postpartum aftermath. The quality of life of a dairyman might increase dramatically if we could eliminate difficult calvings, retained placentas, ketosis, milk fever, displaced abomasums, etc. There would probably be a little less concern over the diminishing availability of large animal veterinarians if these ailments could be eliminated.

It is well known that daughters from artificial insemination (A.I.) sires produce more milk than those bred by natural service. Incorrect A.I. techniques can lower the overall success rate of your breeding program. At one time, most producers have learned correct techniques in semen handling and insemination procedures, but unfortunately, many have developed some bad habits. Reviewing proper procedures should help eliminate many of these mistakes.

The new discovery of a lethal gene may explain why pregnancy rates in dairy cattle have dropped sharply in recent years, a University of Wisconsin – Madison researcher says.

PACE success reaches new levels with November sire summary
Accelerated Genetics continues to maintain an active lineup full of leading genetic sires in all breeds that graduate from the PACE young sire program. Topping Accelerated Genetics lineup for both Net Merit and TPI™ is PACE graduate 014HO04099 Billion. Eighteen daughters were added to his type proof, bringing this high-ranking sire to the elite +2.00 PTAT level. Billion also increased significantly on his Udder Composite (UDC) at +1.63, and his Foot and Leg Composite (FLC) at +2.44.

In recent years, several estimates of embryonic mortality in cattle have been made. Embryonic mortality is generally defined as loss of the conceptus which occurs during the first 42 days of pregnancy, which is the period from conception to completion of differentiation when organ systems develop.

In the years since the formation of the Newaygo Dairy Testing Association, the first Cow Testing Association (CTA) that started in America in the fall of 1905, production records have become the foundation for herd improvement. This was noted in the early years by the fact that the name was changed nationally in 1927 to the Dairy Herd Improvement Association or DHIA.