Experience widespread infertility issues in cattle herds? Farmers unveil effective strategies
In the world of dairy farming, fertility plays a pivotal role in ensuring the economic success of a herd. Factors such as milk production, animal lifespan, herd health, and profitability are all influenced by a cow's reproductive health.
Energy or mineral deficiencies, particularly during early lactation, can delay the resumption of the cow's cycle. To address this, practitioners recommend that cows not inseminated within 100 days in milk are presented to the vet. If findings are unremarkable, these cows are enrolled in a hormone program, but hormones should only be given if there is no sign of heat.
After calving, hormonal disorders such as delayed uterine involution or persistence of corpus luteum can occur, reducing the likelihood of successful insemination. Diseases like ketosis, milk fever, or mastitis impair the hormonal balance and overall performance, negatively affecting fertility. Overweight or rapid weight gain also negatively impacts reproduction in dairy cows.
Good management practices are key to maintaining good reproductive performance. Emphasis is placed on transit management, ensuring no stress in the group. A voluntary waiting period for the first lactation until the 80th day, and from the 2nd lactation, cows are only inseminated under 44 litres, is recommended.
The organization responsible for developing and disseminating fertility improvement solutions for dairy cows in German agriculture includes scientific institutions like the Gesellschaft für Ernährungsphysiologie (GfE), which publishes feeding recommendations, with implementation projects led by experts such as Dr. Georg Terler at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein institute.
Many cows show heat weakly or irregularly, leading to missed breeding windows. In such cases, a puerperal check after 21 days is recommended. Cows should calve on their own, and if they don't, it's sensible to check the mineral supply.
Blood examination and a check of Mg, Ca, phosphorus, selenium, enzymes, proteins, etc., is advised if postpartum behaviour is a concern. Prophylactic metribolium administration for cows from the 2nd lactation is another recommended practice.
Each unsuccessful insemination or prolonged calving interval can result in significant costs, including increased feed costs, lower milk yield per year, and a higher risk of diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize good reproductive performance to ensure a steady milk production, influence the lifespan of the animals, the herd's health, and the profitability of the operation.
