The influence of breeding management efficiency on dairy herd performance

Abstract

ABSTRACTComputer simulation was used to measure the effects of breeding management efficiency in block calving dairy herds and in those with a long mating season of 9 months. In particular, the effects of varying levels of oestrus detection and conception rates were assessed, and the product of these two parameters defined as the fertility factor. As the fertility factor increases from 20 to 50, where the mating season extends to 9 months, the mean calving index for the herd decreased linearly from 393·5 to 373·6 days and the culling rate for failure to conceive declines in curvilinear fashion from 0·196 to 0·006. Concurrent with the decrease in calving index, mean annual milk yield and margin over purchased food increase, with the herd commencing calving in January showing a more marked response than the herd commencing calving in October. When overall replacement rate is also taken into account, the margin over purchased food net of herd depreciation per cow, at 1979/80 prices, changes from £270·7 to £315·2 in the January herd compared with £275·9 to £315·8 in the October herd. For each day change in calving index associated with alteration in fertility factor, there is a change of £2·24 for the January herd and £2·01 for the October herd in margin over purchased food net of herd depreciation.In the block calving herd, increases in fertility factor are reflected mainly in changes in culling rate for failure to conceive from 0·292 to 0·033, and not in margin over purchased food.