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Fertility
Fertility in the dairy industry
Detection of heat: the challenges of Silent Heat
Timing of artificial insemination is critical, with even 24 hours out from the optimal timing having a major effect on fertility. Failure to AI is costly and some cows are incorrectly identified as infertile due to heat is not being observed. A proportion of missed heats are due to the cow failing to display the
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Fertility Metrics: Measuring Fertility in Dairy Herds
Managing herd fertility is one of the most important considerations of dairy producers. Poor fertility can have severe economic consequences and problems can easily go unnoticed if adequate monitoring is not in place. Measuring fertility in dairy herds is the first step towards successful management practices. To do this, many farmers use a variety of
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Progesterone Profiling in Dairy Cows: A Study
Previously, we’ve discussed how progesterone varies during the oestrous cycle of cattle and how identifying heat is one of the most important parts of dairy herd management. Recently we profiled three cows from a local farm in a small pilot study as part of our ongoing commitment to ensure P4Gold is the best it can
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P4Gold, Timed AI and Synchronisation Protocols
There are many different strategies for managing herd fertility in dairy herds. From different calving systems to synchronisation and timed artificial insemination, the options are many. P4Gold is a valuable tool, regardless of what system is in place. What is Timed AI? Timed AI is usually used in conjunction with synchronisation programmes. It involves inducing
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What is Milk?
For anyone involved in the dairy industry, this question might have a very clear answer. Milk is, after all, the entire basis of the industry. However, what is it that makes milk such an important aspect of human life? What is it actually made of and why do we drink it? Mammals and lactation In
A Very Brief History of Milk Progesterone Measurement
With the shift from using bulls to primarily using artificial insemination to cover cattle, there has been a corresponding push to develop accurate heat detection methods. A mistimed AI can be expensive and, in the worst case scenarios, cause infection or pregnancy loss. Progesterone tests emerged as one of the best methods of heat detection,
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Progesterone: A Brief Overview
What is progesterone? While perhaps not as well-known a female sex hormone as oestrogen, progesterone is one of the most important hormones in the female reproductive system. Although most commonly associated with mammals, this hormone is produced by many different animals, from chickens and turtles to fish and sea urchins. As a steroidal sex hormone,
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Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cows
Pregnancy is one the most important times in the lives of dairy and beef cows. For dairy cows, a successful and well-timed pregnancy will give the best milk yield and provide replacement stock for the herd. Accurate data on pregnancy status of cattle can aid in culling decisions; breeding management and timing; and inform decisions
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Block Calving Systems
What is block calving? Block calving,1 is when cows in a herd only calve during a specific period of time. This is usually a block of 6 to 12 weeks, but can be longer. Some producers have a single calving block in a year, others have two blocks, usually one in spring, and one in
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