Fertility

December 2023

Management

Improved Genetics for Fertility: A Major Success Story in Modern Breeding

Declining fertility rates as a consequence of intense selection for production improvement through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s created a major negative for the Holstein breed. However, the implementation...

December 2023

Management

A successful start to lactation: decisive to production and fertility

The time around calving is always tied to a lot of stress and excitement. On hand, it means that there is new life coming to the farm, while on the...

July 2023

Management

Fertility & Genetics: Become Familiar with the Different Traits that have Produced a Major Success Story

The most important improvement over the past 20 years ensuring the Holstein retains its position as the world’s premier dairy cow has been in the area of her fertility. Credit...

February 2023

Management

Why Don’t we Have Greater Uniformity Among Fitness Traits Around the World?

Productive Life, Herd Life, Lifespan, Survival – it seems almost every country uses a different name. Who knew there were so many ways to refer to longevity; and that’s just...

February 2023

Management

Why Production and Fertility can be Found Together more often, and Genetics are Becoming ever More Important!

Since the introduction of the fertility breeding values in the early 2000s, a trend has been recognizable in Holstein breeding that even today is unknown to many dairy farmers: an...

January 2022

Sires Report

Focus On... January 2022

Hoof problems are still one of the leading reasons as to why cows are involuntarily culled. And as always, digital dermatitis, foot rot, sole ulcers and limax (interdigital hyperplasia) are...

August 2021

Management

Fertility: Significant Support Available for Indispensable Link

The cow should have been pregnant already, but is still not showing any heat signs. Other cows have already been bred five times, but still show up again every 3,...

March 2020

Management

Fertility: How is it Evaluated in Different Countries?

Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, the global popularity of the Holstein cow continued to climb in line with her improved performance. Heavy selection emphasis on production resulted in impressive...

November 2018

Management

Bull Fertility - Much Consulted Trait in Sire Selection

Timely pregnancy of heifers and cows is critical to the economics of dairy farms. That is the reason why during the past number of years, fertility has received increased attention...

March 2017

Management

Given its Low Heritability, is Breeding for Fertility Worth It?

Can fertility be improved through breeding? Or is it simply down to management? Here we investigate the impact you can make by selecting for fertility.