What does the future hold for improving reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle?

Matt LucyAnimal Reproductive Biology Group

Division of Animal SciencesUniversity of Missouri-Columbia, USA

Highlights from the past• Methods and application of artificial

insemination.• Products and programs for synchronization

of estrus and timed AI.• Ultrasound and PAGs (blood test) for

pregnancy diagnosis.• Genetic testing and genetic selection for

fertility.• Methods and application of advanced

embryo technologies.

2012

Ever-Green-View My 1326-ET Waldo, Wisconsin USA February 2010

32,805 kg of milk* 1,267 kg fat974 kg protein365 d lactation

*3-times average US cow in 2010

Innovations of the past decade• Highly Effective Synch Programs for Cows

–Presynch Ovsynch–G6G–5 day Cosynch 72–Double Ovsynch

• Highly effective Resynch Programs for cows

Innovations of the past decade:CIDR approval for

lactating dairy cows

July 29, 2003

Innovations of the past decade: Improved systems for automated

estrus detection

Innovations of the past decade: Gender selected semen

Innovations of the past decade: Better and more portable ultrasounds

Innovations of the past decade: Blood pregnancy tests

Förster Technik: FT Multilyser

DeLaval: Herd Navigator

Innovations of the past decade: Automated Milk Progesterone Testing

Innovations of the past decade: Introduction of Daughter Pregnancy Rate

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1984 1994 2000 2003 2006

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Fat yieldProtein yieldProductive lifeFunctionalDPR

Innovations of the past decade: Introduction of Daughter Pregnancy Rate

Innovations of the past decade: Sequencing of the bovine genome

Fertility markers on chromosome 18Price et al. (2010)

Innovations of the past decade: Bovine SNP chips and

the identification of fertility markers

Innovations of the past decade: DNA marker based genetics

The Microbiome• 9 out of 10 cells in the body are microbial• The gut contains at least 1000 species• Most are commensal (not pathogenic)• Differences between cows and herds may

be explained by differences in their microbiomes.

Science December 17, 2010

What about the future?

• Climate change and air pollution

• Water depletion and pollution

• Biodiversity

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

What about the future?Artificial insemination

• More units per sire– Sperm production– Sperm dilution

• On-farm storage• Lifespan inside the

female tract• Gender selected sperm

Presynch-Ovsynch-Resynch

P P G P G AI G P G AIPD

What about the future?Return to estrus

Time to confront the monster!

What about the future?Return to estrus

Figure 1 from Senger (1994) J. Dairy Sci. 77:2745-2753

Electronic methods for estrus detection

(Senger 1994)

• Continuous surveillance

• Automatic ID• Lifetime operation• Minimal labor• Accurate in

identifying cows in estrus

Is there another way?

Detection of estrous behavior Detection of approaching ovulation in the absence of estrous behavior (biochemical test)

Detection of estrous behavior Detection of approaching ovulation in the absence of estrous behavior (biochemical test)

Detection of estrous behavior

Detection of approachingovulation in the absence of estrous behavior(biochemical test)

What about the future?Time for some new tools!

Progesterone (Trimberger and Hansel, 1955)

55 T-bird

What about the future?Time for some new tools!

PGF2α (Lauderdale, 1972)

What about the future?Time for some new tools!

GnRH (Cystorelin approved, 1986)

86 Mustang

What about the future?Recombinant gonadotropins (LH and FSH)

hCG pFSH

Human Genome Project10th anniversary – 2011

• 3 billion base pairs• 10 years draft sequence• 13 years completed

sequence• $2.7 billion

Commercial Whole Genomic DNA SequencingComplete Genomics, Mountain View, CA, USA

Bovine Genome Project

What about the future?DNA marker based genetics

Redefining high fertility

Now is the time to define “high fertility”!

Pregnant after an observed in estrus and AI

Pregnant after a timed AI

Now is the time to define “high fertility”!

Pregnant after an observed in estrus and AI

• Cycling before breeding period• Uterus released PGF2α• Follicle grew; produced

adequate estradiol• Behavioral centers responded to

estradiol and cow expressed detectable estrus.

• Pituitary released an LH surge.• Artificial insemination• Follicle ovulated, CL formed.• Pregnancy!

Now is the time to define “high fertility”!

Pregnant after a timed AI

• Cycling before breeding period• Uterus released PGF2α• Follicle grew; produced

adequate estradiol• Behavioral centers responded to

estradiol and cow expressed detectable estrus.

• Pituitary released an LH surge.• Artificial insemination• Follicle ovulated, CL formed.• Pregnancy!

Which cow scores better for DPR?

Pregnant after an observed in estrus and AI

Pregnant after a timed AI

Which cow is the best cow for the future?

Pregnant after an observed in estrus and AI

Pregnant after a timed AI

Which cow is the best cow for the future?

Pregnant after an observed in estrus and AI

Pregnant after a timed AI

Thank you!