Management advantages of a successful AI program
The use of synchronisation programs, often used in combination with AI programs, may have further management benefits including:
- potential increase in calf weights at weaning due to females conceiving earlier in the breeding season
- a more compact calving pattern
- a more even line of calves
- reduced number of cows and heifers not in calf at the end of the breeding season
The number of females not in calf may be reduced because:
- more conceive earlier in the breeding season, so they have more time to resume cycling after calving and before the breeding season the following year
- anoestrus (non cycling) cows and prepubertal heifers may be stimulated to cycle earlier in the breeding season (when progesterone devices are used in the synchronisation program) than would otherwise occur so they have more opportunities to get in calf during the breeding season
- Cows and heifers that are either have physiological or anatomical problems that stop them from going in calf are identified earlier and removed from the breeding herd