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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #298681
Title: ICAR guidelines for recording, evaluation and genetic improvement of female fertility in dairy cattle

Author
item ANDREWS, LUCY - Holstein Uk
item BRADLEY, ANDREW - Quality Milk Management Services, Ltc
item Cole, John
item EGGER-DANNER, CHRISTA - Central Association Of Austrian Cattle Breeders(ZAR)
item GENGLER, NICOLAS - Gembloux Agricultural University
item HERINGSTAD, BJORG - Norwegian University Of Life Sciences
item PRYCE, JENNIE - Department Of Primary Industries
item STOCK, KATHARINA - United Information Systems Livestock Wv (VIT)
item STRANDBERG, ERLING - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: International Committee on Animal Recording(ICAR)
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2014
Publication Date: 12/12/2014
Citation: Andrews, L., Bradley, A.J., Cole, J.B., Egger-Danner, C., Gengler, N., Heringstad, B., Pryce, J., Stock, K., Strandberg, E. 2014. ICAR guidelines for recording, evaluation and genetic improvement of female fertility in dairy cattle. International Committee for Animal Recording Guidelines. Rome, Italy: International Committee for Animal Recording. 262–278 p.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fertility refers to the ability of a cow to conceive and maintain pregnancy within a specific time period, and is of substantial economic importance in the dairy industry because lactations begin with the birth of a calf. Culling rates due to infertility are much higher than two or three decades ago, and conception rates and calving intervals also have deteriorated. Selection for high yields, with insufficient emphasis placed on fertility, has contributed to declining rates of female fertility worldwide because genetic correlations between production and fertility are unfavorable. Most breeding programs have attempted to reverse this situation by estimating breeding values for fertility and including them with appropriate weightings in selection indices for dairy cattle. This document describes best practices for recording, data validation, genetic evaluation, and management aspects of female fertility.