20% - 25% Pregnancy Rates: How Do They Do It

Committing fully to improving the breeding program is the only way to ensure great results

Today with programs such as Dairy Comp 305 and DHI-Plus, tools such as the breeding summary can be utilized to pinpoint both highs and lows in the breeding program, allowing dairymen to make sound management decisions specific to their operation. Arguably, today’s most referenced reproductive KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is the pregnancy rate. I am fortunate enough to work with many Holstein herds who successfully reach 20% - 25% pregnancy rates annually, and even a couple that have achieved greater heights. The national average for pregnancy rate has been documented to be just above 15%. The question then becomes why some herd managers are able to achieve their desired number of pregnancies each month, while others struggle to maintain the status quo.

Commitment to Excellence

All the managers on the dairies achieving these superior results have become fully committed to making reproduction a priority, and have invested the time, labor, and management to ensure that every step is taken to maximize the success of their breeding program. Another trait that most dairies achieving high pregnancy rates possess is that they do not cut corners. There are seemingly few areas in a dairy operation where management can excuse the need to perform at the highest level every day.

Sound Nutrition & Transition Programs

Equally as important as demanding perfection in general management is the emphasis placed on excellent feedstuffs and forages made readily available in a properly formulated ration. Proper nutrition plays such a vital role in reproduction and often is overlooked when attempting to analyze pitfalls in a reproductive program. Along with a sound nutrition program, most managers in these herds will point to a well thought out and executed pre-fresh, fresh and transition program as to one of the cornerstones to successful breeding. We now know that typically the bovine ovum takes approximately 60 days for maturation. Commonly most breeding programs have a set VWP (Voluntary Waiting Period) anywhere from 50-60 DIM.

The Role of Synchronization

This leads me to the next management tool which can boost your pregnancy creating ability, proven Synchronization Programs. As previously mentioned, if absolute commitment to ensuring that every step of these programs is not followed out to full (and accurate) completion, than the injections you will be giving become an exercise in futility. With a pregnancy valued at $500-$700 or more, it doesn’t take many additional pregnancies from an Ovsynch program to pay for the added cost of the drugs and labor. Just remember consistency and compliance are essential, and choose a program that will work within your capabilities. Consulting your veterinarian or reproductive advisor generally will prove beneficial. You may already be achieving the reproductive success mentioned in this column, and many of the reproductive management areas discussed in this column are items you have probably heard many times before. The fact is that the individuals achieving 20% - 25% pregnancy rates not only heard these messages, but at some point decided to listen to the words and fully commit themselves to improving their breeding programs.

Article by Johnnie Azevedo;
General Sales Manager, AltaCalifornia
adapted from a presentation made by Dr. Mark Brandt, Dr. Norm LaFaunce and Dr. John Lee seminar in Northern California.

Click here for a printable version of this article (PDF)

For more herd management articles click here

Posted Oct 7th

<< Back to Top