What does the future hold for improving
reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle?
Matt Lucy
Animal Reproductive Biology Group
Division of Animal Sciences
University of Missouri-Columbia, USA
Highlights from the past
• Methods and application of artificial
insemination.
• Products and programs for synchronization
of estrus and timed AI.
• Ultrasound and PAGs (blood test) for
pregnancy diagnosis.
• Genetic testing and genetic selection for
fertility.
• Methods and application of advanced
embryo technologies.
2012
Ever-Green-View My 1326-ET
Waldo, Wisconsin USA February 2010
32,805 kg of milk*
1,267 kg fat
974 kg protein
365 d lactation
*3-times average US
cow in 2010
Innovations of the past decade
• Highly Effective Synch Programs for Cows
– Presynch Ovsynch
– G6G
– 5 day Cosynch 72
– Double Ovsynch
• Highly effective Resynch Programs for
cows
Innovations of the past decade:
CIDR approval for
lactating dairy cows
July 29, 2003
Innovations of the past decade:
Improved systems for automated
estrus detection
Innovations of the past decade:
Gender selected semen
Innovations of the past decade:
Better and more portable ultrasounds
Innovations of the past decade:
Blood pregnancy tests
Innovations of the past decade:
Automated Milk Progesterone Testing
Förster Technik: FT Multilyser
DeLaval: Herd Navigator
Innovations of the past decade:
Introduction of Daughter Pregnancy Rate
Percentage of selection index
60
Fat yield
50
Protein yield
Productive life
40
Functional
DPR
30
20
10
0
1984
1994
2000
Year
2003
2006
Innovations of the past decade:
Introduction of Daughter Pregnancy Rate
Innovations of the past decade:
Sequencing of the bovine genome
Innovations of the past decade:
Bovine SNP chips and
the identification of fertility markers
Fertility markers on chromosome 18
Price et al. (2010)
Innovations of the past decade:
DNA marker based genetics
The Microbiome
•
•
•
•
9 out of 10 cells in the body are microbial
The gut contains at least 1000 species
Most are commensal (not pathogenic)
Differences between cows and herds may
be explained by differences in their
microbiomes.
Science December 17, 2010
What about the future?
• Climate change
and air pollution
• Water depletion
and pollution
• Biodiversity
Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations
What about the future?
Artificial insemination
• More units per sire
– Sperm production
– Sperm dilution
• On-farm storage
• Lifespan inside the
female tract
• Gender selected
sperm
What about the future?
Return to estrus
PD
P
P
G P G AI
G P G AI
Presynch-Ovsynch-Resynch
Time to confront the monster!
What about the future?
Return to estrus
Electronic methods for
estrus detection
(Senger 1994)
• Continuous
surveillance
• Automatic ID
• Lifetime operation
• Minimal labor
• Accurate in
identifying cows in
estrus
Figure 1 from Senger (1994)
J. Dairy Sci. 77:2745-2753
Is there another way?
Detection of estrous behavior
Detection of estrous
behavior
Detection of
Detection
ofapproaching
approaching
ovulation in the absence
ovulation in the absence
of estrous behavior
of
estrous behavior
(biochemical
test)
(biochemical test)
What about the future?
Time for some new tools!
55 T-bird
Progesterone (Trimberger and Hansel, 1955)
What about the future?
Time for some new tools!
PGF2α (Lauderdale, 1972)
What about the future?
Time for some new tools!
86 Mustang
GnRH (Cystorelin approved, 1986)
What about the future?
Recombinant gonadotropins (LH and FSH)
hCG
pFSH
Human Genome Project
th
10 anniversary – 2011
• 3 billion base pairs
• 10 years draft sequence
• 13 years completed
sequence
• $2.7 billion
Commercial Whole Genomic DNA Sequencing
Complete Genomics, Mountain View, CA, USA
Bovine Genome Project
What about the future?
DNA marker based genetics
Redefining high fertility
Now is the time to define
“high fertility”!
Pregnant after an observed
in estrus and AI
Pregnant after a timed AI
Now is the time to define
“high fertility”!
Pregnant after an observed
in estrus and AI
• Cycling before breeding period
• Uterus released PGF2α
• Follicle grew; produced
adequate estradiol
• Behavioral centers responded to
estradiol and cow expressed
detectable estrus.
• Pituitary released an LH surge.
• Artificial insemination
• Follicle ovulated, CL formed.
• Pregnancy!
Now is the time to define
“high fertility”!
• Cycling before breeding period
• Uterus released PGF2α
• Follicle grew; produced
adequate estradiol
• Behavioral centers responded to
estradiol and cow expressed
detectable estrus.
• Pituitary released an LH surge.
• Artificial insemination
• Follicle ovulated, CL formed.
• Pregnancy!
Pregnant after a timed AI
Which cow scores better for DPR?
Pregnant after an observed
in estrus and AI
Pregnant after a timed AI
Which cow is the best cow for the future?
Pregnant after an observed
in estrus and AI
Pregnant after a timed AI
Which cow is the best cow for the future?
Pregnant after an observed
in estrus and AI
Pregnant after a timed AI
Thank you!