Effect of reproductive management programs for first service on replacement dairy heifer economics

Abstract

Our objective was to evaluate cash flow for dairy heifers managed for first service with programs that relied primarily on insemination at detected estrus (AIE), timed AI (TAI), or a combination of both. Holstein heifers from 2 commercial farms were randomized to receive first service with sexed semen after the beginning of the AI period (AIP) at 12 mo of age with 1 of 3 treatments:(1) PGF+AIE (n = 317): AIE after PGF 2α injections every 14 d (up to 3) starting at the beginning of the AIP; heifers not AIE 9 d after the third PGF 2α were enrolled in the 5d-Cosynch (5dCP) protocol; (2) ALL-TAI (n = 315): TAI after ovulation synchronization with the 5dCP protocol; and (3) PGF+TAI (n = 334): AIE after 2 PGF 2α injections 14 d apart (second PGF 2α at beginning of AIP). If not AIE 9 d after the second PGF 2α , the 5dCP protocol was used for TAI. After first service heifers were AIE or received TAI after the 5dCP with conventional semen. Individual heifer cash flow (CF) for up to a 15-mo period (d 0 = beginning of AIP) was calculated using reproductive cost (rearing only), feed cost (rearing only), income over feed cost (lactation only), calf value, operating cost, and with or without replacement cost. A stochastic analysis with Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate differences in CF for a range of market values for inputs and outputs. Time to pregnancy for up to 100 d after the beginning of the AIP was analyzed by Cox's proportional regression, binary data with logistic regression, and continuous outcomes by ANOVA. Time to pregnancy (hazard ratio and 95% CI) was reduced for the ALL-TAI versus the PGF+AIE treatment (1.20; 1.02-1.42), but it was similar for ALL-TAI and PGF+TAI (1.13; 0.95-1.33) and the PGF+AIE and PGF+TAI treatments (1.

Economics of timed artificial insemination with unsorted or sexed semen in a high-producing, pasture-based dairy production system

“…Greater reproductive costs due to TAI use were offset by the positive effect of earlier pregnancy on cash flow of replacement heifers. Similar to Masello et al (2021), we found that TAI for first service was economically more advantageous than CONV and that the higher upfront costs were offset by the improvement in the P/AI early in the breeding period. Ricci et al (2020) found that despite the higher upfront cost incurred by using more hormonal treatments a Double-Ovsynch+PGF 2α program was more profitable than other synchronization programs, including a Presynch-Ovsynch program with 100% timed AI or a Presynch-Ovsynch program that incorporated estrus detection.…”

“…Our sensitivity analysis indicated that the annual ∆PROF of the TAI with unsorted semen reproductive policies was most sensitive to the P/AI of TAI. In comparison to Silva et al (2015), we found that holding all other stochastic variables at their modal values and the P/AI of TAI at the lower end of the distribution, an annual ∆PROF per cow of approximately €7.18 would be attainable in TSEX-H and turning negative −€3.39 in TCONV-H. Masello et al (2021) concluded that TAI used in combination with estrus detection or TAI alone as the primary method to submit heifers for first service generated differences in cash flow of potential value to commercial dairy farms. Greater reproductive costs due to TAI use were offset by the positive effect of earlier pregnancy on cash flow of replacement heifers.…”

A systematic review of the cost of ketosis in dairy cattle

“…Besides ketosis, stochastic simulation models have been used to estimate the costs of most prevalent diseases in the dairy cow, such as mastitis and foot disorders (Hagnestam-Nielsen and Østergaard, 2009;Bruijnis et al, 2010;Nielsen et al, 2010;Liang et al, 2017;Dolecheck et al, 2019), as well as to evaluate the economics of several synchronization programs, reproductive management strategies, optimal voluntary waiting period lengths, and replacement policies (Inchaisri et al, 2011;Mohd Nor et al, 2015;Stangaferro et al, 2019;Masello et al, 2021).…”

Evaluación económica de la eficiencia reproductiva y productiva en sistemas productivos con ganado criollo en Campeche, México

“…Por su parte, Heinrichs & Heinrichs (2011) han demostrado que todos estos factores elevan los costos de producción hasta en un 20%, lo cual concuerda con Masello et al (2021), quienes evaluaron el efecto de la edad al primer parto y la relación con la viabilidad económica, demostrando que el tiempo que trascurre desde el nacimiento al primer parto genera diferencias del flujo de efectivo, afectando la rentabilidad general de la empresa pecuaria.…”