Fertility is the driver of milk production. It’s simple: no calf, no milk
Poor cow fertility significantly impacts the profitability of your dairy herd. Some costs are obvious, and others are hidden, but they have a huge influence on your bottom line.
Poor fertility results in:
- More empty days resulting in higher feed costs without any production in return
- More culling due to infertility, higher proportion of involuntary culling
- Higher insemination costs
- Higher veterinary costs
- Longer lactation and lower profitability
- Risk of reduced milk yield in the next lactation due to a long dry period
- Reduced number of heifers for sale
Poor fertility is among the most common reasons for culling in dairy herds. Culling related to poor fertility is always involuntary.
With a consistent focus on fertility in your breeding strategy, you can increase your profits. Herds with a higher production level can achieve bigger savings from improved fertility because every day without milk costs more.
