How Realistic is a 25 Percent Pregnancy Rate? 

Achieving an annual average pregnancy rate of 20 percent (based on a 21-day heat cycle) is a common goal for producers across the United States. Three herds from across the country have achieved 25 percent or higher pregnancy rates. Their breeding programs vary, as do their use of Genex programs. These herds utilize Genex for everything from genetics and refresher training to complete reproductive program management. The herds are located in various climates and have differing facility set-ups to illustrate the reality that a 25 percent pregnancy rate isn't wishful thinking.

Bach Dairy • Dorchester, Wisconsin • Steve and Linda Bach, Owners

• 1,025 cows with an annual production average per cow of 80 pounds
• Annual average pregnancy rate: 26%
• Annual average conception rate: 43%
• How Genex fits in their breeding program: Genex provides arm serviceand genetics. They also use the Mating Appraisal for Profit^TM(MAP^TM) program, conduct Reproductive Profit Manager^TM (RPM^TM) analysis and plan to use Calf Math^TM in the future.

Five years ago, Bach Dairy switched from bull-bred to artificial insemination (A.I.). At that time they installed the AfiMilk system and have been working with Genex for reproductive program management.

• 2,800 cows with an annual production average per cow of 70 pounds
• Annual average pregnancy rate: 27%
• Annual average conception rate: 35%
• How Genex fits in their breeding program: Genex provides MAP, RPM analysis every quarter, Holstein semen and refresher training of the on-farm technician.

Located a few hours from the nearest dairy operation, T&K Dairy believes in putting the right person in the right job and trusts the breeding responsibilities to two employees. Genex provided initial training and continues to offer refresher courses as needed.

• 1,500 cows with an annual production average per cow of 84 pounds
• Annual average pregnancy rate: 25%
• Annual average conception rate: 40%
• How Genex fits in their breeding program: Genex provides tailpainting, arm service and genetics.

Mayo Dairy has utilized A.I. for as long as it has been available. Genex began breeding and managing tail painting in 2001 and has been an integral part of the breeding program since. Mayo dairy has also utilized GenChoice^TM semen on cows.

Bach Dairy

Heat detection method: AfiMilk system and visual observation.

Top criteria for sires: 90th percentile Lifetime Net Merit, health and fitness traits such as Productive Life and Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR).

How important is Sire Conception Rate (SCR ) when choosing sires? It is very important. We always strive to use the top SCR sires. We also keep track on an individual sire basis using the computer programs to determine which sires are doing the best within our herd.

T&K Dairy

Heat detection method: Visual observation with tail chalk

Top criteria for sires: For the past two years we've really focused on sires in the 85th percentile for Lifetime Net Merit with good health traits (Productive Life, DPR and Somatic Cell Score), positive feet and legs, and positive Udder Composite.

How important is SCR when choosing sires? SCR is definitely a big factor. Most of the sires are well above average for fertility and there are definitely no negative SCR bulls used here.

Mayo Dairy

Heat detection method: Tail paint managed by Genex

Top criteria for sires: Lifetime Net Merit, udders, complete production (Milk, Fat and Protein).

How important is SCR when choosing sires? It's important but not at the top of the list. We try to avoid low fertility sires in general.

Bach Dairy

How often do pregnancy checks occur? The vet palpates weekly those animals that are 80 days postbreeding. Christine, Assistant Manager, ultrasounds animals that are 31 and 45-50 days post-breeding on a weekly basis as well.

Reproduction protocol: We practice a modified Presych® followed by Cosynch + CIDR®.
21d: A shot of PGF2∝ is given to be sure they are clean.
35d: A second shot of PGF2∝ is given. If a strong natural heat is observed, cows are bred off that.
49d: GnRH and CIDR
56d: CIDR is removed and a third shot of PGF2∝ is given.
59d: Cows are bred by Genex Breeding Program Specialist Jeremy Goessl. Jeremy is given a list of animals ready to be bred (determined by shot protocol) or those who are in heat as determined by AfiMilk.

T&K Dairy

How often do pregnancy checks occur? Pregnancy checks occur weekly for animals 36-42 days postbreeding by the herd manager. The vet visits once a month and palpates to verify pregnancies.

Reproduction protocol: We use a Presynch program with two PGF2∝ shots. The first shot is given to cows at 34-44 days in milk (DIM) and the second shot 14 days after that. After receiving the second shot, cows are marked and bred off that shot. Three days after the second shot, animals are palpated and those in heat are bred. We pregnancy check all cows at least 70 DIM without a breeding date. They are given GnRH if cystic, otherwise a shot of PGF2∝. If they are not bred within the next week they start on the Ovsynch® protocol. If they come into heat as a result of the GnRH shot, we will breed off that. We will A.I. all cows until 250 DIM or confirmed pregnant. After that point they are moved into the pen with a bull.

Mayo Dairy

How often do pregnancy checks occur? Pregnancy checks occur weekly by ultrasound. Anything bred 29 days or greater as well as those with no heat or breeding greater than 55 DIM. We do a follow-up pregnancy check at 55-61 days post-breeding and then confirm at dry off.

Reproduction protocol: We synchronize everything to start, but normally the cows beat us to a natural heat. About 65 percent of our breedings are on natural heats. I see synchronization as a safety net that catches those cows that would otherwise fall through the cracks. 100 percent compliance on our synch program is very important. We have spent up to three hours finding a cow to be sure she gets her shot.

We practice a Presynch followed by Ovsynch56 program as recommended by our vet:

31-37d: First shot of PGF2∝
45-51d (14 days after first shot): Second shot of PGF2∝
52-58d (7 days later): First shot of GnRH
59-65d (7 days later): Third shot of PGF2∝
56 hours after (16 hours prior to breeding): GnRH

We will also utilize CIDRs as needed for the cows that are not cycling or showing heats.

Bach Dairy

How do you manage your transition and fresh cows? Following their first milking, the cow is moved to a postfresh group with less than 50 cows in it. All cows at 14 DIM or less are temped daily and health is monitored through the AfiMilk system. Cows are moved when they are doing well and have exhibited no health problems.

T&K Dairy

How do you manage your transition and fresh cows? We have two fresh cow technicians both of whom are great "cow men." The cows in our post-fresh group are locked up after the morning milking and observed for how they are eating and the appearance of their eyes, ears and nose. Cows that appear "off" are marked. The technicians then observe the back side of the cows, noting manure consistency and cow cleanliness. Dirty cows and those marked from the front have their temperature and rumen checked and are palpated for uterine progression. If the cow has a temperature over 103 F and is dirty or has metritis, she is treated and marked with pink chalk. If she doesn't have a temp and is clean, she is checked for mastitis and rumen sounds and treated accordingly. All cows given a pink mark are checked at least two more days. When her temp improves, she is marked with a different color. We look at every cow each day from the day she freshens until she leaves the pen 21-27 days later.

Mayo Dairy

How do you manage your transition and fresh cows? Our main indicator of successful fresh cow management is urine pH. We manage it by using a limited anionic salt program and monitoring intakes regularly. We do urine analysis once a week and alter feeding to accommodate the needs of the cows. Keeping urine pH in balance is a huge indicator for us as to how the transition is progressing.

Evaluating Success

Bach Dairy

How do you evaluate your reproductive success? In the short term, we evaluate weekly herd checks. For long term, we keep updated at consultant meetings. Every six weeks to two months we meet with Genex representatives, the nutritionist and the veterinarian. The meeting is lead by Pete Weber of Genex.

What is your top reproduction benchmark? We strive for over 50 percent of the herd pregnant at herd checks.

T&K Dairy

How do you evaluate your reproductive success? We are currently relying on the RPM data. We compare ourselves to the benchmark group on the RPM report.

What are your top reproduction benchmarks? Our reproduction goals include: annual pregnancy rate over 25 percent, 55 percent or more of the herd pregnant at a given time and an average of 50 pregnancies per week.

Mayo Dairy

How do you evaluate your reproductive success? We monitor the numbers and keep an eye on repro data.

What is your top reproduction benchmark? The top, by far and away, is pregnancy rate. We rarely drop below 20 in the summer months. Someday I'd like to have an average annual rate of 28 percent. A steady flow of fresh cows and aggressive breeding is what makes us money. We have also noticed fewer body condition problems as our breeding program improves. We are not fighting "fat cow" diseases by getting the cows bred back on time.

Overcoming Obstacles and Offering Advice

Bach Dairy

Have you had to overcome any obstacles to reach the point you are at today? In the past two years, we have made significant changes to eliminate ground current electricity problems. Since making changes in 2008, production has increased by 3,000 pounds, somatic cell count has decreased, reproductive performance has improved and the number of displaced abomasums occurring each month has decreased.

What's one secret to your success? We all agree on the importance of communication and teamwork. Everyone here works together and the communication lines are open to share concerns. Everyone looks out for everything (cow behavior, animals in heat) even if it's not their specific job. It's the domino theory; if something is out of place in one spot it can all cascade quickly.

T&K Dairy

Have you had to overcome any obstacles to reach the point you are at today? In the past seven years, we have been slowly improving our reproductive performance. We've tried different things from different synchronization protocols to times of breeding. We've learned the main thing is to focus on heat detection and get semen in the cows as often as possible.

What's one secret to your success? We focus really hard on heat detection simply with tail chalk. We give our A.I. guy time to find cows in heat. The only job he has in the morning is to find cows in heat and get them bred. We give him time to be a "cow-man."

You also need to recognize that it's not just one factor that makes your repro great. You can synchronize as much as you want, but if the cows aren't conditioned properly or the semen is placed incorrectly, you still won't get a pregnancy.

Mayo Dairy

Have you had to overcome any obstacles to reach the point you are at today? One disadvantage that we've had is our set up. We are a 100 percent confined herd. That makes it hard to catch cows in heat without aggressive observation and management.