Herd Breeding Problems and Their Consequences

Abstract

Abstract Low fertility is widely recognized as one of dairy management's major problems. The magnitude of this problem cannot be put into proper perspective until the consequences of low fertility are translated into economic terms. Unfortunately, sufficient information is not available to do this accurately. Nevertheless, an estimate that will adequately serve the purpose of this discussion can be made by combining a few reasonable estimates and assumptions with what statistics are available. Milk production losses. Speicher and Meadows (7) concluded that delay in conception beyond 86 and up to 116 days after freshening reduced milk and calf returns over feed cost an average of $.50 for each day beyond 86. When conception was delayed 117 days or longer, returns were decreased by $.78 for each day beyond 86 days. Louca and Legates (4) reported a more modest loss of $.50 in milk and calf loss for each excessive day open.