Characterization of estrus detection, conception and pregnancy risk of Holstein cattle from the central area of Chile

The objectives were to characterize the estrus detection risk (HDR), conception risk (CR), and pregnancy rate (PR) of postpartum (pp) Holstein cattle from the central area of Chile. The study used records of 2269 lactations from six dairy farms in central Chile (Mediterranean-type climate) during 2004. Three 21-d periods for estrus detection were considered (50–70, 71–91, and 92–112 d pp). Estrus detection risk, CR, and PR at the first, second, and third periods were analyzed by logistic regression, whereas overall PR at the end of the 63-d study (112 d pp) was assessed with survival analysis. The overall HDR was 51.1%. The HDR, CR, and PR were 48.4, 42.2, and 17.3%, respectively, during the first period; 52.8, 41.8, and 20.5% during the second period; and 52.9, 39.2, and 19.7% during the third period. The HDR was lower during Period 1 than during Periods 2 and 3 (P ≤ 0.05). Conception risks were not different among periods (P > 0.05); however, PR was lower during Period 1 than during Periods 2 and 3 (P ≤ 0.05). Overall PR over time differed among parities, but was not significantly different among seasons. There were no significant interactions among parity, season and herd for HDR, CR and PR for the three 21-d periods. Parity 1 had higher CR and PR than Parity 2 and 3+ during Period 3. Overall, survival curves for the risk of non-pregnancy among parities (1, 2, 3 or greater) were different over time (P ≤ 0.05). Cows of Parity 1 became pregnant earlier than cows of Parity 2, and Parity 3 or greater. Survival curves for the risk of non-pregnancy among seasons (summer, fall, winter, and spring) were not different over time (P > 0.05).