Reproductive Performance and Recording Systems

Abstract

Records are important for the evaluation of herd reproductive performance. Therefore veterinarians should know how to examine and analyse records to help diagnose the causes of inadequate reproductive performance in cattle enterprises whether due to disease or management. It is more likely that a diagnosis of the cause of inadequate reproductive performance in a herd can be made by thorough examination and analysis of herd records than by serological testing or microbiological culture. However, most veterinarians start to investigate the inadequate reproductive performance by examining cows and obtaining samples for serology or biochemistry. Many veterinarians argue that this must be done, because this is what farmers expect. It can also be argued that farmers expect this approach because this is the approach they have grown accustomed to.