Impact of herd characteristics and breeding practices on the reproductive performance of dairy cows in Northeastern Algeria

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of herd characteristics (breed, size, parity and study area) and husbandry practices (induced/ natural heats, flushing or not, and drying-off duration) on the fertility and fecundity rates of 721 Montbeliarde (n = 379) and Prim’Holstein (n = 342) dairy cows (DC) from 23 herds, born and bred in Algeria. Fertility parameters revealed an interval between calving and first heat of 86.8 ± 48 days, between calving and first artificial insemination (AI) of 108 ± 80.4 days, between first AI and fertilizing AI of 42.9 ± 85.2 days, between calving and fertilizing AI of 152 ± 116 days, and between calvings of 427 ± 122.8 days. A mean first AI success rate of 54.8 (DC) and 38.8 ± 20% (herd), an apparent fertility index of 1.83, and 19.3% DC inseminated three times or more (in 16.2 ± 11 of the herds) were recorded. Fertility was far from the objective. Breed had no significant effect on fertility (p > 0.05), but reproductive performance varied significantly (p < 0.05) with herd size, parity, study region, induced or natural heat, and whether or not flushing was practiced. Fecundity was lower in animals with a drying-off duration of more than 60 days (p < 0.05). Late breeding beyond 80 days postpartum was the parameter that most affected the reproductive performance of DC in the study area.