Factors influencing heifer survival and fertility on commercial dairy farms*
The average dairy cow survives only three lactations, reducing the availability of replacement heifers. Prenatal losses occur due to early embryonic mortality (about 40%), later embryo loss (up to 20% in high-yielding herds) or abortion (about 5%). A recent survey of 19 UK herds showed that 7.9% of...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2008-01-01
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Series: | Animal |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731108002322 |