Reproductive status of cows in Dairy Herd Improvement programs and bred using artificial insemination (2016)
H.D. Norman, L.M. Walton, and J.W. Dürr
Background
Several measures of reproductive performance are summarized from Dairy Herd Improvement (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. This report continues to provide statistics on 7 of these reproductive traits by breed and year. Historically most reproductive performance studies were limited to days open or calving interval or from research 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 the change in correlated traits, a consequence of selection for higher milk yield.
The purpose of this 2018 annual report is to provide updates for some of the important reproductive traits. The phenotypic averages provided are a reflection of both genetic and environmental changes.
A few traits have shown improvement since 2005; others deteriorated for a time, but all now show slight or considerable improvement. Obviously, Holsteins and Jerseys 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, most likely because of their smaller population sizes.
Table Summaries
TABLE 1. 20161 REPRODUCTIVE TRAIT AVERAGES and standard errors by breed.
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
1.8± 0.02 |
2.4± 0.02 |
2.3± 0.03 |
2.3± 0.00 |
2.2± 0.00 |
1.8± 0.04 |
2.2± 0.04 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
94± 0.8 |
88± 0.4 |
91± 0.8 |
78± 0.0 |
82± 0.1 |
89± 1.4 |
84± 1.1 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
126± 1.4 |
140± 1.0 |
136± 1.8 |
120± 0.1 |
115± 0.2 |
119± 2.5 |
124± 2.4 |
Days from first to last breeding |
39± 1.1 |
62± 0.9 |
61± 1.6 |
52± 0.0 |
43± 0.2 |
36± 1.8 |
49± 1.9 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
0.42± .009 |
0.29± .005 |
0.29± .009 |
0.36± .000 |
0.41± .001 |
0.40± .016 |
0.34± .015 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
0.40± .006 |
0.27± .003 |
0.27± .005 |
0.33± .000 |
0.36± .001 |
0.38± .011 |
0.34± .010 |
Calving interval |
409± 1.9 |
430± 1.2 |
432± 2.4 |
399± 0.1 |
395± 0.2 |
409± 3.3 |
408± 3.2 |
1Cows first bred in 2016 for all traits except calving interval;
for calving interval, cows with first calving for the interval in 2014.
- The fewest breedings per conception was 1.8 for Milking Shorthorns; the highest was 2.4 for Brown Swiss.
- Days from calving to first breeding averaged 78 for Holsteins and 82 for Jerseys; the other breed averages ranged from 84 to 94 days.
- Days from calving to last breeding were fewest for Jerseys (115) and highest for Brown Swiss (140).
- Days from first to last breeding, the breeding interval, were fewest for Milking Shorthorn (36) and highest for Brown Swiss (62) and Guernseys (61); Ayrshires and Jerseys averaged 39 and 43 and Holsteins averaged 52 days.
- Conception rate for first breedings was high for Ayrshire (42%), Jerseys (41%), and Milking Shorthorns (40%), and lowest (29%) for Brown Swiss and Guernseys; Holsteins averaged 36%.
- Breeds had similar results for conception rate for all breedings as for first breedings, although generally slightly lower.
- Calving interval (days) was shortest for Jerseys (395) and longest for Guernseys (432), and Brown Swiss (430); Holsteins averaged 399.
TABLE 2. Average numbers of INSEMINATIONS PER CONCEPTION by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
Brown Swiss |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
Guernsey |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
Holstein |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.3 |
Jersey |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
Milking Shorthorn |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
Red & White |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
- Inseminations per conception (or number of services/conception) usually declined after 2006 and 2007, usually by 0.1 to 0.3.
TABLE 3. Average DAYS FROM CALVING TO FIRST BREEDING by breed and breeding year.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
94 |
94 |
93 |
92 |
94 |
95 |
95 |
92 |
91 |
93 |
94 |
Brown Swiss |
92 |
92 |
92 |
90 |
89 |
89 |
87 |
88 |
89 |
88 |
88 |
Guernsey |
90 |
93 |
95 |
88 |
90 |
91 |
92 |
88 |
93 |
92 |
91 |
Holstein |
86 |
85 |
83 |
81 |
81 |
79 |
78 |
78 |
78 |
78 |
78 |
Jersey |
84 |
83 |
78 |
76 |
77 |
76 |
75 |
74 |
76 |
79 |
82 |
Milking Shorthorn |
91 |
95 |
94 |
88 |
93 |
99 |
95 |
91 |
92 |
91 |
89 |
Red & White |
94 |
87 |
86 |
86 |
84 |
85 |
85 |
84 |
85 |
84 |
84 |
- Days from calving to first breeding decreased by 8 and 10 days since 2006 in Holsteins and Red and Whites. Three other breeds declined by 2 to 4 days.
- Norman et al. (2009) indicated that some of the early decreases resulted from the practices 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 |
132 |
134 |
131 |
132 |
132 |
134 |
133 |
126 |
127 |
125 |
126 |
Brown Swiss |
160 |
155 |
152 |
146 |
147 |
144 |
141 |
143 |
141 |
141 |
140 |
Guernsey |
150 |
152 |
149 |
147 |
145 |
144 |
146 |
142 |
144 |
141 |
136 |
Holstein |
145 |
141 |
136 |
133 |
132 |
130 |
126 |
126 |
124 |
122 |
120 |
Jersey |
130 |
126 |
121 |
116 |
115 |
113 |
110 |
110 |
111 |
114 |
115 |
Milking Shorthorn |
119 |
122 |
122 |
121 |
123 |
132 |
121 |
123 |
118 |
119 |
119 |
Red & White |
146 |
143 |
133 |
136 |
129 |
128 |
127 |
126 |
127 |
125 |
124 |
- Days from calving to last breeding decreased by 6 to 25 days for all breeds except Milking Shorthorn from 10 years earlier.
- The Holsteins, Red and Whites, and Brown Swiss showed the largest decreases of 25, 22, and 20 days, respectively.
TABLE 5. Average DAYS FROM FIRST TO LAST BREEDING by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
49 |
48 |
42 |
47 |
50 |
47 |
47 |
44 |
43 |
41 |
39 |
Brown Swiss |
81 |
78 |
73 |
69 |
72 |
69 |
66 |
67 |
66 |
65 |
62 |
Guernsey |
75 |
76 |
71 |
73 |
71 |
65 |
65 |
67 |
68 |
64 |
61 |
Holstein |
70 |
67 |
63 |
62 |
62 |
61 |
58 |
58 |
56 |
55 |
52 |
Jersey |
57 |
54 |
52 |
48 |
47 |
45 |
43 |
45 |
44 |
43 |
43 |
Milking Shorthorn |
36 |
35 |
37 |
41 |
36 |
38 |
30 |
40 |
33 |
36 |
36 |
Red & White |
62 |
64 |
56 |
57 |
53 |
48 |
48 |
51 |
50 |
49 |
49 |
- Breeding intervals are lower in 2016 by 10 to 19 days than in 2006 for all breeds except Milking Shorthorn.
TABLE 6. Average CONCEPTION RATES FOR FIRST BREEDINGS by breed and breeding year.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
0.36 |
0.37 |
0.39 |
0.38 |
0.36 |
0.37 |
0.38 |
0.41 |
0.41 |
0.40 |
0.42 |
Brown Swiss |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.27 |
0.29 |
0.29 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.29 |
0.29 |
Guernsey |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.26 |
0.25 |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.29 |
0.28 |
0.29 |
0.30 |
0.29 |
Holstein |
0.31 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.33 |
0.33 |
0.34 |
0.34 |
0.36 |
Jersey |
0.39 |
0.39 |
0.39 |
0.40 |
0.41 |
0.42 |
0.43 |
0.42 |
0.41 |
0.41 |
0.41 |
Milking Shorthorn |
0.38 |
0.40 |
0.41 |
0.38 |
0.42 |
0.39 |
0.43 |
0.39 |
0.44 |
0.39 |
0.40 |
Red & White |
0.30 |
0.28 |
0.33 |
0.35 |
0.33 |
0.35 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
0.35 |
0.34 |
0.34 |
- Ayrshires, Jerseys, and Milking Shorthorn had the highest conception rates for first breedings in 2016 at 42, 41, and 40%, respectively. The
conception rates for first breedings were lowest for Brown Swiss and Guernseys at 29%. Lowest conception rate for Holsteins was in 2006 (31%) and highest (36%) was in 2016.
TABLE 7. Average CONCEPTION RATES FOR ALL BREEDINGS by breed and year of first breeding.
SAS Output
Ayrshire |
0.35 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
0.36 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.40 |
0.39 |
0.40 |
Brown Swiss |
0.24 |
0.25 |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
Guernsey |
0.25 |
0.26 |
0.24 |
0.24 |
0.25 |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
0.27 |
Holstein |
0.29 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.31 |
0.30 |
0.30 |
0.31 |
0.31 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.33 |
Jersey |
0.35 |
0.35 |
0.35 |
0.36 |
0.37 |
0.37 |
0.38 |
0.37 |
0.37 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
Milking Shorthorn |
0.35 |
0.38 |
0.40 |
0.36 |
0.39 |
0.38 |
0.41 |
0.37 |
0.41 |
0.37 |
0.38 |
Red & White |
0.31 |
0.29 |
0.31 |
0.34 |
0.34 |
0.33 |
0.34 |
0.33 |
0.33 |
0.33 |
0.34 |
- The lowest conception rates for all breedings were in 2006 or 2007 in all but one breed.
- The conception rates for all breedings during the last decade were lower (2 to 5%) than those from first breedings in all breeds except Red and Whites. Ayrshire had the highest rate (40%) followed by Milking Shorthorn (38%), and Jersey (36%), 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 |
416 |
418 |
413 |
418 |
421 |
417 |
410 |
410 |
409 |
Brown Swiss |
451 |
448 |
448 |
440 |
432 |
434 |
430 |
430 |
432 |
430 |
Guernsey |
438 |
439 |
441 |
435 |
432 |
436 |
432 |
430 |
430 |
432 |
Holstein |
423 |
418 |
417 |
412 |
409 |
408 |
404 |
403 |
401 |
399 |
Jersey |
411 |
402 |
400 |
396 |
393 |
392 |
390 |
388 |
391 |
395 |
Milking Shorthorn |
407 |
419 |
412 |
408 |
402 |
420 |
406 |
405 |
407 |
409 |
Red & White |
436 |
422 |
417 |
412 |
416 |
416 |
409 |
408 |
411 |
408 |
- The long-term deterioration in calving interval shown by Nieuwhof et al. (1989)
and Hare et al. (2006) often continued into 2006 for several breeds but since has been reversed.
- Red and White calving interval decreased from 436 days in 2006 to 408 days in 2015.
- Holstein calving intervals averaged 423 days in 2006 but declined to 399 days by 2015.
- Jersey calving intervals decreased from 411 days in 2006 to 391 days in 2014, but increased 4 days in 2015.
- Brown Swiss calving intervals improved from 451 days in 2006 to 430 days in 2015.
- 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 Holstein reproduction records available through DHIA nearly doubled from 2006 to 2016 revealing that more dairy producers are taking advantage of this management option.
- The number of reproductive records for Jerseys tripled across the decade.
A) AYRSHIRE
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
3,732 |
3,636 |
3,553 |
3,194 |
3,718 |
3,633 |
3,790 |
3,493 |
3,251 |
3,248 |
3,102 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
3,854 |
3,750 |
3,713 |
3,307 |
3,864 |
3,793 |
3,930 |
3,599 |
3,369 |
3,371 |
3,223 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
2,652 |
2,698 |
2,614 |
2,365 |
2,671 |
2,673 |
2,767 |
2,633 |
2,494 |
2,391 |
2,298 |
Days from first to last breeding |
3,732 |
3,636 |
3,553 |
3,194 |
3,718 |
3,633 |
3,790 |
3,493 |
3,251 |
3,248 |
3,102 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
3,458 |
3,356 |
3,196 |
2,915 |
3,392 |
3,369 |
3,484 |
3,217 |
3,016 |
2,941 |
2,839 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
7,845 |
7,290 |
7,013 |
6,111 |
7,568 |
7,355 |
7,664 |
6,984 |
6,242 |
6,177 |
5,827 |
Calving interval |
1,905 |
1,750 |
1,686 |
1,558 |
1,867 |
1,949 |
1,917 |
1,727 |
1,713 |
1,603 |
|
B) BROWN SWISS
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
9,351 |
9,722 |
9,973 |
9,618 |
10,165 |
10,327 |
10,105 |
9,776 |
9,782 |
10,282 |
9,511 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
9,694 |
10,088 |
10,340 |
10,021 |
10,517 |
10,718 |
10,498 |
10,116 |
10,103 |
10,667 |
9,890 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
5,863 |
6,257 |
6,417 |
6,279 |
6,773 |
6,823 |
6,684 |
6,580 |
6,480 |
6,731 |
6,266 |
Days from first to last breeding |
9,351 |
9,722 |
9,973 |
9,618 |
10,165 |
10,327 |
10,105 |
9,776 |
9,782 |
10,282 |
9,511 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
8,778 |
9,171 |
9,178 |
8,981 |
9,483 |
9,692 |
9,476 |
9,184 |
9,039 |
9,570 |
8,867 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
23,954 |
25,257 |
25,347 |
23,949 |
24,745 |
25,263 |
24,668 |
23,787 |
23,907 |
24,792 |
23,335 |
Calving interval |
4,678 |
5,044 |
4,892 |
5,031 |
5,363 |
5,198 |
5,132 |
5,017 |
5,142 |
4,956 |
|
C) GUERNSEY
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
3,533 |
3,497 |
3,476 |
3,215 |
3,607 |
3,399 |
3,249 |
3,000 |
2,986 |
3,079 |
2,944 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
3,670 |
3,647 |
3,617 |
3,345 |
3,762 |
3,543 |
3,369 |
3,098 |
3,095 |
3,173 |
3,049 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
2,332 |
2,335 |
2,205 |
2,069 |
2,369 |
2,221 |
2,168 |
2,037 |
1,994 |
2,051 |
1,840 |
Days from first to last breeding |
3,533 |
3,497 |
3,476 |
3,215 |
3,607 |
3,399 |
3,249 |
3,000 |
2,986 |
3,079 |
2,944 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
3,330 |
3,182 |
3,062 |
2,954 |
3,291 |
3,086 |
2,978 |
2,720 |
2,706 |
2,769 |
2,656 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
9,534 |
9,353 |
9,101 |
8,838 |
9,262 |
8,576 |
8,030 |
7,672 |
7,501 |
7,648 |
7,143 |
Calving interval |
1,704 |
1,671 |
1,527 |
1,617 |
1,643 |
1,540 |
1,445 |
1,452 |
1,481 |
1,503 |
|
D) HOLSTEIN
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
1,085,545 |
1,359,333 |
1,405,351 |
1,443,022 |
1,676,291 |
1,736,026 |
1,814,994 |
1,848,853 |
1,935,034 |
2,001,011 |
2,003,458 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
1,120,897 |
1,400,538 |
1,450,022 |
1,487,627 |
1,726,826 |
1,787,026 |
1,871,063 |
1,903,688 |
1,988,988 |
2,059,638 |
2,061,297 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
808,821 |
1,028,012 |
1,068,105 |
1,100,566 |
1,281,812 |
1,323,567 |
1,388,883 |
1,418,387 |
1,489,326 |
1,543,488 |
1,554,229 |
Days from first to last breeding |
1,085,545 |
1,359,333 |
1,405,351 |
1,443,022 |
1,676,291 |
1,736,026 |
1,814,994 |
1,848,853 |
1,935,034 |
2,001,011 |
2,003,458 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
1,039,080 |
1,275,722 |
1,341,866 |
1,392,530 |
1,618,419 |
1,690,279 |
1,766,413 |
1,806,414 |
1,882,854 |
1,944,536 |
1,940,915 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
2,750,797 |
3,367,289 |
3,558,668 |
3,578,049 |
4,160,453 |
4,365,402 |
4,500,376 |
4,566,518 |
4,683,727 |
4,838,528 |
4,736,530 |
Calving interval |
590,498 |
728,949 |
747,618 |
794,529 |
893,308 |
928,808 |
966,460 |
996,583 |
1,039,517 |
1,077,956 |
|
E) JERSEY
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
53,701 |
88,850 |
95,057 |
104,059 |
128,079 |
147,157 |
156,426 |
167,009 |
178,019 |
175,028 |
171,616 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
55,722 |
92,056 |
98,319 |
107,113 |
132,055 |
151,814 |
162,253 |
172,152 |
183,421 |
180,884 |
177,153 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
42,346 |
70,665 |
76,537 |
85,436 |
106,705 |
121,746 |
128,560 |
136,990 |
144,340 |
138,060 |
134,855 |
Days from first to last breeding |
53,701 |
88,850 |
95,057 |
104,059 |
128,079 |
147,157 |
156,426 |
167,009 |
178,019 |
175,028 |
171,616 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
51,673 |
81,019 |
89,787 |
98,763 |
119,848 |
137,722 |
144,549 |
152,369 |
159,598 |
145,802 |
136,317 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
121,903 |
194,989 |
221,372 |
234,951 |
281,747 |
322,531 |
336,167 |
361,565 |
390,313 |
378,546 |
368,883 |
Calving interval |
30,789 |
49,294 |
53,281 |
58,140 |
75,619 |
80,720 |
86,624 |
91,744 |
92,921 |
85,615 |
|
F) MILKING SHORTHORN
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
454 |
783 |
815 |
696 |
927 |
1,006 |
1,235 |
1,103 |
1,118 |
1,067 |
1,051 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
480 |
801 |
854 |
720 |
955 |
1,056 |
1,282 |
1,164 |
1,194 |
1,109 |
1,087 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
292 |
507 |
574 |
475 |
648 |
719 |
871 |
768 |
786 |
726 |
705 |
Days from first to last breeding |
454 |
783 |
815 |
696 |
927 |
1,006 |
1,235 |
1,103 |
1,118 |
1,067 |
1,051 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
383 |
667 |
725 |
618 |
803 |
859 |
1,089 |
978 |
1,004 |
925 |
962 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
761 |
1,316 |
1,448 |
1,325 |
1,661 |
1,837 |
2,097 |
2,032 |
1,965 |
1,951 |
1,893 |
Calving interval |
203 |
325 |
307 |
305 |
382 |
493 |
491 |
459 |
470 |
476 |
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G) RED & WHITE
SAS Output
Breedings per conception |
1,100 |
1,377 |
1,291 |
1,166 |
1,203 |
1,195 |
1,135 |
1,202 |
1,101 |
1,152 |
1,018 |
Days from calving to first breeding |
1,138 |
1,405 |
1,325 |
1,207 |
1,254 |
1,250 |
1,178 |
1,238 |
1,131 |
1,192 |
1,042 |
Days from calving to last breeding |
763 |
980 |
888 |
865 |
911 |
820 |
829 |
857 |
805 |
835 |
746 |
Days from first to last breeding |
1,100 |
1,377 |
1,291 |
1,166 |
1,203 |
1,195 |
1,135 |
1,202 |
1,101 |
1,152 |
1,018 |
Conception rate for first breedings |
987 |
1,246 |
1,204 |
1,080 |
1,144 |
1,128 |
1,046 |
1,134 |
1,041 |
1,075 |
949 |
Conception rate for all breedings |
2,440 |
3,298 |
2,950 |
2,527 |
2,734 |
2,609 |
2,376 |
2,537 |
2,555 |
2,503 |
2,267 |
Calving interval |
533 |
685 |
582 |
565 |
578 |
578 |
575 |
563 |
588 |
575 |
|
Contact: Duane Norman, 301-525-2006, duane.norman@uscdcb.com
We wish to acknowledge the contribution of the dairy producers who supplied data for this report through their participation in the Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) program and the dairy
records processing centers (DRPC) that processed and relayed the information on to the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB).
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