Economic comparison of reproductive programs for dairy herds using estrus detection, timed artificial insemination, or a combination

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the economic outcome of reproductive programs using estrus detection (ED), timed artificial insemination (TAI), or a combination of both (TAI-ED) using a stochastic dynamic Monte-Carlo simulation model. Programs evaluated were (1) ED only; (2) TAI: Presynch-Ovsynch for first AI, and Ovsynch for resynchronization of open cows at 32 d after AI; (3) TAI-ED: Presynch-Ovsynch for first AI, but cows underwent ED and AI after first AI, and cows diagnosed open 32 d after AI were resynchronized using Ovsynch. Evaluated were the effect of ED rate (40 vs. 60%; ED40 or ED60), accuracy of estrus detection (85 vs. 95%), compliance with the timed AI protocol (85 vs. 95%), and milk price ($0.33 vs. 0.44/kg). Conception rate to first service was set at 33.9% and then decreased by 2.6% for every subsequent service. Abortion was set at 11.3%. Cows were not AI after 366 d in milk, and open cows were culled after 450 d in milk. Culled cows were immediately replaced. Herd size was maintained at 1,000 cows, and the model accounted for all incomes and costs. Simulation was performed until steady state was reached (3,000 d), and then average daily values for the subsequent 2,000 d were used to calculate profit/cow per year. Net daily value was calculated by subtracting the costs (replacement, feeding, breeding, and other costs) from the daily income (milk sales, cow sales, and calf sales). The ED40 models resulted in greater profits than the TAI-85 model but lower profits than the TAI-95 model. Both ED60 models resulted in greater profits than the TAI-95 model. Combining TAI and ED increased profits within each level of accuracy or compliance. Adding TAI to ED would increase overall profit/cow per year by $46.8 to $74.7 with 40% ED, and by $8.9 to $30.5 with 60% ED. Adding ED to TAI would increase profit/cow per year by $64.2 to $99.4 with 85% compliance and by $31.8 to $59.7 with 95% compliance. Although combining TAI and ED increased profits within each level of accuracy or compliance, when evaluated separately, ED60 with 95% accuracy or TAI with 95% compliance were as profitable as or more profitable than TAI-ED with low ED, accuracy, or compliance. Therefore, producers can improve their profits by combining TAI and ED as reproductive management; however, if a herd can achieve high ED with high accuracy or have high compliance with injections, using only ED or TAI might be more profitable than trying to do both.

Economics of fertility in high-yielding dairy cows on confined TMR systems

“…A series of studies demonstrate consistently that improving reproductive performance improves the cow and the herd economic net returns (Giordano et al, 2011 and2012;Cabrera, 2012;Kalantari and Cabrera, 2012;Galvao et al, 2013). These gains follow the law of diminishing returns and, therefore, economic gains are greater with a lower initial 21-d PR.…”

“…Herd net return on high yielding confined total mixed ration (TMR) systems is strongly associated with reproductive performance (Giordano et al, 2012;Galvao et al, 2013). Efficient reproductive programme regulate herd population dynamics and herd structure allowing cows to take advantage of the most efficient part of the lactation curve (Ferguson and Galligan, 1999), while maximising production of on-farm replacements (Giordano et al, 2012), minimising costs associated with replacements and mortality (Giordano et al, 2011 and2012;Galvao et al, 2013), and minimising the relative costs associated with reproduction (Giordano et al, 2012).…”

“…Efficient reproductive programme regulate herd population dynamics and herd structure allowing cows to take advantage of the most efficient part of the lactation curve (Ferguson and Galligan, 1999), while maximising production of on-farm replacements (Giordano et al, 2012), minimising costs associated with replacements and mortality (Giordano et al, 2011 and2012;Galvao et al, 2013), and minimising the relative costs associated with reproduction (Giordano et al, 2012). Most of high-yielding dairy farms in the United States use a combination of synchronisation/ovulation control protocols and oestrous detection (OD) for their reproductive management (Caraviello et al, 2006;Giordano et al, 2012;Galvao et al, 2013). Although there are a number of metrics for reproductive performance (e.g.…”

“…Although there are a number of metrics for reproductive performance (e.g. herd days open or calving interval), the 21-day pregnancy rate (21-d PR; Ferguson and Galligan, 1999), which measures the rate at which eligible cows become pregnant in successive 21-day periods, integrates many other reproductive performance parameters and seems to be the best single parameter to measure, standardise and benchmark reproductive performance among herds (Giordano et al, 2011 and2012;Galvao et al, 2013). Managers of modern US commercial dairy farms monitor their herd's reproductive performance using the 21-d PR index.…”

“…However, it is difficult for them to assess the overall economic impacts of reproductive programme. A series of simulation studies in recent years (Giordano et al, 2011(Giordano et al, , 2012(Giordano et al, and 2013Galvao et al, 2013) attempt to provide responses to these difficult questions and are the main subject of this review paper. Some of these studies also provide decision support tools that could be customised for herd-specific economic assessments related to reproduction.…”