On this site, you can learn about many of the aspects of the reproduction of dairy cattle, such as how breeding is planned, important reproductive anatomy, common behaviors you will see among cattle during reproduction, and the various stages in the life of a dairy cow that are important to producing healthy offspring.

Overview Timeline

What information can you find within this site?

Where does it all begin?

Dairy cattle can be bred for many different purposes! Exploring the Breeding Plans page will introduce just three of the purposes that dairy cattle are used for and how the best decisions can be made to produce the best animals possible. The high incidence of the use of artificial insemination introduces a high possibility of inbreeding in dairy cattle, which is a very important consideration when choosing how to breed them.

Purpose of Reproduction

Reproduction in the dairy industry is very important to producing dairy products that consumers will enjoy. A successful pregnancy is required for every lactation to produce the milk that goes into these products. Knowing the best breeding practices of when and how to breed will help ensure the highest rate of conception across the cows. Because of this, the health of breeding bulls is also very important in order to have great conception rates. Calves produced as a result of these pregnancies are used to further replenish the herds of the dairy cows and some are sold to market. Very select bull calves are raised to become breeding bulls. Successful reproduction in the dairy industry is what keeps the industry growing and thriving.

How are dairy cattle managed?

Tie stalls and free stalls are the most common housing for dairy cows, with pasture access decreasing as the number of cows increases (1). Dairy cows are kept inside to keep them comfortable and out of the heat to help maximize their production. To aid with this, mister and fan systems are used in large operations. The majority of farms use milking parlors as their milking facilities, especially for large herds (1). This is where the cows come into the parlor to be milked, but are housed elsewhere.

Large production facilities typically separate groups of cows based on nutritional need. These groups usually include first lactation heifers, mature lactating cows, and dry cows (2). First lactation heifers are smaller and more likely to be fought off of food by the larger mature heifers. They are also more prone to going off of feed during late pregnancy due to the space that the fetus takes up, meaning they will require a more nutrient dense diet that will take up less space in their stomach and still provide the high energy demands. Keeping them separate allows for more feed intake, which can increase their milk yield up to two pounds per day (2). As pregnancy progresses the energy demands on the cow increase due to the growing fetus. Many dry cows that are close to calving, or close up cows, are prone to decreasing feed intake so feed additives or a more nutrient dense feed may need to be considered to allow them to get their required nutrients (2). Typically a nutritionist is hired to formulate a total mixed ration for each group of cows.

References

(1) USDA. (n.d.). Dairy Cattle Management Practices in the United States, 2014. Dairy

2014.

Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/dairy/downloads/dairy14/Dairy14_dr_PartIII.pdf

(2) Morabito, E., Nolan, D., Mayo, L., & Amaral-Phillips, D. (n.d.). Dairy Cow Grouping: Is it for Your

Farm? Dairy Cow Grouping: Is it for Your Farm? | Animal & Food Sciences. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://afs.ca.uky.edu/dairy/extension/dairy-cow-grouping

(3) FDA. (n.d.). The Cattle Estrous Cycle and FDA-Approved Animal Drugs to Control and

Synchronize Estrus—A Resource for Producers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/product-safety-information/cattle-estrous-cycle-and-fda-approved-animal-drugs-control-and-synchronize-estrus-resource-producers#:~:text=After%20puberty%2C%20a%20heifer%20continues,organs%20(see%20Figure%201)

(4) USDA. (n.d.). Dairy Data. USDA ERS - Dairy Data. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/dairy-data/

(5) Stage of Lactation. Cheese Science. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from

https://www.cheesescience.org/lactation.html#:~:text=When%20a%20cow%20gives%20birth,the%20%E2%80%9Cdrying%20off%E2%80%9D%20period

(6) About Dairy Cows. Compassion in World Farming. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from

https://www.ciwf.com/farmed-animals/cows/dairy-cows/#:~:text=Like%20humans%2C%20cows%20only%20produce,order%20to%20continue%20producing%20milk

(7) USDA. (n.d.). Controlled Calving Season . Retrieved September 24, 2022, from

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_018638.pdf