A.I. & BREEDING

With an annual pregnancy rate of 21 percent, the herd at D&D Dairy near Rushford, Minnesota, significantly exceeded the industry average for reproductive performance. But co-owner Dean Smith knew the dairy could do better.

Everyone wants enough replacement heifers to maintain or even grow their herd size. Producers have achieved this goal with relative ease throughout the past 20 years.

Genetic progress achieved over the years in the Canadian dairy cattle population has been quite impressive. As time passes and the industry progresses, it’s useful to re-evaluate our national index and selection goals to assure we’re still on the right path.

Individual-cow activity monitors have helped many dairies improve their heat detection rates in recent years.

With all of the challenges present for producers today, the task of continuing to find efficiencies and opportunities to enhance productivity are essential to remain competitive and profitable.

Economics and efficiency are buzzwords in the dairy industry. All the time, we hear the newest technology available that will save time, labour and money. As the next generation comes back to farm, there are always ideas and new ways to make improvements.