Effects of production, season, age of cow, days dry, and days in milk on conception to first service in large commercial dairy herds.

Effects of management and environmental factors on reproductive performance were evaluated as part of a fertility experiment in four large commercial dairy herds. The herds were selected because they utilized routine herd health programs, kept complete reproduction records on all cows, were enrolled in Dairy Herd Improvement, and would follow the protocol of the experiment. Only data from first services following parturition were utilized, and conception was determined by rectal palpation. Information on over 2800 experimental breedings was collected during 13 mo. Percentage conception to first service was not affected by milk production during current or previous lactations. However, cows with higher production during current or previous lactations. However, cows with higher production during current or previous lactation had longer intervals to first service. Previous days dry did not affect conception or interval to first service significantly. Conception was less for cows with less than 50 days to first service (32%) than for cows with over 50 days to first service (49 to 57%). No differences were found among 10-day intervals to first service of over 50 days. Cows in third and later lactation had lower reproductive performance than cows in first or second lactation. Month of breeding did not affect conception significantly but did affect interval to first service. However, no seasonal trends were apparent. Differences among herds were significant for both conception and interval to first service.

Effects of serum treated semen, bulls, and herdsmen-inseminators on conception to first service in large commercial dairy herds.

Semen from each of 10 Holstein bulls was extended to 15 X 10(6) total spermatozoa per dose in egg yolk-Tris and in egg yolk-Tris containing 20% (vol/vol) heat-treated heifer serum. Semen was used during 12 mo by 11 herdsmen-inseminators in four commercial dairy herds to inseminate 2820 Holstein cows on the first postpartum service. Percentage conception of cows free of clinical disorders at breeding was determined by rectal palpation at 30 to 60 days after insemination. Addition of serum to the extender did not influence percentage conception. A significant interaction of bull x seminal treatment was found. Least squares means of percentage conception to first service ranged from 45.3 to 59.9% among the 10 bulls. When bulls were classified as either high (greater than 55%), average (50 to 55%), or low conception (less than 50%), approximately 200 first services were required to classify correctly 80 to 90% of the bulls. Least squares means of conception rates ranged from 40.1 to 62.7% among the 11 herdsmen-inseminators. 1) Addition of heat-treated homologous heifer serum to the extender does not influence conception in a predictable fashion; 2) fertility inherent to the bull significantly influences conception; and 3) inseminator skill affects conception greatly.