How beef embryos are extending the productive life of dairy cows

ZISK
Apr 24
1 min read

*Image courtesy of Simplot Animal Sciences.*

Strategic breeding programs targeting repeat breeders with beef embryos enable dairies to keep valuable cows in the herd longer.

With dairy heifer replacement values at historic highs due to tight inventory, keeping high-producing dairy cows in a herd, especially those beyond their first lactation, is economically significant.

This is important for two reasons – not only must farms cover higher replacement costs, but total milk volume is also affected when older cows leave the herd. That is because first-lactation animals produce 80%-85% of the milk that a cow in its third or greater lactation can produce.

Click here to continue reading