Reproductive status of cows in Dairy Herd Improvement programs and bred using artificial insemination (2014)
H.D. Norman, L.M. Walton, and João Dürr
Background
Measures of reproductive performance are now available from most Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) herds, whereas historically comprehensive documentation of reproductive performance was available
for only days open or calving interval or from a limited number of research herds. Nieuwhof et al. (1989,
Journal of Dairy Science 72:685-692) and Hare et al. (2006,
Journal of Dairy Science 89:365-370)
reported averages for age at first calving and calving interval for U.S. DHI herds. Norman et al. (2009,
Journal of Dairy Science 92:3517-3528) provided a comprehensive summary from 1996
through 2007 of 9 reproductive traits for U.S. Holsteins and Jerseys in DHI herds.
More selection emphasis has been placed on fertility in recent years (Cole et al., 2009,
AIPL Research Report NM$4) following a steady decline in a few of the important reproductive traits. For example,
days open, which is used to calculate pregnancy rate for genetic evaluations increased by 37 days for Holsteins from 1960 through 2000; around 75% of that
increase in days open was attributed to genetics (
Trend in daughter pregnancy rate for Holsteins or Red & Whites, April 2015), a consequence of selection for higher milk yield traits.
The purpose of this 2016 annual report is to provide updates for some of the important reproductive traits. The phenotypic averages provided include both genetic and environmental differences.
A few traits have shown improvement since 2004; others deteriorated for a time, but all now show slight or considerable improvement. Obviously, Holsteins drive industry trends because they account for a high percentage of the cow population. Considerable fluctuation over time is evident for a few of the other breeds because
of their limited numbers.
Table Summaries
TABLE 1. 20161 REPRODUCTIVE TRAIT AVERAGES and standard errors by breed.
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
1.9+/- 0.02 |
2.4+/- 0.02 |
2.4+/- 0.03 |
2.4+/- 0.00 |
2.2+/- 0.00 |
1.7+/- 0.04 |
2.2+/- 0.05 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
91+/- 0.7 |
89+/- 0.4 |
93+/- 0.8 |
78+/- 0.0 |
76+/- 0.1 |
91+/- 1.3 |
85+/- 1.0 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
126+/- 1.4 |
139+/- 1.0 |
141+/- 1.9 |
124+/- 0.1 |
111+/- 0.2 |
116+/- 2.3 |
127+/- 2.3 |
Days from first to last breeding |
42+/- 1.1 |
64+/- 0.9 |
65+/- 1.6 |
56+/- 0.1 |
44+/- 0.2 |
31+/- 1.6 |
50+/- 2.0 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
0.41+/- .009 |
0.30+/- .005 |
0.29+/- .009 |
0.34+/- .000 |
0.41+/- .001 |
0.43+/- .016 |
0.35+/- .015 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
0.40+/- .006 |
0.27+/- .003 |
0.27+/- .005 |
0.32+/- .000 |
0.37+/- .001 |
0.40+/- .011 |
0.32+/- .009 |
Calving interval |
407+/- 1.8 |
430+/- 1.2 |
430+/- 2.4 |
403+/- 0.1 |
388+/- 0.2 |
405+/- 3.4 |
409+/- 3.1 |
1Cows first bred in 2016 for all traits except calving interval;
for calving interval, cows with first calving for the interval in 2013.
- The fewest breedings per conception was 1.7 for Milking Shorthorns; the highest was 2.4 for Brown Swiss, Guernseys and Holsteins.
- Days from calving to first breeding averaged 76 for Jerseys and 78 for Holsteins; the other breed averages ranged from 85 to 93 days.
- Days from calving to last breeding were fewest for Jerseys (111) and highest for Guernseys (141).
- Days from first to last breeding, the breeding interval, were fewest for Milking Shorthorn (31) and highest for Guernseys (65) and Brown Swiss (64); Ayrshires and Jerseys averaged 42 and 44 and Holsteins averaged 56 days.
- Conception rate for first breedings was highest for Milking Shorthorns (43%) and Jerseys (41%) and lowest (29%) for Guernseys; Holsteins averaged 34%.
- Breeds had similar results for conception rate for all breedings as for first breedings, although slightly lower.
- Calving interval (days) was shortest for Jerseys (388) and longest for Guernseys and Brown Swiss (430); Holsteins and Milking Shorthorns averaged 403 and 405, respectively.
TABLE 2. Average numbers of BREEDINGS PER CONCEPTION by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
Brown Swiss |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
Guernsey |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
Holstein |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
Jersey |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
Milking Shorthorn |
1.6 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
Red & White |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
- Breedings per conception (or number of services/conception) were often highest in 2005 to 2007 and have decreased by at least 0.2 since for 5 of the 7 breeds.
TABLE 3. Average DAYS FROM CALVING TO FIRST BREEDING by breed and breeding year.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
96 |
94 |
94 |
94 |
93 |
92 |
94 |
95 |
95 |
92 |
91 |
Brown Swiss |
93 |
93 |
92 |
92 |
92 |
90 |
89 |
89 |
87 |
88 |
89 |
Guernsey |
94 |
91 |
89 |
93 |
95 |
88 |
90 |
91 |
92 |
88 |
93 |
Holstein |
88 |
87 |
86 |
85 |
83 |
81 |
81 |
79 |
78 |
78 |
78 |
Jersey |
86 |
86 |
84 |
83 |
78 |
76 |
77 |
76 |
75 |
74 |
76 |
Milking Shorthorn |
92 |
98 |
91 |
95 |
94 |
88 |
93 |
99 |
94 |
91 |
91 |
Red & White |
96 |
97 |
94 |
87 |
86 |
86 |
84 |
85 |
86 |
85 |
85 |
- Days from calving to first breeding has decreased by 10 or 11 days since 2004 in Holsteins, Jerseys, and Red and White. The other 4 breeds are lower also by 1 to 5 days.
- Norman et al. (2009) indicated that much of the
recent decline has resulted from the adoption of heat synchronization and timed AI.
TABLE 4. Average DAYS FROM CALVING TO LAST BREEDING by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
134 |
134 |
132 |
134 |
131 |
132 |
132 |
134 |
133 |
126 |
126 |
Brown Swiss |
150 |
157 |
160 |
155 |
152 |
146 |
147 |
144 |
140 |
143 |
139 |
Guernsey |
148 |
153 |
150 |
152 |
149 |
147 |
145 |
144 |
145 |
142 |
141 |
Holstein |
143 |
146 |
145 |
141 |
136 |
133 |
132 |
130 |
126 |
126 |
124 |
Jersey |
129 |
132 |
130 |
126 |
121 |
116 |
115 |
113 |
110 |
110 |
111 |
Milking Shorthorn |
122 |
118 |
119 |
122 |
122 |
121 |
123 |
133 |
120 |
124 |
116 |
Red & White |
143 |
148 |
146 |
143 |
133 |
136 |
129 |
128 |
126 |
126 |
127 |
- Days from calving to last breeding declined from 6 to 19 days for all breeds over the last 10 years.
- The Holstein, Jersey, and Red and White averages showed the largest declines of 16 to 19 days.
TABLE 5. Average DAYS FROM FIRST TO LAST BREEDING by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
47 |
50 |
49 |
48 |
42 |
47 |
50 |
48 |
47 |
43 |
42 |
Brown Swiss |
72 |
79 |
81 |
78 |
73 |
69 |
72 |
69 |
66 |
67 |
64 |
Guernsey |
72 |
76 |
75 |
76 |
71 |
73 |
71 |
65 |
65 |
67 |
65 |
Holstein |
67 |
71 |
70 |
67 |
63 |
62 |
62 |
61 |
58 |
58 |
56 |
Jersey |
53 |
57 |
57 |
54 |
51 |
48 |
47 |
45 |
43 |
45 |
44 |
Milking Shorthorn |
34 |
25 |
36 |
35 |
37 |
41 |
36 |
38 |
29 |
40 |
31 |
Red & White |
58 |
59 |
62 |
64 |
56 |
57 |
53 |
48 |
48 |
50 |
50 |
- Breeding intervals are lower in 2016 by 3 to 11 days than in 2004 for all breeds.
- Breeding intervals increased for all breeds before declining.
TABLE 6. Average CONCEPTION RATES FOR FIRST BREEDINGS by breed and breeding year.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
0.38 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
0.37 |
0.39 |
0.38 |
0.36 |
0.37 |
0.38 |
0.41 |
0.41 |
Brown Swiss |
0.28 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.27 |
0.29 |
0.29 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
Guernsey |
0.28 |
0.27 |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.26 |
0.25 |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.29 |
0.28 |
0.29 |
Holstein |
0.33 |
0.31 |
0.31 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.33 |
0.33 |
0.34 |
Jersey |
0.41 |
0.40 |
0.39 |
0.39 |
0.39 |
0.40 |
0.41 |
0.41 |
0.43 |
0.42 |
0.41 |
Milking Shorthorn |
0.43 |
0.45 |
0.38 |
0.40 |
0.41 |
0.38 |
0.42 |
0.39 |
0.43 |
0.39 |
0.43 |
Red & White |
0.33 |
0.33 |
0.30 |
0.28 |
0.33 |
0.35 |
0.33 |
0.35 |
0.37 |
0.35 |
0.35 |
- Holstein conception rates for first breedings were lowest (31%) in 2005 and 2006 and highest (34%) in 2016. Ayrshire, Jersey, and Milking Shorthorn had the highest conception rates in 2016 at 41, 41, and 43%, respectively.
TABLE 7. Average CONCEPTION RATES FOR ALL BREEDINGS by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
0.36 |
0.35 |
0.35 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
0.36 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.40 |
Brown Swiss |
0.26 |
0.25 |
0.24 |
0.25 |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
Guernsey |
0.26 |
0.25 |
0.25 |
0.26 |
0.24 |
0.24 |
0.25 |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
Holstein |
0.31 |
0.29 |
0.29 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.31 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.31 |
0.31 |
0.32 |
Jersey |
0.37 |
0.35 |
0.35 |
0.35 |
0.35 |
0.36 |
0.37 |
0.37 |
0.38 |
0.37 |
0.37 |
Milking Shorthorn |
0.41 |
0.44 |
0.35 |
0.38 |
0.40 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.39 |
0.42 |
0.37 |
0.40 |
Red & White |
0.30 |
0.32 |
0.31 |
0.29 |
0.31 |
0.34 |
0.34 |
0.33 |
0.34 |
0.33 |
0.32 |
- The lowest conception rates for all breedings were usually from 2005 to 2009.
- The conception rates for all breedings in 2016 were lower (1 to 4%) than those from first breedings in all breeds. Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn had the highest rate (40%) while Brown Swiss and Guernsey had the lowest (27%).
TABLE 8. Average CALVING INTERVALS (days) by breed and year of first calving for the interval.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
421 |
420 |
421 |
416 |
418 |
412 |
418 |
421 |
417 |
407 |
Brown Swiss |
443 |
444 |
451 |
448 |
448 |
440 |
432 |
434 |
430 |
430 |
Guernsey |
437 |
440 |
438 |
439 |
441 |
435 |
432 |
436 |
432 |
430 |
Holstein |
422 |
423 |
423 |
418 |
417 |
412 |
409 |
408 |
404 |
403 |
Jersey |
412 |
411 |
411 |
402 |
400 |
396 |
393 |
392 |
390 |
388 |
Milking Shorthorn |
407 |
409 |
407 |
419 |
412 |
408 |
402 |
420 |
405 |
405 |
Red & White |
431 |
434 |
436 |
422 |
417 |
412 |
416 |
416 |
410 |
409 |
- The long-term deterioration in calving interval described by Nieuwhof et al. (1989)
and Hare et al. (2006) often continued into 2005 or 2006 for several breeds but since has been reversed.
- Holstein calving intervals averaged 423 days in 2005 and 2006 but has improved to 403 days in 2013.
- Jersey calving intervals improved from 412 days in 2004 to 388 days in 2013.
- Brown Swiss calving intervals improved from 451 days in 2006 to 430 days in 2013.
- The positive economic impact from these reduced calving intervals cannot be overemphasized, as it reflects a valuable measure of the overall reproductive picture.
- Continued improvement of this trait is especially important to herds engaged in seasonal calving.
TABLE 9. Numbers of RECORDS (2003–12): A) AYRSHIRE, B) BROWN SWISS, C) GUERNSEY, D) HOLSTEIN, E) JERSEY), F) MILKING SHORTHORN, and G) RED & WHITE used to calculate reproductive statistics by breed, trait, and year..
- Information in Tables 1 through 8 was based on the numbers of records in Tables 9A through 9G.
- The number of reproduction records available through DHIA doubled from 2004 to 2016 revealing that more dairy producers are taking advantage of this management option.
- Over 90% of the reproductive data each year came from the Holstein breed.
- Reproductive records from Jerseys increased from 5% in 2004 to 8% in 2016.
A) AYRSHIRE
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
3,601 |
3,630 |
3,732 |
3,636 |
3,554 |
3,196 |
3,729 |
3,644 |
3,810 |
3,509 |
3,266 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
3,740 |
3,748 |
3,854 |
3,750 |
3,714 |
3,309 |
3,875 |
3,804 |
3,950 |
3,616 |
3,388 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
2,600 |
2,644 |
2,652 |
2,698 |
2,614 |
2,367 |
2,681 |
2,681 |
2,781 |
2,645 |
2,483 |
Days from first to last breeding |
3,601 |
3,630 |
3,732 |
3,636 |
3,554 |
3,196 |
3,729 |
3,644 |
3,810 |
3,509 |
3,266 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
3,338 |
3,356 |
3,458 |
3,356 |
3,197 |
2,917 |
3,402 |
3,380 |
3,502 |
3,232 |
3,029 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
7,238 |
7,550 |
7,845 |
7,290 |
7,015 |
6,115 |
7,592 |
7,382 |
7,698 |
7,018 |
6,275 |
Calving interval |
1,905 |
1,911 |
1,905 |
1,750 |
1,686 |
1,560 |
1,876 |
1,959 |
1,927 |
1,685 |
1,454 |
B) BROWN SWISS
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
8,850 |
9,591 |
9,358 |
9,730 |
9,980 |
9,631 |
10,183 |
10,343 |
10,129 |
9,837 |
9,792 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
9,263 |
9,956 |
9,701 |
10,096 |
10,347 |
10,034 |
10,535 |
10,734 |
10,522 |
10,179 |
10,113 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
5,582 |
5,952 |
5,866 |
6,263 |
6,421 |
6,288 |
6,788 |
6,834 |
6,697 |
6,616 |
6,417 |
Days from first to last breeding |
8,850 |
9,591 |
9,358 |
9,730 |
9,980 |
9,631 |
10,183 |
10,343 |
10,129 |
9,837 |
9,792 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
8,291 |
8,936 |
8,784 |
9,178 |
9,186 |
8,994 |
9,500 |
9,704 |
9,497 |
9,232 |
9,016 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
21,101 |
23,475 |
23,965 |
25,277 |
25,367 |
23,987 |
24,789 |
25,300 |
24,736 |
23,927 |
23,897 |
Calving interval |
4,702 |
4,720 |
4,684 |
5,050 |
4,898 |
5,044 |
5,370 |
5,209 |
5,155 |
5,006 |
4,612 |
C) GUERNSEY
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
4,044 |
3,872 |
3,536 |
3,501 |
3,481 |
3,224 |
3,616 |
3,413 |
3,269 |
3,025 |
3,028 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
4,235 |
4,055 |
3,673 |
3,651 |
3,622 |
3,354 |
3,772 |
3,557 |
3,389 |
3,123 |
3,137 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
2,730 |
2,555 |
2,333 |
2,339 |
2,207 |
2,074 |
2,378 |
2,231 |
2,182 |
2,050 |
1,990 |
Days from first to last breeding |
4,044 |
3,872 |
3,536 |
3,501 |
3,481 |
3,224 |
3,616 |
3,413 |
3,269 |
3,025 |
3,028 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
3,812 |
3,643 |
3,333 |
3,185 |
3,066 |
2,962 |
3,300 |
3,099 |
2,996 |
2,742 |
2,743 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
10,431 |
10,143 |
9,544 |
9,361 |
9,113 |
8,869 |
9,287 |
8,610 |
8,074 |
7,728 |
7,574 |
Calving interval |
2,052 |
1,912 |
1,707 |
1,674 |
1,531 |
1,622 |
1,651 |
1,549 |
1,461 |
1,464 |
1,200 |
D) HOLSTEIN
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
984,877 |
1,031,143 |
1,085,585 |
1,359,327 |
1,405,339 |
1,443,052 |
1,676,243 |
1,736,086 |
1,815,016 |
1,849,049 |
1,936,988 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
1,019,832 |
1,066,383 |
1,120,941 |
1,400,539 |
1,450,009 |
1,487,654 |
1,726,766 |
1,787,086 |
1,871,082 |
1,903,898 |
1,991,008 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
747,777 |
767,540 |
808,838 |
1,027,967 |
1,068,031 |
1,100,565 |
1,281,763 |
1,323,516 |
1,388,850 |
1,418,267 |
1,489,524 |
Days from first to last breeding |
984,877 |
1,031,143 |
1,085,585 |
1,359,327 |
1,405,339 |
1,443,052 |
1,676,243 |
1,736,086 |
1,815,016 |
1,849,049 |
1,936,988 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
957,172 |
1,005,601 |
1,039,122 |
1,275,701 |
1,341,797 |
1,392,511 |
1,618,344 |
1,690,291 |
1,766,396 |
1,806,504 |
1,884,420 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
2,391,113 |
2,602,466 |
2,750,888 |
3,367,179 |
3,558,438 |
3,577,913 |
4,160,264 |
4,365,205 |
4,500,487 |
4,566,678 |
4,687,767 |
Calving interval |
534,143 |
537,435 |
590,502 |
728,929 |
747,607 |
794,539 |
893,245 |
928,740 |
966,380 |
995,483 |
1,020,967 |
E) JERSEY
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
48,440 |
51,369 |
53,722 |
88,725 |
95,032 |
104,099 |
128,136 |
147,029 |
156,312 |
167,061 |
177,995 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
50,547 |
53,436 |
55,745 |
91,901 |
98,292 |
107,154 |
132,111 |
151,689 |
162,154 |
172,223 |
183,422 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
38,799 |
41,345 |
42,351 |
70,611 |
76,521 |
85,469 |
106,748 |
121,614 |
128,483 |
137,015 |
144,245 |
Days from first to last breeding |
48,440 |
51,369 |
53,722 |
88,725 |
95,032 |
104,099 |
128,136 |
147,029 |
156,312 |
167,061 |
177,995 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
46,810 |
49,644 |
51,692 |
80,911 |
89,753 |
98,790 |
119,900 |
137,583 |
144,405 |
152,409 |
159,622 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
105,280 |
114,640 |
121,975 |
194,742 |
221,264 |
234,996 |
281,870 |
322,371 |
335,890 |
361,614 |
390,120 |
Calving interval |
28,315 |
29,229 |
30,799 |
49,266 |
53,284 |
58,163 |
75,681 |
80,720 |
86,569 |
91,642 |
89,449 |
F) MILKING SHORTHORN
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
359 |
560 |
453 |
783 |
815 |
696 |
927 |
1,003 |
1,213 |
1,107 |
1,100 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
386 |
604 |
479 |
801 |
854 |
720 |
955 |
1,053 |
1,261 |
1,169 |
1,175 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
239 |
377 |
291 |
507 |
574 |
475 |
648 |
718 |
854 |
771 |
753 |
Days from first to last breeding |
359 |
560 |
453 |
783 |
815 |
696 |
927 |
1,003 |
1,213 |
1,107 |
1,100 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
310 |
469 |
382 |
667 |
725 |
618 |
803 |
855 |
1,058 |
983 |
986 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
588 |
869 |
760 |
1,316 |
1,448 |
1,325 |
1,661 |
1,832 |
2,026 |
2,039 |
1,925 |
Calving interval |
164 |
169 |
202 |
325 |
307 |
305 |
382 |
483 |
481 |
448 |
339 |
G) RED & WHITE
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
1,276 |
1,219 |
1,100 |
1,377 |
1,291 |
1,166 |
1,202 |
1,200 |
1,135 |
1,200 |
1,082 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
1,326 |
1,260 |
1,137 |
1,405 |
1,325 |
1,207 |
1,253 |
1,255 |
1,176 |
1,236 |
1,111 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
865 |
853 |
763 |
980 |
888 |
865 |
910 |
824 |
827 |
849 |
790 |
Days from first to last breeding |
1,276 |
1,219 |
1,100 |
1,377 |
1,291 |
1,166 |
1,202 |
1,200 |
1,135 |
1,200 |
1,082 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
1,159 |
1,105 |
987 |
1,246 |
1,204 |
1,080 |
1,144 |
1,130 |
1,046 |
1,128 |
1,022 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
2,970 |
2,646 |
2,440 |
3,298 |
2,950 |
2,527 |
2,731 |
2,615 |
2,375 |
2,530 |
2,522 |
Calving interval |
612 |
513 |
533 |
685 |
582 |
564 |
578 |
578 |
566 |
562 |
563 |
Contact: Duane Norman, 301-525-2006, duane.norman@uscdcb.com