How do I ensure tight fertility management in breeding females
Fertility control in breeding females is maintained by the scheduling of a
sequence of fertility events that cover the fertility cycle for the current
management system of the herd. To ensure tight control, each breeding female
record should contain one scheduled
fertility event that indicates which is the next fertility event due in the
sequence and when it is scheduled to occur. The only exception is breeding
females that have been identified for culling and so their record contains a
scheduled cull event.
As a fertility event is confirmed in the Parity data and
events page of an animal's record, it will automatically schedule the
next fertility event that is due. The scheduling of the events to suit your
management system is designed within the Event definitions.
Hence, a typical fertility sequence might be:
- Calving - a calving event indicates the start of a parity
(lactation). When an animal calves the confirmed calving event will schedule
a heat deadline event which is the time by which that animal should have
been observed in oestrus. Where natural service is used, the next scheduled
event may be a pregnancy diagnosis in 4 months time.
- Heat - If the animal shows heat but is not served, a heat event is
recorded. This schedules another heat event 21 days later so that the
herdsman is alerted to look for oestrus.
- Service - If the animal showing oestrus is served, then the
confirmed service event will schedule an expected heat event 21 days
later in case she has not conceived and returns on heat.
- Expected heat - If the animal does not return to service, it is
probable that the animal is pregnant. Hence a result of the expected heat
event is "not seen on heat" which schedules a pregnancy
diagnosis event at the defined number of days post service.
- Pregnancy diagnosis - At the pregnancy diagnosis the animal is
either confirmed pregnant or not pregnant. If confirmed positive the
pregnancy diagnosis event will schedule a calving event at the
appropriate date relative to the service/pd. On calving the sequence begins
again. If negative at the PD then a heat deadline event is scheduled for 21
days and the cycle begins again.
- At birth: Female calves that are likely to become breeding animals will normally
start with a Heat deadline event scheduled for a specified age. The event is
automatically scheduled at birth by the Scheduled
events after birth form.