A.I. & BREEDING

It’s Monday, so my week begins with the usual pre-dawn departure from our little hobby farm in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, as I drive to the coast – specifically, the WestGen offices in Abbotsford.

Today’s dairy cow deals with some of the greatest challenges ever faced in the dairy industry.

Genetic progress waits for nothing, making time one of the herdsman’s most valuable assets in being competitive and profitable. The good news is: Today’s reproductive technology makes all that possible – all you need to do is make the right decisions.

No matter what, there is almost always a group of cows that don’t conceive on the first attempt. They are inseminated, but within a month or two, they have either required another insemination or unexpectedly turn up open. What is going on?

Historically, dairy cattle breeders had limited tools to work with. Genetic selection was based only on what could be seen. Decisions were handicapped to visible and subjective conformation traits.

Eliminating horns has long been part of basic herd management, but the economic value, practicality and acceptability of traditional horn removal practices is in question. A recent analysis compares the cost of dehorning with breeding for naturally hornless cattle.