A.I. & BREEDING

The rapid rate of genetic progress may leave some dairy producers questioning the risks and rewards of inbreeding and how to manage it at a herd level.

When reproduction rates drop, it’s easy to point the finger at your breeder. Naturally, we want to assign blame; finding the source of the issue means we can work toward a solution that much faster.

Genomics has been an incredible accelerator for genetic progress in dairy cattle. Not only has it caused changes on the farm, but it has also been the driving force behind many changes in the semen production and bull management processes at A.I. studs and semen production facilities throughout the industry.

Reproductive management is a game of averages. Different strategies for getting pregnancy established in dairy cows encompass a range of targets for timing artificial insemination (A.I.).

Thanks to researchers at the University of Florida, it is now possible to breed a Holstein that can better withstand heat stress.

Gandhi seemed to have known what he was talking about when it came to breeding a profitable herd of cows when he said, “The future depends on what you do today.”