Abstract
Simple SummarySmall-scale dairy farms are important because they generate jobs in rural areas and improve food security, income, and livelihood worldwide. On the other hand, high fertility is strongly associated with the profitability of dairy farms. Therefore, improving reproductive performance would increase milk production and farmers’ incomes. In the present study, we focus on the effect of body condition score (BCS) of Holstein cows at calving and when they are bred for the first time (after calving) on a key reproductive performance indicator: conception rate to first service. Additionally, we studied the association between BCS at calving and milk production, assuming that cows had a moderate genetic potential for milk production. Our results highlight the importance of BCS on the future reproductive performance and productivity of cows in a small-scale dairy system. These results are useful to implement management strategies in order to increase conception rate to first service and milk production in this type of dairy farm.Management and production characteristics impact conception rate to first service (CR1S) in small-scale dairy farms, but the impact of body condition score (BCS) and milk production levels on cows’ fertility is unknown. Our objective is to determine the effect of BCS and milk production on CR1S in small-scale dairy farms of western Mexico. Logistic regression models are used to determine the effect of BCS (at calving and first service), 60-d and 305-d milk production, protein and fat production, lactation number, and days at first service on CR1S. BCS at calving does not affect CR1S in cows with three or more lactations (39.5%; p > 0.1). However, first-lactation cows with BCS < 3.0 at calving and second lactation cows with BCS ≤ 2.5 at calving have higher CR1S (63.2 and 67.9%, respectively; p < 0.1). This result is perhaps due to reduced milk production, which leads to lower metabolic stress. BCS ≤ 2.5 at calving is associated (p < 0.05) with a reduced milk yield, explaining partially the observed higher CR1S in these groups. Cows with BCS ≤ 2.5 at first service in the higher quartile of 60-d milk production (≥ 28kg/day) show lower CR1S (23.9 and 51.1%, respectively; p < 0.01). In conclusion, BCS at calving and at first service, 60-d milk production, and lactation number are factors associated with CR1S.
Highlights
Improving milk yield in small-scale dairy farms offers possibilities to reduce poverty and improve the incomes and livelihoods for peasants in rural areas [1,2,3]
Twenty-three dairy farms were included in the study based on the fulfillment of four criteria: (1) exclusively family labor, (2) herd size between 10 and 100 milking cows, (3) milk production as the main purpose of the operation, and (4) intermediate machine milking level
The rationale for this study was that factors influencing first-service conception rate in cows on intensive dairy systems would not have an impact on cows kept in small-scale dairy farms given differences in management conditions and productive characteristics
Summary
Improving milk yield in small-scale dairy farms offers possibilities to reduce poverty and improve the incomes and livelihoods for peasants in rural areas [1,2,3]. It is estimated that around 150 million small-scale dairy farms exist worldwide and that approximately 750 million people directly depend on this activity [1]. Small-scale dairy operations improve food security and the nutrition of rural communities and provide intangible social benefits [4]. Small-scale milk production farms approximately contribute 35% to marketed national milk production, own approximately. 23% of the cattle inventory, and represent 78% of dairy herds in the country [6,7]. Despite the importance of the small-scale dairy system, these farms operate sub-optimally, which compromises profitability [8,9,10]
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