Introduction
This brochure highlights important practices for farmers to
improve dairy herd reproductive management and its quality.
The brochure's extension message is one of a larger
programme of on-farm demonstrations being delivered by
MAFRD.


The nutritional status of the cow also determines the
first onset of cycling (Estrus); it influences her ability
to conceive, and impacts her cycle.
Cows come into heat when their progesterone falls
and their estrogen rises. On average, cows come into
heat every 21 days (ranging from 18 to 24). (See Fig
1, 2 & 6)
The brochure is being funded through a two-year EU project to
strengthen MAFRD's advisory and technical services. The
project is helping MAFRD to coordinate the advisory network
of local advisers and private advisory bodies, as well as
promote the opportunities and benefits to the farming
community of using the advisory services. The project is also
supporting the implementation of rural development measures
aimed at using farm advisory services, as well as ensuring
that training is harmonised with EU requirements under the
Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the Instrument for Preaccession Assistance for Agriculture and Rural Development
(IPARD).
The reproductive efficiency of Kosovo’s dairy herds is variable.
The majority of herds are spring to summer calving. The
calving intervals can be long (e.g. greater than 1 year). Fertility
rates are low. While dairy reproduction is influenced by
various factors, the productivity and fertility of the herd
(reproduction) can be improved if the farmer adopts key
practices. (Note that the use of artificial Insemination (AI) will
be discussed in a separate brochure.)
1.
Understanding the reproductive cycle






Reproduction management does not just involve the
milking cow; it starts from the day a heifer calf is
born.
Good quality heifer rearing is essential to get heifers
cycling (estrus) at 13 months, pregnant at
approximately 15 months, and calving at 24 months.
At each stage of a cow's life, there should be an
effective management plan to maximize fertility.
The onset of ovulation does not occur until the heifer
is about 12 months; levels of progesterone rise after
estrus; if the cow stays pregnant, these levels remain
high (see Fig 1).
The age at which the heifer reaches puberty depends
on its live weight; lighter heifers start to cycle later
than heavier animals. So, to maximize heifer fertility,
there should be good, consistent weight gain during
the rearing period.
A heifer should weigh 300kg at 12 months of age,
and put on another 60kg before it is 15 months old, in
order to ensure it is at the right weight at first service,
and calving down at 24 months at 600Kg.
Figure 2: Cow standing for mounting -"standing heat"





Figure 1: Estrus Cycle
2.
Objectives of the lactation cycle
To ensure a compact calving season (i.e. a calving interval of
one year), the animal should be ready for service around 15
months, which implies her need to be in calf at 18 months,
with the first calving at 24 months. After calving, the cow
should be back in calf by day 85, have a 305 day lactation,
and a dry period of 60 days before calving i.e. 365 days
between calving.
Key targets
 Cow calves at day 1, and aims to be back in calf by day
85
 Between day 1-305, the cow is in the lactation phase
 Between days 305-360, the cow is dried off (i.e. 60-day
dry period before calving again)
 A 365 day calving interval aims for one calf per year
 Calf target weaning is for 35 days; calf is then reared for
420 days (approximately 14 months)
 The heifer is ready for first service at approximately 15
months
 The heifer is calving by 24 months
3.
Heat detection
The farmer’s observation skills are critical; he/she should
know what to look for, including behavioral changes.
A cow in estrus usually stands to be mounted 20 to 55
times (Fig 3)
The average duration of standing heat is 15 to 18 hours,
but heat duration may vary from 8 to 30 hours. (Fig 4)
Long viscous, clear elastic strands of mucus generally
hang from the vulva
During heat, the vulva swells and the interior becomes
moist and red
Sniffing the genitalia and licking the vulva of other cows
occur much more frequently with cows in proestrus and
estrus
Ovulation normally occurs 25 to 32 hours after the onset of
standing heat. Standing behavior is the only reliable sign
farmers have to determine time of ovulation. (See Fig 4)
Figure 3: Period of Estrus (18-30 hrs)
4. After calving




5.


The reproductive system needs to repair and restore itself
before normal cycling is resumed.
In most dairy cows, normal cycling resumes within 40 days
of calving.
Failure to resume normal cycling after calving is one of the
main underlying causes of poor fertility in dairy cattle.
Such failure have multiple reasons that range from cows
which fail to start cycling until 80 to 100+ days after calving
to cows which start cycling 20 days after calving (but then
stop).
6.


Summary
The levels of estrogen, progesterone and prostaglandin
have a regulating effect on the cow’s estrus cycle. Cows
are coming into heat on average every 21 days until they
become pregnant. (See Fig 1 & 6, illustrating the change
in hormone levels)
Heifers will start to cycle around 12 months of age, with
bodyweight being the critical factor determining when
puberty occurs; setting and meeting targets for live weight
gain are essential for optimizing heifer reproduction.
An EU funded project managed
by the European Office in Kosovo
Rural Agricultural Advisory
Service of Kosovo
Body condition scoring (BCS)
DAIRY REPRODUCTION
IMPROVEMENT
Over-fat (BCS 4-5) and over-thin (BCS of 1-2) cows are
far more likely to lose excess body condition than cows in
good condition, so targets are needed for BCS to
minimize the numbers of such cows.
Optimum fertility is seen in cattle with a mean condition
score of BCS 2.5 at calving. In a calving group, there
should be no more than 15% of cows with a BCS >3 at
calving, and <15% with a BCS of 2 or less.
The best way to manage this is to get BCS before drying-off,
and then manage the cows during the dry period to meet the
target (BCS 2.5-3). If the main problem is poor condition, then
the farmer needs to look at increased supplementary feeding
during late lactation, as this is the most economically effective
time to increase body condition.



Once cows calve, monitoring BCS is still essential, so that
excess BCS loss (≥1.0) prior to mating is minimized.
Milk yield has a major influence during this period, with
increased yield being strongly correlated to BCS loss.
Cows need to be on a rising plane of nutrition pre- and
post-calving
However, this is not an excuse for doing nothing and
accepting poor fertility. High-yielding cows will still benefit
from active fertility management, and minimizing BCS
loss is still important even if service is delayed
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Figure 4: BCS figure


After calving, cows usually take around one month to start
cycling normally again; disruption to this process is one of
the most important causes of poor fertility; excess loss of
body condition after calving (BCS less than 2) is a major
cause of this failure.
Accurate heat detection and timing of insemination is
critical to improving fertility levels
Implemented by: