The impact of twinning and stillbirth on reproductive and economic performance in large Hungarian dairy herds

Abstract

The aim of our study was to quantify the effect of twinning and stillbirth on the main reproductive parameters, and to estimate the resulting economic loss on large-scale commercial dairy farms. The data of 3.660 calvings that occurred on five large Hungarian Holstein-Friesian farms in 2016 and 2017 were analysed retrospectively. Information about twin calvings, stillbirths and uterine treatments were gathered. The main reproductive indices (i.e. calving to conception interval-CCI, services per conception-SPC, and first service conception risk-CR1) were calculated based on cow-level data. Statistical analyses were performed by using linear and logistic regression, and Dunnett-test. The economic losses related to twinning and stillbirth were estimated by partial budget analysis (1 EUR = 320 HUF). Overall, twinning and stillbirth occurred in 4.1 % and 6.9 % of the calving events. Twinning was more likely, whereas stillbirth was less likely in multiparous cows (odds ratio [OR]: 4.18 and 0.64, P<0.0001 and P=0.0015, respectively). Following twin calving, CCI and SPC were increased by 12.8 days and by 2.8, respectively, whereas CR1 was reduced by 7.1 percentage points. Twinning caused an estimated loss of 50.4 EUR/case. The analysed reproductive parameters were not impaired after stillbirth. Although, the reduction of calf number and the excess semen usage led to 112.5 EUR estimated loss per stillbirth case, on average. Twinning and stillbirths are significant sources of economic loss on dairy farms, therefore, their prevalence should be reduced.

Economics of Twin Pregnancies in Dairy Cattle

“…Another study, the most recent we found in the literature, ref. [ 26 ] also assessed economic impacts of twin pregnancies in large Hungarian herds and concluded that the overall loss due to a twin pregnancy added $59 per twin pregnancy (1EU = 1.18US$; Table 1 ). This loss was the result of increased calving to conception interval, increased service per conception, reduced conception rate, and increased incidence of retained placenta.…”

“…Ref [ 26 ] analyzed data from 3,660 calvings from five large dairy farms in Hungary through linear and logistic regression and Dunnett test. For the economic analysis, they included losses due to extra days open and excess semen use.…”