Large dairy herds reproduction management under Moroccan conditions. 1. Influence of veterinary action integrated reproduction programme upon the fertility results

Abstract

Several fertility parameters were here studied in 4 dairy herds with more than 150 cows each, during 4 consecutive years. A herd health programme called PAVIR was applied on the herds during the last two years of the study. This herd health survey did not result in a significant improvement of the mean conception rate of first natural services (56 %) nor of the rate of females with 3 or more services (13 %). By contrast, this programme has improved dramatically the mean calving to conception interval from 150 days (overall mean the two first years) to 122 days the two last years. Heat detection problems are still the main limiting factor to further improvements in these herds.