Dynamic monitoring of reproduction records for dairy cattle

• A new surveillance module for monitoring reproduction performances in dairy herd is proposed.
• The surveillance module includes monitoring of insemination and conception rates.
• Data are modeled using dynamic linear models and results are monitored using control charts.

This application note presents a newly developed surveillance module for monitoring reproduction performances in dairy herds. It is called Critical Control Point and is part of a recently developed management tool, Dairy Management System. This management tool is commercialized as software intended both for farmers, extension officers, breeding advisors and veterinarians. Insemination and conception rates, for cows and heifers, are modeled at the herd level using Dynamic Generalized Linear Models for binomial data. The results are updated and monitored on a weekly basis, using control charts, and alarms are provided when the performances are below target values. Both the number of observed inseminations and pregnancies, and the insemination and pregnancy rates are monitored. The components of the user interface are presented and some comprehensive graphs, accessible to the user, illustrate the herd’s performances over the last 52 weeks.