voluntary waiting period

Best practices for managing heifer reproduction

Establishing a voluntary waiting period, preparing animals for that period and proper breeding techniques will boost success in a heifer reproduction program.

September 18, 2024

Pete Weber

Your heifers are the future of your herd, and getting them to an ideal weight at the proper age is important to the future success of your business. Following simple protocols to get them bred at the ideal time will pay significant future dividends.

Use voluntary waiting period data to set cows up for success

Gathering and analyzing data during the voluntary waiting period can help you find fertility and health challenges early, allowing for timely interventions and greater cow performance.

September 5, 2024

Steve Pavelski

With proper intervention and nutrition or management adjustments, cows can return to cyclicity, increasing the likelihood of positive pregnancy outcomes following the voluntary waiting period.

Maximizing fertility by managing the voluntary waiting period

Understanding the role of VWP in the fertility cycle of a dairy cow can help you maximize conception rates.

July 15, 2024

Alvaro Garcia

The voluntary waiting period (VWP) is a designated interval between calving and the first postpartum insemination, typically lasting between 50 to 80 days depending on the farm's management strategy. The effectiveness of an extended VWP remains debated, making it essential to assess its efficacy in delivering benefits and identifying any unforeseen challenges.

Managing for the profitable cow

Productive isn’t always profitable. Use herd management data tools and insights to monitor cow performance, help keep costs in check and maintain a profitable herd.

January 25, 2024

Taliah Danzinger

A productive cow isn’t always a profitable cow. A profitable cow performs in milk volume and quality, breeds back quickly and experiences few health events.

Does your reproductive plan match your reality?

Plans and protocols can put you on the right track to reproductive success, but checking on performance indicators can boost productivity.

September 7, 2023

Jaimie Strickland

Regardless of your type of plan, why do we wait for pregnancy check day to evaluate reproductive data?

Evaluating the economics of voluntary waiting periods

September 15, 2021

Jaclyn De Candio

Voluntary waiting period (VWP) is more than just an arbitrary time frame. Even under the most ideal of circumstances, parturition is undeniably among the most strenuous actives an animal can undergo.

Research review: From the Journal of Dairy Science: Breeding for reduced methane and extended voluntary waiting period

September 4, 2021

Pedro Nogueira

“Breeding for reduced methane emission and feed-efficient Holstein cows: An international response.” Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 104 No. 8, 2021. This interesting article from researchers from universities in Denmark, Australia, Switzerland and Canada (University of Guelph and University of Alberta), explores the role of genetic selection of animals as a way to reduce methane emissions.

Six reasons your timed A.I. program is failing

January 20, 2020

Timed A.I. can enhance pregnancy rates and efficiency, but protocols are not bulletproof. If results seem subpar, take a whole dairy investigative approach. Reproduction drives everything on a dairy. And nearly everything affects reproduction.