A.I. & Breeding

When reproductive technologies became available, dairy producers quickly embraced them, including artificial insemination (A.I.) and embryo transfer (ET). Today, producers remain engaged and readily utilize these technologies to create the newest, best genetics as quickly as possible to advance herd progress.

When we look at farm profitability, we know that reproduction is a critical component. If cows get pregnant on time, they produce more milk, have shorter calving intervals and give birth to more replacements.

If you have an open employment position on your dairy, your first step is likely to review qualifications in résumés or applications and then extend interviews, and in many cases, you don’t extend interviews to every candidate.

Since 1960, Holstein dairy cows have exhibited a substantial decline in fertility, with serious economic consequences for farmers. Genetic selection programs in the U.S. and elsewhere have emphasized milk production at the expense of other traits. Attention has turned to improving these neglected traits for better overall well-being of cows and to ameliorate dairy producers’ profitability.

Historically, the PTA calculations for calving traits have been centered on a breed average phenotypic base of 8% for Holsteins (calving ease and stillbirth) and 5% for Brown Swiss (calving ease).

Many factors have major impacts on dairy farm profitability but are out of the control of individual farm owners. However, genetic progress is one thing that can be controlled, and progressive herd owners are adjusting their view of the herd they want to be milking in the coming years.