Changes in milk yield in the proximity of AI as predictors of conception risk
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20183203Keywords:
milk yield, dairy cattle, lactation, calving, AI, artificial insemination, milk production, conceptionAbstract
Adequate increments in milk yield during early lactation are an indication of proper transition from the negative energy balance after calving to more stable stages as lactation progresses. Most research in this area has focused on the transition period, encompassing the 3 weeks before and after calving. However, changes in milk yield in proximity of AI may better predict the probabilities for a successful insemination. We hypothesize that the change in milk yield in 2 consecutive monthly test days around AI is associated with potential fertility of insemination. Therefore, our objective was to test the effect of magnitude of change in milk production in the proximity of AI on the risk of conception in a large population of Holstein cows. The potential associations with cow survival also were analyzed as a secondary objective.