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The economics of fertility in the dairy herd

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

A. W. Stott ,
R. F. Veerkamp  and
T. R. Wassell
A. W. Stott
Affiliation:
Management Division, Scottish Agricultural College, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
R. F. Veerkamp*
Affiliation:
Animal Biology Division, Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
T. R. Wassell
Affiliation:
Food Systems Division, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
*
Present address: ID-DLO, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands.
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Abstract

A method to establish the economic optimum (minimum) cost of fertility in the dairy herd is described and demonstrated. A Markov chain model is used iteratively to establish the gross margin of the herd in the long term at various levels of oestrous detection rate and under two different rebreeding strategies. These gross margins are required by the optimization methodology. Under the initial assumptions reflecting current commercial practice in the United Kingdom, gross margin was £806 per cow. This figure varied by proportionately 0·15 over the range of oestrous detection rates assumed (0·4 to 0·7) while delaying rebreeding by 20 days caused gross margin to drop by approximately 0·04. It was concluded that it is important to optimize fertility control as well as rebreeding strategy in order to establish the economic impact of fertility in the dairy herd.

The economic value of fertility was also expressed per unit of calving interval and adjusted calving interval (ACI). ACI was calculated by dividing calving interval by the proportion of cows not culled for reproductive failure. Under the assumptions made, the marginal value of calving interval at the optimum oestrous detection rate was £6·22 per day, rising to £7·44 per day if rebreeding was delayed. The corresponding figures for ACI were £1·57 per day and £1·24 per day. The range in marginal values at sub-optimal oestrous detection rates were £4·38 for calving interval and £0·61 for ACI. It was concluded that the lower variation in ACI at different levels of fertility may make it a more representative trait for inclusion in a selection index provided the necessary genetic parameters can be reliably estimated.

Keywords

calving intervaldairy cattleeconomicsfertilityMarkov processes
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , February 1999 , pp. 49 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

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