Oestrus Synchronisation Farming Note

As the milk yield of dairy cows rises, the length and strength of oestrus displays is reduced. 20% of cows show oestrus for less than 6 hours and may be mounted less than 6 times. Taking steps to improve heat detection is one of the main ways to improve fertility on dairy units. Hormone programmes that synchronise the oestrous cycle and allow for fixed time A.I. can be a useful tool in dairy herds.

This Farming Note covers:

• What is oestrus synchronisation?
• Why choose to synchronise cows?
• Choosing which cows to synchronise
• Synchronisation programmes

Issued December 2012.

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Since 1991 Kingshay has been publishing Farming Notes on issues critical to the success of a modern dairy farm business. These briefings provide dairy farmers, large animal vets, farm consultants and other interested parties with the most important and timely information in a concise two-page format. The information contained in our Farming Notes is written and updated by our experts to ensure accuracy and save you time.

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