Survey of Management Practices on Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle on Large US Commercial Farms

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 89; no. 12; pp. 4723 - 4735
• Main Authors: Caraviello, D.Z., Weigel, K.A., Fricke, P.M., Wiltbank, M.C., Florent, M.J., Cook, N.B., Nordlund, K.V., Zwald, N.R., Rawson, C.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savoy, IL Elsevier Inc 01.12.2006; American Dairy Science Association; Am Dairy Sci Assoc
• Subjects: ambient temperature; animal health; animal husbandry; Animal productions; animal reproduction; Animals; artificial insemination; Biological and medical sciences; biosecurity; body condition; Cattle - physiology; cattle diseases; cattle housing; cow feeding; culling (animals); dairy cattle; dairy farming; Dairying - methods; estrus; estrus detection; estrus synchronization; Estrus Synchronization - methods; farm labor; farm surveys; fecundity; Female; fertility; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; herd management; Lactation; large farms; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; milk yield; pregnancy; progeny testing; reproduction; Reproduction - physiology; sires; survey; Surveys and Questionnaires; Terrestrial animal productions; Time Factors; United States; Vertebrates; United States; survey; herd management; fertility; reproduction; Dairy cattle; Management; Herd; Vertebrata; Survey; Reproduction; Mammalia; Fertility; Dairy industry; Artiodactyla; Performance; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72522-X

A survey regarding general management, sire selection, reproductive management, inseminator training and technique, heat abatement, body condition scoring, facility design and grouping, nutrition, employee training and management, and animal health and bio-security was carried out from March to September of 2004 in 153 herds in the Alta Genetics (Watertown, WI) Advantage Progeny Testing Program. A total of 103 herds (67.3%) completed the survey. Herd size was 613±46 cows, with herds located in Wisconsin (26), California (12), New York (11), Minnesota (10), Michigan (7), Washington (6), Pennsylvania (6), Iowa (5), Idaho (5), Texas (4), Ohio (4), and other states (7). These farms sold 34.5±0.3kg of milk/d per cow, with an annual culling rate of 34±1% and a calving interval of 13.8±0.1 mo. Cows were observed for estrus 2.8±0.3 times/d, for a duration of 27±4min, but 78% of the respondents admitted that detection of estrus was not the employee's sole responsibility at that time. Managers tried to achieve pregnancy until 8.8±0.9 failed inseminations, 300±26 d postpartum, or milk yield <17.7±0.5 kg/d. Nonpregnant cows were culled at 326±36 d postpartum or milk yield <16.4±0.3 kg/d. Mean durations of the voluntary waiting period were 52±1.3 and 53±1.4 d for primiparous and multiparous cows, respectively. Hormonal synchronization or timed artificial insemination programs were used in 87% of the herds, with 86% synchronizing first services, 77% resynchronizing repeat services, and 59% treating cystic, anestrous, or anovular cows. Finding good employees was identified as the greatest labor challenge, followed by training and supervising employees. Mastitis and hairy heel warts were noted as the greatest animal health concerns, followed by lameness, abortions, and death losses, whereas the greatest reproductive challenges were artificial insemination service rate, conception rate, twinning, and retained placenta or metritis. Results of this study can provide a useful benchmark or reference with regard to commonly used management practices on large commercial US dairy farms at the present time.