Predictability of Breeding Efficiency in Dairy Cattle

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Abstract
Data were tabulated from the herd record books of 20 local cooperative inseminating units of the Kentucky Artificial Breeding Assoc. Included in the study were 6509 cows and 2403 herds which were serviced both of 2 consecutive yrs. It was found that 4665 cows, each of which required only 1 service the 1st yr. averaged 1.44 services the 2d yr.; 1372 cows requiring 2 services the 1st yr. averaged 1.54 services the 2d yr.; 400 cows requiring 3 services the 1st yr. averaged 1.64 services the 2d yr. The 72 cows which required 4 services the 1st yr. averaged 1.65 services the 2d yr. The correlation between breeding efficiency for consecutive yrs. was 0.084 [plus or minus] 0.012. This correlation, though statistically significant, was too small to indicate a high degree of predictability. The predictability of breeding efficiency of herds as units was about the same as that for cows. Only 9.3% of the "problem herds" (averaging 2.1 or more services/cow) were still problem herds the next yr. The total number of problem herds was 7.1% the 1st yr. and 5.9% the 2d yr. The avg. herd consisted of 7.1 cows the 1st yr. and 8.3 cows the 2d yr.

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