At our annual Northwest Dairy Producer's meeting, we discussed breeding protocol. A lot of data and research were presented by our featured speaker, Dr. Stevenson. I will review a few of these protocols and try to sum up what he was presenting as far as conclusions and recommendations. The very first disclaimer that I have iseach and every herd is different in terms of management, facilities, nutrition and many other factors. This makes no one breeding system ideal for every herd. It is always the best idea to talk to your specific herd veterinarian, as he knows your herd very well. He will be able to give you breeding protocols that may work within your herd and an with your management system.
Dr. Stevenson basically was stating that a lot of the success of breeding success comes down to management style. The overriding reason that we rely on timed artificial insemination protocols and programs is due to the inability to adequately detect cows in estrus (Heat). If our heat detection capabilities were 100%, there would be no need for timed AI protocols.
...>TO Be Continued.........
