How to optimise reproduction and reduce involuntary culling in dairy cows.

1. IMPROVE YOUR COWS’ LIFE TIME PRODUCTIVITY
Difficulties in getting the cow pregnant
are the main reason for involuntary
culling. Optimal fertility is a key driver
of cow longevity and profitability
“Did you know
that the optimal
calving interval is
12-13 months?”
1

2. FERTILITY PROBLEMS ARE INCREASING
There has been a negative trend over many years with a number
of fertility problems affecting modern dairy cows:
INCREASED NUMBER OF
UTERUS INFLAMMATION
LONGER INTERVAL TO
NORMALITY OF SEXUAL ORGANS
WEAKER HEAT SIGNS
LOWER EGG QUALITY
EARLY EMBRYONIC DEATH
Fertility problems are often caused by infections or stress,
but can also depend on season, herd size, age composition and
managerial factors such as breeding policy and nutrition
2

3. MAN-HOURS PER COW ARE DECREASING
The direct result is that less time remains for detecting heats
Which cow needs attention?
Selection for milk yield has made
the modern dairy cow increasingly susceptible to
shortcomings in management or nutrition
3

4. Ideally your cows will get pregnant every 12-13
months. In some parts of the world the calving
interval is 16-17 months and the average number
of calves per cow and year can be as low as 0.6
The optimal
calving interval is
12-13
months
That’s
almost
one calf
per cow
& year
Ideal calving
interval
= 12-13 months
In many parts
of the world
calving interval
= 16-17 months For every day calving
interval is extended farmers
will lose money (on average
3 Euros per cow and day)
4

5. CORNERSTONES OF A HIGH PREGNANCY RATE
1.
OPTIMISED
HEAT
DETECTION
2.
OPTIMISED
FEED INTAKE
AFTER
CALVING 3.
HEALTHY
AND WELL-
MANAGED
COWS
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6. 1. OPTIMISED HEAT DETECTION
On average around half of the heats can be observed through normal
management. Advanced milk analysis tools can detect heat with an
accuracy of 95% and inform you when to perform optimal insemination
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7. 2. OPTIMISED FEED INTAKE AFTER CALVING
OPTIMAL FEED INTAKE IS ONLY
POSSIBLE IF:
● cows are not too fat at calving (BCS = 3.5)
● cows are fed high quality and tasty rations
● cows are in optimal health (don’t forget hooves and legs)
● stress is avoided around the moment of calving (avoid changing of groups)
● rations are not changed near calving
● there is enough feed and enough room to eat for every cow
Today’s high-producing dairy cow needs excellent care
after calving in order to resume feed consumption promptly7

8. 3. HEALTHY AND WELL-MANAGED COWS
Optimise feed intake
Provide recently calved cows
plenty of comfort and space
Reduce heat stress
by cooling
Minimise lameness
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9. © DeLaval 2014 Sources: www.delaval.com/HappyCows