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Reproductive Performance in United Kingdom Holstein Dairies by Geographic Region

Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Exhibit Hall AB (Kansas City Convention Center)
Jenny Hildon , Genus ABS, Stapeley, United Kingdom
Cristian Vergara , ABS Global, DeForest, WI
Hernando Lopez , ABS Global Inc., DeForest, WI
Abstract Text:

Our objectives were to compare reproductive indicators from Holstein dairies in three regions of The United Kingdom and establish benchmarks for the 20% most efficient herds. Data from 30,112 cows and 95,326 inseminations recorded on Dairy Comp 305 software were evaluated from January to December 2014 from 111 dairies in Region 1 (R1[North; n=16 herds]), Region 2 (R2[West; n=52]), and Region 3 (R3[South; n=43]). Analyses were conducted with the MIXED procedure using herd as the experimental unit. Mean herd size (R1=252±126; R2=267±119; R3=284±156), mean daily milk production in kilograms (R1=27±3; R2=27±4; R3=28±5), days for voluntary waiting period (R1=40±5; R2=42±4; R3=40±4), days for pregnancy diagnosis (R1=37±5; R2=37±4; R3=35±5), days to reenrollment (R1=15±4; R2=15±4; R3=14±4), conception rate for inseminations after natural estrus (R1=37%; R2=36%; R3=34%), insemination risk (R1=53%; R2=56%; R3=56%), pregnancy rate (R1=19%; R2=19%; R3=20%), and percentage of cows pregnant by 100 DIM (R1=49%; R2=50%; R3=53%), by 150 DIM (R1=69%; R2=72%; R3=75%) and by 300 DIM (R1=88%; R2=91%; R3=89%) did not differ among regions. The percentage of cows bred after synchronization was lower (P<0.05) for R3 (7%) than R1 (12%), and R2 (10%) but conception rate did not differ (R1=29%; R2=28%; R3=28%). The 20% most efficient operations had mean pregnancy rate of 24%, mean daily milk production of 27±4 kilograms, days to pregnancy diagnosis of 33±5, days to reenrollment of 12±3, insemination risk of 61%, conception rate for inseminations after natural estrus of 39%, percentage of cows bred after synchronization of 7%, conception rate for inseminations after synchronization of 33%, and percentage of cows pregnant by 100 DIM of 61%, by 150 DIM of 83%, and by 300 DIM of 96%. The percentage of cows bred after synchronization was lower for the South region but no other regional differences were detected in reproductive parameters in United Kingdom dairies.  

Keywords:

Fertility, Reproduction, Estrus