Using Hormones to Manage Dairy Cow Fertility: The Clinical and Ethical Beliefs of Veterinary Practitioners

Abstract

In the face of a steady decline in dairy cow fertility over several decades, using hormones to assist reproduction has become common. In the European Union, hormones are prescription-only medicines, giving veterinary practitioners a central role in their deployment. This study explored the clinical and ethical beliefs of practitioners, and provides data on their current prescribing practices. During 2011, 93 practitioners working in England completed a questionnaire (95% response rate). Of the 714 non-organic farms they attended, only 4 farms (0.6%) never used hormones to assist the insemination of lactating dairy cows. Practitioners agreed (>80%) that hormones improve fertility and farm businesses profitability. They also agreed (>80%) that if farmers are able to tackle management issues contributing to poor oestrus expression, then over a five year period these outcomes would both improve, relative to using hormones instead. If management issues are addressed instead of prescribing hormones, practitioners envisaged a less favourable outcome for veterinary practices profitability (p<0.01), but an improvement in genetic selection for fertility (p<0.01) and overall cow welfare (p<0.01). On farms making no efforts to address underlying management problems, long-term routine use at the start of breeding for timing artificial insemination or inducing oestrus was judged “unacceptable” by 69% and 48% of practitioners, respectively. In contrast, practitioners agreed (≥90%) that both these types of use are acceptable, provided a period of time has been allowed to elapse during which the cow is observed for natural oestrus. Issues discussed include: weighing quality versus length of cow life, fiscal factors, legal obligations, and balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including the increasing societal demand for food. This research fosters debate and critical appraisal, contributes to veterinary ethics, and encourages the pro-active development of professional codes of conduct.

Invited review: Changes in the dairy industry affecting dairy cattle health and welfare

“…Also of interest is a recent study on the clinical and ethical values of veterinarians in the UK regarding the use of hormones to manage dairy cow reproduction. Respondents indicated that on farms where no effort was made to address underlying management problems limiting reproductive performance, long-term routine use of timed AI protocols was judged "unacceptable" by practitioners (Higgins et al, 2013). Therefore, it is plausible that there will be increasing pressure to limit the use of synchronization programs.…”

Herd monitoring to optimise fertility in the dairy cow: making the most of herd records, metabolic profiling and ultrasonography (research into practice)

“…There are welfare concerns regarding other fertility practices (Higgins et al, 2013). Some organic farming standards do not allow management use of exogenous reproductive hormones.…”

Attitudes to hormone management in dairy cow reproduction

“…However, this article focuses on using hormones in lactating dairy cattle without reproductive pathology, for two purposes: to facilitate oestrus detection by inducing oestrus, and to remove the need for oestrus detection by allowing fixed‐time artificial insemination (AI). Table presents, in no particular order, a summary of some of the potential advantages and disadvantages of prescribing hormones to induce oestrus or for fixed‐time AI (Higgins et al, ). Please note Table is not exhaustive.…”

“…Public perception and the veterinary profession's engagement with the public over potentially controversial issues are raised. 10.12968/live.2013.18.6.210 for fixed-time AI (Higgins et al, 2013). Please note Table 1 is not exhaustive.…”