DSD 4.11 | Reproduction Revolution

Dairy Science Digest

Over the past 30 years the reproduction status of dairy has improved substantially, largely due to research around reproduction synchronization. This month we talk to Dr. Paul Fricke and Megan Lauber from the University of Wisconsin, about their recently released paper titled: Effect of postpartum body condition score change on the pregnancy outcomes of lactating Jersey cows inseminated at first service with sexed Jersey or conventional beef semen after a synchronized estrus versus a synchronized ovulation.

We discuss the how to maximize the equation of fertility, through management. Once optimized, you’ll find your herd entering the “high fertility cycle”. When all the stars align, production is high – disease is low and you are able to begin to stack reproductive technologies – such as genomically determined breedings using sexed and beef semen use following the ideal synchronization.

Listen in to learn how to get your herd there and the physiology behind it.

Topics of discussion

1:54 Introduction of Dr. Paul Fricke & Megan Lauber
4:23 Objectives of the trial – stacking reproductive strategies
3:34 On farm monitoring – data collected
6:10 Getting all the cows on day 7 – the key to unlocking fertility
7:44 The history of Luteolysis – why is it so critical?
9:57 Rate limiting step of pregnancy
12:03 2019-2021 xx and beef semen usage
13:54 Research protocols and design
16:20 Equation of reproduction; comparing double ovsync vs estrus
17:50 Estrus or Double ovsync for Sexed semen
16:14 Day 19 – 40 pregnancy loss
17:30 What’s happening when the GnRH shot is given?
22:13 The impact of Body Condition Score (BCS) change on fertility | >0.5
24:53 High fertility cycle
25:52 Not all cows loose condition through transition, those that did were impacted
26:38 Results: Double ovsync helps mitigate poor transition (Figure 4)
29:09 Why does it work? What physiology controls it?
30:15 Fat regulates GnRH?!
32:30 What do you want dairy producers to know from your research
Featured article: Effect of postpartum body condition score c hange on the pregnancy outcomes of lactating Jersey cows inseminated at first service with sexed Jersey or conventional beef semen after a synchronized estrus versus a synchronized ovulation.
Also mentioned in the discussion: Characterization of semen type prevalence and allocation in Holstein and Jersey females in the United States

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