Reproductive Issues Arising from Different Management Systems in the Dairy Industry

Abstract

Contents The objective of this review is to address the reproductive issues arising from different dairy management systems by describing divergent systems and comparing their reproductive outcomes. The increasing global demand for dairy products has led to the majority of the world’s milk being produced in intensive management systems. This intensification has occurred in both zero‐grazed (ZG) and in pasture‐based (PB) systems, and it has contributed directly to the current decline in dairy cow fertility globally. Given the heterogeneous nature of both ZG and PB systems, comparisons between them in dairy cow reproductive performance need to be treated with caution. In general, cows in ZG systems have higher milk production and better energy balance but more of some animal health problems, lower ovarian activity post‐partum, reduced oestrous expression, reduced conception success, and higher culling and mortality rates, than cows in PB systems. Key environmental descriptors affecting reproductive performance within management systems include the type and duration of housing and the pre‐ and post‐partum diet composition. Genetic by environment (GxE) interactions for dairy cow fertility have been detected for some, but not for other, management systems. Given the concerns of some consumers within the EU about the health, fertility and welfare of dairy cows in modern dairy herd management systems, there is a need to address these concerns with large‐scale experimental and epidemiological studies.

Husbandry Factors and the Resumption of Luteal Activity in Open and Zero‐Grazed Dairy Cows in Urban and Peri‐Urban Kampala, Uganda

“…The study also observed that a higher than normal ‘unclear’ progesterone profiles were expressed under zero than open grazing, which may be attributed to husbandry differences or other factors yet to be established. This observation concurs with Mee () whose review suggests that luteal and oestrous activity in pasture based, in this case open grazing, management seems better than under zero grazing system because of fewer reproductive problems in the former.…”

Opportunities for reducing environmental emissions from forage-based dairy farms

“…Increasing the housing period can reduce N 2 O emissions, especially through a more uniform return of excreta via managed manure compared with very localized urine returns deposited by grazing . There is also more potential for improved ration formulation when animals are housed and there is greater control over diet (Chadwick et al 2008a), although there may be negative impacts on welfare and fertility (Marley et al 2010, Mee 2012.…”

“…Increasing the housing period can reduce N 2 O emissions, especially through a more uniform return of excreta via managed manure compared with very localized urine returns deposited by grazing . There is also more potential for improved ration formulation when animals are housed and there is greater control over diet (Chadwick et al 2008a), although there may be negative impacts on welfare and fertility (Marley et al 2010, Mee 2012.Model outputs are very dependent on system conditions (production system, soil and climatic conditions). For example del Prado et al (unpublished data) showed that simulations of UK dairy farms under projections of future climate change scenarios resulted in more productive farms for most future time-slices and for most regions AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE T. Misselbrook et al (2013) 22: 93-107 102 of the UK, mainly caused by a longer grass growing season.…”

Aplicación intrauterina de flavonoides en vacas lecheras puerperales: involución del tracto reproductivo y fertilidad en ambientes de altitud elevada

“…Además, el eje hipotálamo-hipofisario debe recuperar la funcionalidad adecuada para que el ciclo estral se reanude de nuevo con normalidad y preparar todas las estructuras anatómicas para llevar a cabo una nueva gestación. Así, este período de recuperación reproductiva tiene una importancia crucial para conservar la productividad del ganado bovino, evitando disminuir su fertilidad debido a la dificultad de detección del celo, la prolongación del tiempo de anestro post-parto por una deficiente involución uterina o las bajas tasas de gestación por el estrés generado debido a condiciones ambientales y los sistemas de explotación (Mee, 2012).…”