Twenty-one day pregnancy rates havequickly become the industry standard forassessing herd reproductiveperformance. Pregnancy Rates (PR)essentially measure the speed thateligible cows become pregnant over agiven time frame, with the normal timebeing one estrus cycle or 21 days. Withthe insemination and conception ratesboth considered in this number, allattempts to improve the herd’sreproductive performance are consideredin this one statistic. Investigating PR tellsyou if your cows are getting bred, andalso are they getting pregnant from thosebreedings.

The following information was data takenfrom 65 randomly selected dairies. Allinformation was processed through DairyComp 305, ensuring that pregnancyrates were comparable. A totalof 29,613 breedings occurredacross the herds, with theaverage herd size beingapproximately 110 cows withan estimated average 305-daymilk yield of 20,737 lbs. Theaverage annual 21-daypregnancy rate for this group ofherds, with the voluntarywaiting period set at 50 days inmilk, was 16%.

Each lactation presents itselfwith unique challenges for thecow; first lactation cows face differentstresses in comparison to their older herdmates. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to breakdown your herd’s reproductiveperformance by lactation group. Usingthe small 65-herd dataset, herd PR weredivided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd lactationgroup.

On average the first lactation cowsperformed much better than their thirdlactation counterparts, showing a 4%

higher PR. This is due to better conceptionrates with younger animals and reducedrisk of being culled in mid-lactation.When looking at your herd forreproductive opportunities, look for betterpregnancy rate performance from yourfirst lactation cows. If they are performingat or below your herd averagepregnancy rate, heifer raising techniquesand stresses experienced in first lactationneed to be considered as possibleimprovement areas.

Looking at PR at key stages within thelactation can also provide useful insightinto your herd’s performance. Measuringyour herd’s PR over the first three estruscycles after the voluntary waiting periodmay help analyze how well your cowsand protocols are doing during theperiod of first service breeding. Using the

65-herd dataset, PR bybreeding interval wasbenchmarked. Since mostherds initiate their breedingprogram between 50 – 70days in milk, we looked atintervals above 70 days inmilk.

A higher PR can beexpected during the firstthree cycles after thevoluntary waiting period. Inthis group of herds, onaverage the PR was 2%

during this period, with some herdsexperiencing an 8% increase during thistime and others a 5% decrease. If yourPR is below average during this keyperiod, consider looking at yourtransition cow health, days in milk at firstbreeding and assess the success rate ofyour estrus synchronization.

What are the benefits of having goodreproduction?

When collecting these observations from

Dairy Comp 305, 305-day milk yieldswere also collected with average annual21-day PR information. Herds weregrouped by high (≥19%), average (13-18%) and low (≤12%) PR and comparedto 305-day milk yields.

This data shows an estimated 1,649 lbdifference in average 305-day milk yieldbetween the herds with the highest andlowest PR.

Is there a trend between increased pregnancyrate and 305-day milk yield?

Herd average PR and 305-day milkyields do not have a direct relationship.Likely, this link is within the managementinvolved in achieving high PR. In order toachieve good fertility, cows need to behealthy, in a comfortable environmentwith proper nutrition, and good recordkeeping protocols must be followed. Byachieving these key managementobjectives, not only will your reproductiveperformance improve, but milkproduction will rise as well.

In this issue:Breaking Down Your Herd’s Pregnancy Rate

Heat Detection System Provides Profitable Results

5 Top Reasons To Use Repromax™ Sires In Your Breeding Program

Take Reproduction Off Your Culling List

Semex’sReproductive

LinkFA L L 2009

Breaking Down Your Herd’s Preg Rate

Eachlactationpresentsunique

challengesfor the

cow.

Mark E. Carson BSc. (Agr). MSc., Gencor Herd Reproduction Analyst

Annual 21-Preg Rate by Lact for 65 Random Herds

Lactation 75th Percentile Median1st 24% 20%2nd 20% 17%3rd+ 17% 14%Total 20% 16%

Pregnancy Rate from 71-133 Days in Milk

(3 Cycles) in 65 Random HerdsInterval 75th Percentile Median

Day 71 to 133 22% 18%

Annual Number Avg Herd Avg 305 Preg Rate of Herds Size Milk Yield

High (≥ 19%) 19 132 21,116 lbsAvg (13-18%) 34 103 20,889 lbsLow (≤ 12%) 11 104 19,467 lbs

Ca l l ( 877 ) 545 - a i 24 o r v i s i t www. s emex . c om

In today’s world innovative technology is key to staying aheadand being profitable. For producers, learning to utilize this newtechnology can be the hardest part of taking advantage of itsbenefits.

Semex has teamed up with Micro Dairy Logic to introduce a heatdetection system for dairy producers, ai24™, that’s on the cuttingedge of technology. It provides 24-hour heat detection, utilizingHeatime™, and helps to cut semen expenses thereby increasingprofits.

Heatime™ technology was developed in Israel and has beenproven to change the way dairy producers manage their herd’sfertility. The system includes a collar that records activity levelsand a user-friendly control and display unit (it also can come withPC software for herds over 600). The system has been proveneffective across the UK, Canada, and the United States.Operations in Idaho, Texas, and Wisconsin have testedHeatime™’s technology and it will soon be used in New Yorkand Pennsylvania. Currently there are over 300,000 ai24™collars in use worldwide.

“The technology does all the hard work,” says Chris Sheahan,ai24™ Program Manager, about the ease of using this system.He adds, “The main goal of ai24™ is to get more pregnanciesfor cows. Especially now during low milk prices, getting morecows pregnant is key.”

Todd Myren, a dairy producer from northwestern Wisconsin whostarted using ai24™ and Heatime™ at the end of April says hecouldn’t agree more. “It’s like having a herdsman out there 24hours a day. I don’t even look for heat activity anymore.”

Myren, and his parents, Cyril and Janice, have been in apartnership since 2002 running their 350 milking cow dairyoperation, Oak View Farm, LLC near Nelson, WI. Todd’s wifeAbby works off the farm as a nurse and they have two children,Emma and Spencer. Oak View Farm’s herd has a 30,000-poundrolling herd average with 3.2 percent protein and fat. The farmcurrently uses 225 Heatime™ collars.

“We try to put the collars on about a week after calving. I thinkthe system is working great,” says Myren.

Heatime™ works by collecting activity of each cow wearing acollar. Once a base level of activity is determined, the controlunit identifies cows that are showing above normal activity andare therefore in heat and ready to be bred, or below normalactivity. Below normal activity may be an indication of subclinicalissues like fevers or foot problems.

Myren says that even though he’s only had the system since Aprilhe’s already caught a couple subclinical issues he wouldn’t havewithout the collars

“I had two cows show up on the system with low activity. Just bylooking at them in the pen they looked fine. They were eatingand didn’t show any signs of something being wrong. Sureenough they both had fevers. I wouldn’t have knownotherwise,” credits Myren.

With the economical ai24™ system, utilizing Heatime™,producers will be able to pinpoint when to breed a cow,which will reduce semen costs. Breeding the cow whenyou know she is at her peak heat results in a betterchance she will settle. Heatime™ currently boasts an 85to 90 percent true heat detection rate. The system’saccuracy and 24-hour detection allows producers to freeup staff members for other tasks rather than watching forheat symptoms. In addition, Myren has found that he isable to reduce vet checks to every other week rather thanevery week resulting in more savings.Myren has experienced the accuracy ofthis system first hand. He says that henoticed two cows showing heatsymptoms. Typically, he says he wouldhave bred them that day, but noticedthey hadn’t shown up on the system.

“I told my [Semex] rep that if they didn’tshow up on the system they were in bigtrouble,” says Myren with a chuckle,“But sure enough the next day they wereboth on it. I bred them and they bothsettled. That’s what really showed me thissystem works. I haven’t had one not show up on the system yet.”

Heat Detection System Provides Profitable Results

DECREASE COSTSBecause Repromax™ sires will increase yourconception rates, you will use less semen to breedthe same number of cows, gaining you significantsavings in semen costs while reducing costly daysopen.

THE MOST FERTILITY DATA Repromax™ is the world’s first internationalfertility evaluation combining data from threesources:

Sire Conception Rates (SCR) from the USA

Agri-Tech Analysis (ATA) in the USA

Non-Return Rates (NRR) in Canada

ONLY THE BESTRepromax™ combines the fertility informationfrom over 3,000 Holstein and Jersey bulls todetermine the very best Semex sires to get yourcows pregnant.

MORE RELIABLEBy incorporating these three systems into oneevaluation, the reliability increases dramaticallyand results in a very powerful tool for dairyproducers. The NRR information is particularlyimportant because it is based entirely on extensiveprofessional technician data. This increases thereliability of the fertility evaluation.

NO GENETIC SACRIFICESSemex’s Repromax™ sires are highly proven,reliable bulls from our lineup that are verified to behigh fertility sires, with no genetic sacrifices. Webelieve dairymen should have the best of bothworlds… Cows in calf and genetic improvement intheir herds.

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TOP REASONS TO USE REPROMAX™ SIRES IN YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM

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By Brianna Ditzenberger, Editorial Intern Wisconsin Agri-View

Besides decreasing costs and narrowing down open days, ai24™includes excellent customer service. After installation Semexrepresentatives make follow-up visits frequently and provide training forthe program. Also, if new staff members are added to a producer’soperation, Semex will come and train them as well so everyone isproperly trained on the new technology.

“I tell you, those guys are awesome,” says Myren of Semex’s customerservice. Oak View Farm also uses Semex’s ProMate™ computer matingsystem, a benefit included with the ai24™ system.

The benefits and excellent features are endless when looking at thistechnology. ai24™ is an economical, reliable, and accurate product forany producer looking to improve the management of their fertility system.

“This technology is going to change the way people look at their breedingprograms,” adds Sheahan about ai24™.

For more information about ai24™, call 1-877-545-ai24,contact your local Semex representative or visitwww.semex.com.

“Heatime™is like an extraset of eyes inthe barn.”Todd Myren, Oak View Farm LLC,Nelson, Wisconsin, 350 milking cows

“With Heatime™ in the barn,breedings are more timely.

We’ve also found severalsubclinical sickness instancesby looking at the low activityreports that we may not have

found otherwise, makingHeatime™ more than

worthwhile.”

Heat detection 24 hours a day,

365 days a yeare perfect solution

for efficient ai

TOP REASONS TO USE REPROMAX™ SIRES IN YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM

• Graphic display.• Simple key pad.• Available as Stand Alone

or for PC

• Infra-red communications.• Auto-detection of cows. • Easy to install.

By Brianna Ditzenberger, Editorial Intern Wisconsin Agri-View

Reproductive issues are at the top of a dairyman’s listfor reasons to cull a cow from the herd. Recent DairyCattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) statistics point to itas the number one cause for cattle leaving the herdtoday, totaling 26.7%.Taking all considerations of reproduction into account, DCRCdraws five considerations all dairymen must begin taking intoaccount when culling dairy cattle for reproduction:1. Long Calving Intervals. Economic analysis shows that calving intervals extended beyond

13 months result in reduced annual revenue.

2. High SCC. Studies have shown that high somatic cell counts (SCC) have a dramatic effecton reproductive efficiency.

3. Poor Reproduction Health Postpartum. Cows that experience metabolic disorders aftercalving can have long-term damage to the reproductive tract, resulting in infertility.

4. Difficult Calving. Damage to the uterus can take place during a difficult calving. At timesthe damage can be too critical to repair and can cause future reproductive problems.

5. Low Fertility. The higher the number of services per conception, the less fertile the animal.Each day cows stay open past the voluntary waiting period costs the dairy producermoney.

In tough economic times these decisions are not easy ones, asreplacing each stall is a complex issue, causing many dairymento ask how he can keep cows profitable in the herd longer.Like many questions, the answer begins at the start. Looking atfactors that make cows long-lasting, durable and profitable maybe the key to not only keeping them in the herd, but making thema lucrative investment.

Semex scientists have identified Health$mart™ sires as thosesires that sire the most valuable and profitable cows on the dairy.These sires excel for qualities that dairies can easily quantify intheir ledgers. Dairymen can trust that a Semex Health$mart™sire will have a positive financial impact, saving on vet bills,medications and staff time, as well as lost breedings andproduction. The selection for a HealthSmart™ sire is based on:Health Traits - Herd Life, Somatic Cell Score, Daughter Calving Ability, MilkingSpeed, Daughter Fertility

Production - Milk, Fat and ProteinDurability Traits - Final Conformation, Mammary System and Feet & LegsAsk your Semex representative today about improving yourherd’s longevity and profitability today with Semex’sHealth$mart™ sires.

Poor Production - 22.4%

Lameness/Injury - 15.0%

Disease - 4.3%

Other - 4.1%

Aggressive/Beligerent - 1.0%

Reproductive Problems - 26.7%

Percent of Dairy Cows Culled by Reason for Culling

Udder/Mastis Problem - 26.5%

Source: Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council

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1-877-545-ai24

5 Benefits of Excellent

Reproduction

Take Reproduction Issues Off Your Culling List With Health$mart™ Sires Brenda Lee-TurnerSemex Marketing Communications Specialist