Abstract
Background The production of milk and dairy products and their placement on the market represent a constant profit for the farmers/producers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). The profitable operation of the dairy farms is influenced by the reproductive performance of the lactating animals. This study assessed individual animal reproductive characteristics in selected dairy farms and described their reproductive performance indicators. Results The median age at first insemination was 493 days (5th–95th percentile range 429–840), while the age at first calving was 802 days (5th–95th percentile range 708–1168). The median pregnancy proportion at first insemination was 40% (5th–95th percentile range 17–62), while the cumulative pregnancy rate calculated at day-60, day-80, day-100, and day-120 showed that approximately 64% of all pregnancies happened before day-120. The calculated interservice intervals showed that approximately 69% of the repeat breeding animals came back to the oestrus in the period of 18 to 24 days. This is an indication of very good oestrus detection in selected dairy farms. The mean number of services per pregnancy was 2.61 (range 1–12). The median calving-to-first-insemination interval was 62.5 days (5th–95th percentile range 16–408). The calving-to-conception interval was 101 day (5th–95th percentile range 36–506). Finally, the calving interval was 385 days (5th–95th percentile range 329–773). Conclusions There is a need for an organised, regular, and more comprehensive recording system for the reproduction of dairy cattle among dairy farms in Una-Sana Canton. The calculated reproductive measures indicated an undulant trend in reproductive performance among selected dairy farms in Una-Sana Canton. Knowing the apparent reproductive indicators described in this study, the farmers and veterinary authorities may identify and correct areas in their management that contribute to the reproductive underperformance.
Highlights
Adis Softic,1,2 Adam Dunstan Martin,3 Eystein Skjerve,1,3 Nihad Fejzic,4 Teufik Goletic,2 Aida Kustura,2 and Erik Georg Granquist3
Increased milk production represents another stress which can eventually lead to the Veterinary Medicine International decline in reproductive performance in dairy cattle in highproducing regions of European Union (EU). is potential loss can be overcome by the improvement of key areas in dairy cow fertility management such as genetic selection, nutritional management, control of infectious diseases, and control of cow and bull fertility [5]. e expanding milk production in South-Eastern Europe and Baltic countries may reduce some pressure on already high-producing regions of the EU, but the dairy industry may be faced with challenges in preventing the potential reproductive losses
Dairy farming in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) faces several challenges in reproductive management of dairy cattle to maintain milk production and farm profitability. e importance of reproductive performance benchmarking has not been previously adequately addressed in BH. us, the scope of the study was to apply and to calculate known indicators of reproductive performance and provide initial data as a reference for further application. e present study describes key reproductive performance indicators at the individual animal level in selected dairy farms of Una-Sana Canton
Summary
Adis Softic ,1,2 Adam Dunstan Martin ,3 Eystein Skjerve ,1,3 Nihad Fejzic ,4 Teufik Goletic ,2 Aida Kustura, and Erik Georg Granquist. Is study assessed individual animal reproductive characteristics in selected dairy farms and described their reproductive performance indicators. E calculated reproductive measures indicated an undulant trend in reproductive performance among selected dairy farms in Una-Sana Canton. Increased milk production represents another stress which can eventually lead to the Veterinary Medicine International decline in reproductive performance in dairy cattle in highproducing regions of EU. E expanding milk production in South-Eastern Europe and Baltic countries may reduce some pressure on already high-producing regions of the EU, but the dairy industry may be faced with challenges in preventing the potential reproductive losses. Ere was a continual decrease in the number of registered dairy cows in BH throughout the period 2006–2016, while the total milk production increased, reaching 701 million litres in 2016 [8]. BH is still a country in political and economic transition, and agricultural conditions for more intensive production growth are yet not directly comparable with EU countries (EUROSTAT, 2016)
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