The anoestrous syndrome in New Zealand dairy cattle

Abstract

Extract New Zealand dairy farming is based primarily on a seasonal system of management whereby the calving pattern of the herd is adjusted so that maximum milk production coincides with the greatest pasture production for grazing. Consequently both mating and calving periods must be restricted and the concept of maintaining a 365-day intercalving interval becomes a major consideration. Both submission rate (the rate at which the individual members of the herd are mated over a defined service period) and conception rate (the rate at which the individual members of the herd mated over a defined service period conceive) are most important in this respect since the average cow must conceive about 83 days after parturition if this intercalving interval is to be maintained.