InCalf Research

There have been significant changes in the Australian dairy industry over the last 10 years. Farms are generally larger with higher per cow milk production, staff issues have become more challenging as farms get bigger, and grain and milk prices have fluctuated widely. Serious drought has also been endured in many dairy regions.

The InCalf Fertility Data Project 2011 aimed to find out if herd reproductive performance has changed through this period, and to explore some possible herd and cow factors involved. The project involved collaboration with four veterinary practices which had complete reproductive records, including early pregnancy test results, for the same herds over a number of years. Records from 74 herds were included in the investigation, covering 180, 000 lactations from 1997 to 2010.

While the fertility of the study herds varied widely, the project revealed a gradual decline in reproductive performance in these herds over the last 10 years. Better fertility was strongly associated with higher milk protein concentration, ABVs for daughter fertility, middle-aged cows and longer times from calving to mating start date.

The study’s results have provided highly useful information about current fertility performance and trends, and are informing further investigations to help Australian dairy farmers achieve better herd fertility.

The full version of the InCalf Fertility Data Project 2011 (including data presentation, methodology and analysis- 212 pages) is available for download here.

The study’s findings have also been summarised in the InCalf Fertility Data Project 2011- Short Report which can be downloaded here.