Records And Recording Systems The Backbone Of Good Artificial Insemination By Dr. A.I. El-Azab Dept. of Theriogenology, Fac.Vet.Med. Benha Univretsity

 Why keep records? To keep your cow healthy and calving every year you need to record information to answer the questions of the A.I. technician and veterinarian.

Keeping Records Most important for a successful dairy business. The first step for a profitable calving interval. Necessary for each animal in the herd. Time and material investment than any other input, examination, or treatment possible.

Purpose - Day to day management decisions - Financial accounting and taxes - Measure progress - Troubleshoot problems - Genetic evaluation - Enterprise evaluation - Aid recovery of stolen property - Planning future actions - Research

Systems - Card systems. - Tag. - Color coding. - Wheels and computers.

Characteristics - Easily updated - Easily understood - Easily summarized - Current

Temporary Records - Usually in the form of a diary or daybook. - Events of importance should be recorded immediately. - A pocket notebook and pen should be carried at all times by all farm personnel. - Occurrences which should be noted in a daybook include heat observation, injuries, disease symptoms, calving, breeding, treatments and other events

Permanent Record - An individual permanent record for each animal. - The focal point of the herd's reproductive status - Initiates at birth or when the animal is purchased. - Maintains even after the animal has been removed from the herd. - Provides insight into inherited characteristics of certain cow families in a dairy operation. - Provides the dairymen with material such as calving abnormalities, heat, calving, and breeding dates, etc. - A reference for your herd during a veterinarian's examination.

Calf Record - Initiate a permanent calf record the day the calf is born or purchased. - Identification is of two types: -- Permanent identification includes picture, tattoo and freeze branding. -- Temporary identification includes neck chains, ear tags and Ankle straps.

Individual Lifetime Record - Record all reproductive information including fresh dates, heat dates, breeding dates, examination dates and findings, treatments and vaccinations. - Reference at the time of any examination or reproductive event involving the cow. - Information from the monthly record is transferred to the individual's lifetime records. - Involves a color coded signal tab system that enables the dairyman to observe the herd as being in groups with various reproductive status.

The black tab = Cows need a postpartum examination and remain on the record until first bred. - The blue tab = Cows at month of the first breeding after calving and remain on this position until being diagnosed pregnant or culled from the herd.

The green tab = Cows in pregnancy and place on the month to be turned dry. When the animal has been turned dry, remove the green tab and place a black tab on the month of expected calving. - The red tab = Cows with reproductive disorders and should be examined and selected for re-examination by a veterinarian.

Health Record - This record should contain information about: -- Any disease or injury the animal is exposed. -- Any special health test it has been undergone -- The treatment and the results. -- Cost of treatment including any lost income, e.g. milk withheld. - Health records can be used as a criteria for culling.

Estrous Detection Record - Poor estrous detection = poor breeding efficiency. - Estrous detection chart improves estrous detection by: -- Predicting the next estrus. -- Detecting which cows to watch, -- Improving chances of spotting cows in estrus. -- Diagnosing breeding problems. e.g. cystic ovaries.

Breeding & Calving Record - Provides information regarding: -- When and how to do drying off? -- When and where to prepare for calving? -- What to expect in the forthcoming freshening? -- What are and how to approach calving difficulties?

A Reproductive Herd Health worksheet Be careful that time is not wasted and no cow is overlooked. lists each cow to be examined at the time of the regular veterinary visit. Lists other examinations or procedures like foot trimming, vaccination or dehorning.

Feeding & Production Record - How to assess the profitability of a cow? - How to ascertain nutritional requirements? - How to evaluate genetic improvement? - How to record lactation number for animal evaluation? - How to record weight for ration formulation.

On Farm Computers - To speed computation and storage capabilities. - To store information more efficiently than paper files. - The computational power allows: -- One to write reports, make lists and calculate statistics. -- A useful tool in planning for future changes. -- Enterprise evaluation since "what if" questions are easily answered.

Reproductive Herd Health Program (RHH) - It is planed by a dairy producer and veterinarian to: -- maximize reproductive efficiency and -- minimize reproductive diseases and problems. - A RHH program involves: -- A record- keeping system, -- A regular-scheduled examinations and -- A periodic analysis of records and examination findings. - RHH is an important part of a complete herd health program which should be established in every herd.

- The current breeding herd consists of cows: -- That have not been bred -- That have been bred but currently are diagnosed open -- Whose last breeding date is too recent to be confirmed or assumed pregnancy

- Successful reproduction demands: -- A lot of expertise by the producer and -- Attention to those factors affecting pregnancy: a- Cow's fertility; b- Bull's (semen) fertility; c- Heat detection efficiency; d- Insemination efficiency.

Cow Fertility - Fertility is strongly influenced by the age. - Fertility is higher when cows are: -- In the second lactation -- In the coolest months of the year, -- Free of reproductive diseases; -- Free of problems at calving; -- Free from nutritional imbalance-especially, -- Not too thin or too fat at the time of calving. -- Stop losing weight and begin to replenish body stores a few months after calving.

Bull Fertility Testicular circumference is related to the fertility of mature bulls. - Daily ejaculation of a sound bull varies with: -- Age and sexual maturity; -- Proper nutrition; -- Sexually transmitted diseases; -- Libido (sexual drive).

Heat Detection Efficiency - It is made up of two components: -- The level of detection and -- The accuracy of detection. - Heat detection accuracy may be low: -- If the herdsman is not familiar with the signs of heat and fails to correctly identify the cow's) in heat; -- If the heat is correctly detected, but an error occurs in determining the cow's identification or in recording the event (e.g., incorrect date).

- If you have a heat detection problem, several specific management items are being checked: -- Do the cows have sound, healthy reproductive tracts? -- Are they free from infections? -- Is there a problem in the herd with cystic ovaries? -- Are the cows on an adequate plane of nutrition? -- Are you spending adequate time on heat detection? -- Are you watching for heats at the most likely time of day to observe them?

-- Do you use heat detection aids -- Do you use heat detection aids? -- Are you using heat detection aids and methods properly? -- Are the cows in an environment that will allow them to engage in estrus behavior? -- Are you recording all heat dates and breeding dates for all cows and breeding age heifers?

Influence of Observation Frequency on Heat Detection Rate observation frequency % detected Dawn, Noon, Evening 86 Dawn, Evening 81 Dawn 50 Evening 42 Noon 24

Heat Detection Rate Using Various Methods Method % detected Watched 24 hours/day 89 Kumar heat detector 87 Continuous video tape 81 Chalked tail heads 71 Two trained dairymen (at milking) 50 Herdsman (at milking) 50 Casual observation 43

Insemination efficiency - In general, insemination efficiency is close to 100% when a sound bull is used for natural service. - In case of artificial insemination, it is measured primarily by the competence of the herdsman and inseminator to: -- Determine the correct timing of insemination; -- Handle the frozen semen correctly; -- Deposit the thawed semen accurately at the entrance of the uterus.

Reproductive Examination Each dairy producer should establish a schedule with the veterinarian for regular RHH examinations. In many small-to-medium size herds this is done once a month. In larger herds, examinations may be every two weeks or weekly. All records should be available and up-to-date at the time of the examination.

- A worksheet listing all cows to be examined will facilitate the visit. - All cows fresh 15 to 45 days should be examined regardless of whether they have had any problems at calving : -- To detect infections or abnormalities at an early stage. -- To determine onset and stage of estrous cycle at this time. - Cows bred 40 days or more that have not returned to estrus should be checked for pregnancy.

All cows that had an abortion, retained placenta, infection, abnormal discharge or abnormal length of estrous cycle should be examined. Any cow fresh more than 50 days that has not been observed in estrus should be examined even if she received a postpartum examination at an earlier date.

- Any cow that has been serviced three or more times and not confirmed pregnant (Repeat breeders ) should be examined. - At the time of the veterinarian's regular herd health visit, all exam findings, treatments and instructions should be recorded on: -- The individual herd health cards or -- The worksheet for later transfer to the cards.

Reproductive Goals Each dairy producer establishes reproductive goals for the herd. - These goals are not the same for every herd. Herd reproductive parameters are determined at the start of a RHH program and re-evaluated at least twice a year. - Goals need to be updated as the herd situation changes.

Days to 1st observed heat < 90% > 90% Serious problem Optimal values Reproductive goals > 14 math 12.5-13 math Calving interval > 60 ads < 40 ads Days to 1st observed heat < 90% > 90% Cows observed in heat within 60 days after calving 45- 60 ads Average days open to first breeding > 2.5 < 1.7 Service /conception < 60% 65 - 70% 1st service conception rate of heifers < 40% 50 - 60% 1st service conception rate of lactating cows

Cows that conceived with less than 3 services < 85% > 85% < 90% > 90% Cows that conceived with less than 3 services < 85% > 85% Cows with a breeding interval between 18 - 24 ads > 140 ads 85 - 110 ads Average days open > 15% < 10% Cows open > 120 ads < 45 or > 70 ads 50 - 60 ads Dry period length < 24 or > 30 moths 24 MHz Average age at first calving > 10% < 5% Abortion rate Culling rate for reproductive problems

COW CARD:  BREEDING AND CALVING  ANIMAL:      Ear tag no: Breed: Birth date: OWNER:     Farm no: Name: Address: INSEMINATIONS (A.I.) / NATURAL BREEDING Year:  1st  Insemination (A.I.) Heat  A.I.    No Bull  Date Date Year: 2nd Insemination (A.I) Heat   A.I.     No Bull Date Date Year: 3rd Insemination (A.I) Heat    A.I.       No Bull Date   Date Pregnancy Diagnosis Date Remarks

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