Dairy Cow Repro Synchronization Flashcards
What is the goal of the veterinarian in dairy reproductive health?
To optimize the reproductive program for each individual farm
-to establish a calving interval that optimizes the production potential of the herd
What does the calving interval need to be for a grazing dairy?
12 months- so that they can maximize the calving season when grass is the most lush
-calving season should last 70-80 days
What factors go into making a good herd health program?
-goals
-past problems
-doable solutions
-monitoring plan
What are the functions of using exogenous prostaglandins in dairy herds (aka lutalyse or estrumate)
-used to lyse the CLs to short cycle cows
-used to treat pyometra
-used to abort cows <150 days
-used somewhat as uterine evacuant
What are the functions of using exogenous GnRH on dairy farms (Cystorelin, factorel or fertygel)?
-used to treat cystic ovarian disease
-used to synchronize the follicular wave
What was the role of the veterinarian historically on dairy farms?
- Treatment of post partum diseases
- Palpating cows on dry off
- Monthly visits to palpate cows
- Monthly, biweekly or weekly visits to do herd health visits
What is the production management medicine that the industry is shifting towards?
Performing traditional palpation but using dairy records to monitor reproductive performance and make changes in management
-some lab tests are better at assessing pregnancy than people are now
What groups are the most vital to check during palpations?
No heat cows, pregnancy checks, return to heats, and rechecks
-fresh cows, irregular heat cycles and problem breeders arent checked as routinely anymore
What can you assess by palpating fresh cows?
Not much
- in this group what you should be doing is identifying fresh cow diseases (through visualization) and vaccinating them
Why are no heat cows not assessed as frequently anymore?
Due to the rising amount of herds using timed AI programs
-heat detection is not as necessary
What is the main reason that cows have irregular heat cycles?
Cystic ovarian disease
If you are only going to utilize palpation for preg checks, what is the only way you are going to make money in the dairy world?
Being able to confidently and accurately diagnose pregnancy down to 35 days
-today, ultrasound is much more accepted as a method for diagnosing pregnancy and it is much easier
If a cow is diagnosed pregnant at less than 40 days, when do they need a recheck?
At 60-100 days
-pregnancy wastage at <40 days varies from 5-15%
When does a cow become a problem breeder?
When they have 3 or more services that do not result in pregnancy and are enough days post breeding to confirm a pregnancy diagnosis
-we usually dont find anything wrong with them
Which group of cows is the most important to check?
The no heat cows
- all these cows need sperm
-they all need something to happen as soon as possible
Which cow is the most important to identify?
The open cow
- this is the one you have to make decisions on
What is the role of vets when it comes to SOPs?
They formulate them and check in over time to make sure producers are following them
What is the simplest way to understand ovsynch?
1st GnrH is to synchronize the follicular wave
PGF is to synchronize estrus
2nd dose of GnRH is to synchronize ovulation
When can the developing follicle actually respond to GnRH?
Between days 5-10 and 15-20
-during other times the receptors arent present
-this is why presynchronization programs are helpful
What is the best simple synchronization program for dairy cows today?
OvSynch 56
-GnRH day 1
-PGF day 8
-GnRH 56 hours later
-timed AI 12-16 hrs after that
What is the difference between cosynch and ovsynch?
Cosynch- give 2nd GnRH and do timed AI at the same time
- more used in beef to handle them less times
What is the best time to start Ovsynch? How can you ensure that all cows will be at day 8 of their cycle in order to start them all on day 8?
Day 8
Presynch ovsynch protocol:
- PG injection (clean up shot), wait 14 days (watch heats and breed), then give another PG injection, wait 12-14 days, then start ovsynch
-assumes all cows are cycling at the start of the protocol
Goal is to get cows pregnant by 100 days in milk
What is the best program for getting a cow pregnant on their first service on a dairy farm today?
Double ovsynch
-this is the protocol that consistently results in the highest conception rate
-lots of potential for compliance drift (need very dedicated team)
What are the options for resynchronization?
For the cow that is open at preg check:
-can run through regular ovsynch protocol- most common
-can give a shot of GnRH 7 days before preg check (not done much anymore)
-can do GnRH 7 days prior and then if open at preg check start ovsynch (a bit of a presynch protocol)
Name the potential benefits of controlled breeding programs
- Improved efficiency of heat detection
- Controlled timing of first service postpartum
- Reduced variation of calving intervals
- Reduce reproductive culling
- Concentrate labor needs to certain times
- Improve reproductive performance
If a dairy cow herd fails to achieve the pregnancy they need to create their own replacements, what options do they have?
-buy pregnancies (replacement heifers), which reduces cash flow
-continue to milk open cows that should be culled to try to make up the difference
-cull open cows and reduce herd numbers
If a dairy cow herd exceeds the number of pregnancies they need, what options do they have?
-make voluntary culling decisions
-sell heifers (no longer really a plus)
-internal herd growth
