Herd health
Infectious diseases such as BVD, Leptospirosis and Johnes disease can have a significant impact on herd fertility. Information from bulk milk samples followed by appropriate vaccination strategies can control these diseases.
The reduction of metabolic disease in the early post partum period is central to reducing fertility problems. Issues such as endometritis, laminitis, retained placenta and ketosis all have significant adverse effects on fertility performance.
It is also widely accepted that optimal dairy cow nutrition is a crucial factor in achieving fertility targets. This will be critical this year given the quality of forage available and cows with a less desirable body condition score.
While the reduction of a negative energy balance in early lactation is central to the fertility issue, trace mineral supplementation closely follows as having a significant role to play in achieving successful reproductive performance.
Figure 1: Factors that affect fertility performance on dairy farms- Source Tim Geraghty, UCD Herd Health Group
