Timing is Everything: Maximize your reproductive success with a targeted approach

Timing is everything and that’s especially true when it comes to reproductive success on the dairy. Attention to timing can make all the difference. Implementing a targeted reproductive management (TRM) approach can help you maximize herd fertility, reduce labor, use exogenous hormones more judiciously and support the long-term profitability of your operation.

TRM is a research-based approach that capitalizes on activity monitoring to determine when cows are ready to be bred, while also identifying non-cycling cows that could benefit from a synchronized fertility program. This combination of precision estrus detection gained from monitoring technology with tailored reproductive interventions can optimize fertility outcomes and translate into economic gain.

No one-size-fits-all approach

It’s no secret that heat detection is one of the most critical aspects of reproductive management. Traditional methods of heat detection rely on visual observations. In recent decades, fertility programs such as synchronization protocols and genetic improvements have enhanced the industry’s reproduction performance. The addition of advanced monitoring technology allows even greater improvement in heat detection accuracy while saving labor.

Research has shown whether you are using monitoring technologies or more traditional heat detection methods, you are likely to only identify about 70% of cows in heat.1 Some cows experience a silent heat where they don’t show visual signs of estrus but still ovulate.

In a study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, approximately 70% of cows observed showed estrus and nearly 30% showed no signs of estrus,1 whether using mounted patches or monitoring technology. With monitoring technology alone, you may think 30% of your cows are not ready to be bred because they didn’t come in heat. In reality, 34% of the cows that did not show visual signs of estrus still ovulated. By following up with an estrus synchronization protocol, you can potentially improve pregnancy rates by still catching those cows that experience silent heat.

In this scenario, relying on a fertility program to synchronize estrus may seem like the best option due to accuracy and compliance. However, it comes with an added cost. The combined strategy approach with TRM could potentially save hormone costs for 70% of

your herd and help reduce labor needed to administer those hormones. You could then use estrus synchronization on the remaining 30% to increase the number of pregnancies and further enhance reproductive efficiency.

Getting ahead of early lactation issues

While these cows may also benefit from entering synchronization protocols, monitoring technology plays a crucial role in identifying signs of potential health issues and research has demonstrated its effectiveness.

A Cornell University study supports the ability of monitoring devices to detect metabolic and digestive disorders earlier than skilled and trained personnel on the dairy.2 In the study, cows were identified for closer evaluation using the monitoring technology’s health index score that combines rumination and physical activity. As a result, cows were consistently “flagged” before employees visually identified them. It’s important to note that the monitoring system does not diagnose health disorders (i.e., ketosis or displaced abomasum), but rather tracks individual cows’ behavioral metrics and identifies animals that are having an abnormal day. Attending to cows having an abnormal day allows you to be proactive.

The technology’s health index score had a high sensitivity for identifying cows that would be diagnosed with these health challenges. In fact, this Cornell University study showed that this index identified cows that would be diagnosed with ketosis or displaced abomasum sooner than a clinical diagnosis by farm staff. When issues like this are not quickly addressed, secondary problems can arise.

A University of Florida study shows cows that experienced one or more health issues during lactation are more likely to face reproductive challenges.3 Healthy cows were more likely to cycle compared to cows who experienced health issues within the first 60 days.4 Of the cows considered healthy, about 51% became pregnant after their first AI. For cows that had one disease or more than one disease, that percentage dropped to 43% and 35%, respectively.

When determining reproductive success, achieving pregnancy is only part of the equation. Healthy cows were more likely to maintain pregnancy. Less than 10% of healthy cows experienced pregnancy loss. Comparatively, 14% of cows with one disease and 16% of cows with more than one disease experienced pregnancy loss.

Monitoring technology also gives you the opportunity to catch health challenges before they become clinical and affect cow fertility. Using monitoring systems throughout the lactation and dry period can be very successful in addressing health challenges before they negatively impact reproduction.

Reducing the use of hormones

University of Florida (UF) researchers compared pregnancy rates of a Double Ovsynch fertility program and a TRM protocol.5 In the control group, all cows received the first artificial insemination at a fixed time based on Double Ovsynch protocol. Under the TRM protocol, cows that showed at least one high-intensity estrus were bred based on activity. If an estrus was not detected within 42 days, they were assigned to a Double Ovsynch protocol.

Results from the study showed first lactation cows had a higher pregnancy rate when they went straight into a Double Ovsynch protocol. While the second and greater lactation cows in the TRM protocol had a small advantage after the first AI, success is really seen over the entirety of the lactation period. There were half as many open cows in the TRM protocol when compared to the Double Ovsynch only protocol.

Researchers were able to reduce the overall use of exogenous reproductive hormones by nearly 58%. This reduction was achieved while increasing pregnancy rates among cows that didn’t show intense estrus early postpartum and without reducing pregnancies among cows with an intense estrus early postpartum.

The TRM method allows producers to limit hormone use by strategically identifying which cows may be better candidates to go straight to a synchronization protocol and which should rely on monitoring technology. The UF study suggests producers may want to consider immediate synchronization for first lactation cows or those that do not show a typical heat.

Timeliness of Re-insemination

Researchers in the same UF study also took re-insemination protocols into consideration. If cows came back into heat, control cows were re-inseminated based on visual or patch aided estrus detection. TRM cows were reinseminated the same way with the help of monitoring technology.

The study found the added monitoring technology for estrus detection after the first postpartum AI increased the likelihood and speed of re-insemination. It also improved the conception rate for cows that were re-inseminated after experiencing lower intensity estrus early postpartum.

Improving the speed and success of re-insemination limits the number of nonproductive days by allowing cows to return to milk production sooner. Producers and industry professionals estimate a loss of $3 to $5 each day a cow remains open beyond 120 days in milk.6 Shortening the time it takes to rebreed helps minimize costs and optimize herd

productivity and profitability. Keep in mind that timing of reproductive interventions is essential to elevate productivity. The TRM approach ensures that timing works to your advantage. By using synchronization protocols and monitoring technology together, producers can maximize reproductive success.

References:

1. Valenza, A, Giordano, J O, Lopes, G, Jr, Vincenti, L, Amundson, M C, Fricke, P M. Assessment of an accelerometer system for detection of estrus and treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone at the time of insemination in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 2012. 95(12):7115-7127. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-5639

2. Stangaferro, M. L., Wijma, R., Caixeta, L. S., Al-Abri, M. A., Giordano, J. O. Use of rumination and activity monitoring for the identification of dairy cows with health disorders: Part I. metabolic and digestive disorders. J. Dairy Sci. 2016. 99(9):7395–7410. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-10907

3. Santos, J. E. P., Bisinotto, R. S., Ribeiro, E. S., Lima, F. S., Greco, L. F., Staples, C. R., Thatcher, W. W. Applying nutrition and physiology to improve reproduction in dairy cattle. Nottingham Univ. Press e-Books. 2011. 387–404. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21755686/.

4. Santos, J., Bisinotto, R., Ribeiro, E., Lima, F., Greco, L., Staples, C., Thatcher, W. Applying nutrition and physiology to improve reproduction in dairy cattle. Reproduction in Domestic Ruminants VII. 2010. 387–404. https://doi.org/10.7313/upo9781907284991.030

5. Gonzalez, T. D., Factor, L., Mirzaei, A., Montevecchio, A. B., Casaro, S., Merenda, V. R., Prim, J. G., Galvão, K. N., Bisinotto, R. S., Chebel, R. C. Targeted reproductive management for lactating Holstein cows: Reducing the reliance on exogenous reproductive hormones. J. Dairy Sci. 2023. 106(8):5788-5804. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22666.

6. Spencer, J. Dairy Reproductive Management. PowerPoint slides. AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M University. 2025.