Dairy Cattle Reproduction
Heat Detection and Timing of Insemination
Extension Circular 402 - Heat Detection and Timing of Insemination for Cattle
Topics covered in this publication include information about characteristics of the estrous cycle, signs of heat, factors affecting estrous behavior, the timing of insemination, milk progesterone analysis as a tool for heat detection, evaluation of heat detection efficiency, and estrous detection aids.
Video: Heat Detection in Dairy Cattle
Accurate and efficient heat detection in dairy cattle is a critical component of an artificial insemination program. While it is essential for maintaining a profitable calving interval, heat detection has always been a major challenge to most dairy herd managers. This video reviews heat detection as it applies to dairy herd management and describes basic physiological events associated with the estrous cycle. The primary and secondary signs of estrus are presented in detail, as well as factors affecting estrous behavior, timing of insemination, and management practices that optimize heat detection efficiency. [1990, VHS, 21 minutes, $35]. Order this video.
Artificial Insemination
Special Circular 314: Reviewing Artifical Insemination Technique
Topics covered in this circular include Reproductive Anatomy, Preparations for Insemination and Sanitation, General Tips for Insemination Technique; Accuracy of Insemination, Evaluating Success and Need for Retraining.
Video: Uterine Body Insemination
Accurate placement of semen during artificial insemination is important for achieving good conception rates. This video is intended as a review for those trained in uterine body insemination, such as herd managers who inseminate their own cattle. It describes basic reproductive anatomy and the rectovaginal technique of insemination, including cervical manipulation, correct semen placement, and evaluation of insemination rod tip placement. The video may be useful to dairy and beef cattle producers, artificial insemination industry personnel, veterinarians, and college students. [1990, VHS, 12 minutes, $35]. Order this video.
More Publications
DAS 2005-99 Systematic Breeding Program for Dairy Cows
This fact sheet explains the basic concepts of systematic breeding programs for dairy cattle. Systematic breeding is also termed estrous synchronization, controlled breeding and timed insemination. The basic concepts in this publication include: advantages of systematic breeding, hormones used for various programs and factors important to achieving success with such programs.
DAS 01-35 Estrous synchronization programs for the dairy herd
This fact sheet replaces DAS 97-8. Included in this fact sheet are prostaglandin programs, ovsynch: GnRH-PG-GnRH program, presynch program, additional considerations, and requirements of controlled breeding programs.
DAS 00-10/VSE 00-01 Troubleshooting infertility problems in cattle
This is a joint publication between Dairy and Animal Science and Veterinary Science. This fact sheet examines problem areas with repeat breeding, anestrus, cystic ovaries, reproductive tract infections, abortions, retained placenta, difficult calvings, and heifer breeding problems.
DAS 99-10 Storing and handling frozen semen
This Department of Dairy and Animal Science publication covers semen tank management, handling semen within the tank, thawing semen, inseminating a group of synchronized cattle, and additional pointers in handling semen.
DAS 03-62 Checklist for reproductive management
This Department of Dairy and Animal Sciencepublication replaces DAS 94-15; it contains checklists for evaluating records, estrous detection, factors affecting conception, and the nutrition program and feeding management.
DAS 92-106 Factors causing uterine infections in cattle
Topic areas in this Department of Dairy and Animal Science publication include nutritional factors, environment, calving assistance, postpartum infusions, inaccurate heat detection, and organisms.
This Department of Dairy and Animal Sciencepublication examines the advantages of AI, the use of AI for heifers, the physiology related to synchronization programs, systems for managing an AI program for heifers, and inseminating a group of synchronized cattle.
DAS 98-5 Milk progesterone analysis for determining reproductive status
This fact sheet covers a lot of information on the subject of milk progesterone. Topics included are physiology, uses of milk progesterone analysis, evaluation of heat detection accuracy, determining pregnancy status, monitoring ovarian status, tips for using milk progesterone tests, and distributors of the tests.
DAS 95-3 Dairy cattle breeding terminology
This publication contains definitions for common breeding terminology.
