Reducing empty rates
Welcome to Day 6 of our seven-day series on better mating results. Over the past five days, we have looked at cow condition, heat detection, activity monitoring, bull management, nutrition and trace elements. Today, we bring those pieces together and look at one of the outcomes every dairy farmer is watching closely: reducing the number of cows that remain empty.
Empty rates are built throughout the season
An empty cow at the end of mating is not necessarily the result of something that went wrong during mating itself.
Reproductive performance is influenced by decisions and events that happen well before the breeding period begins. Calving, cow condition, nutrition, health, heat detection, bull performance and mating management all contribute to the final result.
This is why reducing empty rates requires a whole-herd approach.
The most successful reproductive programmes do not rely on one last-minute fix. They focus on creating the right conditions for cows to cycle, be detected on heat, conceive and maintain pregnancy.
“The empty rate at the end of mating is the result of many decisions made before and during the mating period.”
Start with the cows that are most at risk
Not every cow enters mating with the same reproductive prospects.
First-calvers, cows that have lost significant condition, cows that experienced difficult calvings and animals that have had health challenges may require closer attention.
Identifying these cows before mating gives farmers an opportunity to monitor them more carefully and consider whether additional management is required.
This is much more effective than waiting until the end of mating and trying to work out why particular cows failed to get in calf.
Submission is an important first step
A cow cannot conceive if she is not submitted for mating.
This makes submission rate one of the key areas to monitor during the early part of the breeding period. If fewer cows than expected are being identified on heat, it is worth investigating why.
There may be issues with heat detection, cow condition, nutrition or reproductive health. Environmental factors can also influence the visibility of heat behaviour.
Monitoring submission allows farmers to identify potential problems while there is still time to respond rather than discovering a disappointing result months later.
Conception and submission are different
Getting cows submitted is only part of the equation.
A cow can be correctly identified on heat and mated at an appropriate time but still fail to conceive. Conception is influenced by many factors, including cow health, nutrition, timing, semen or bull fertility and the individual cow's reproductive status.
This is why it is useful to consider reproductive performance in stages.
If submission is poor, the focus needs to be on getting more cycling cows identified. If submission is good but conception is disappointing, the investigation needs to move further through the reproductive system.
Looking at the data in this way can make it easier to identify where the real problem lies.
Timing matters
The timing of insemination or natural mating relative to heat is important.
Accurate heat detection gives farmers a better opportunity to mate cows at the appropriate point in their oestrous cycle. This is one reason missed or poorly timed heats can have a cumulative effect on the final empty rate.
Good records can help identify whether cows are being submitted in a consistent pattern and whether returns are occurring when expected.
The aim is not simply to mate more cows. It is to mate cows at the right time.
Don't forget the bull
Natural mating herds need to consider bull performance as part of the empty-rate equation.
A fertile bull that is fit, mobile and capable of serving the required number of cows is essential. If a bull becomes injured, lame or otherwise unable to work effectively, cows may go unmated or receive insufficient mating opportunities.
This is why bull observation during mating is just as important as preparation before mating.
A problem identified early may be manageable. A problem discovered at the end of mating is a very different situation.
Health problems can have reproductive consequences
Cow health and fertility are closely connected.
Problems around calving, metabolic challenges, lameness, uterine infections and other health issues can affect a cow's ability to return to normal reproductive function.
This does not mean every health problem will result in an empty cow, but it does highlight why good transition and early-lactation management are so important.
Keeping accurate health records allows farmers to identify cows that may need closer reproductive attention and can also reveal patterns across the herd.
Review the numbers as mating progresses
Farmers do not need to wait until the final pregnancy diagnosis to start reviewing reproductive performance.
Monitoring submission patterns, returns and mating activity throughout the breeding period can provide an early indication of whether the herd is tracking as expected.
If something appears to be falling behind, investigate it while there is still time to make a difference.
This is particularly important when several indicators point in the same direction. A combination of poor condition, low submission and unusual return patterns should prompt a closer look rather than being treated as separate issues.
Know what success looks like
Reducing empty rates is not about chasing a perfect number at all costs.
Every herd is different, and reproductive targets need to be considered alongside the farm system, cow genetics, calving pattern, feed supply and management approach.
The most useful measure is whether reproductive performance is moving in the right direction and whether the herd is achieving the outcomes required for the farm's system.
Comparing results with previous seasons can be particularly valuable. A change in empty rate, submission rate or conception performance can help identify whether management changes are delivering the intended result.
Reducing empty rates starts long before pregnancy diagnosis. Monitor cow condition, support nutrition, identify heats accurately, pay attention to higher-risk cows and make sure bulls are fit and capable of working throughout mating.
Most importantly, use the information available during mating. Submission rates, return heats, cow condition and mating records can all provide clues about what is happening while there is still time to respond.
A lower empty rate is rarely the result of one intervention. It is usually the result of a well-managed reproductive programme where the small details are consistently getting attention.
Tomorrow is the final day of our seven-day series, when we look at what to review after mating and how this season's results can help make next season's reproductive programme even better.