Monitoring of Reproduction Activity on Algerian Dairy Cattle Farms

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive monitoring activity in Algerian dairy cattle herds. A participatory survey was conducted with 75 veterinarians and inseminators affiliated with the National Centre for Artificial Insemination and Genetic Improvement (CNIAAG). Reproduction monitoring represents a primary activity for 12 % of the veterinarians. Only 10.8 % of veterinarians earn more than 50 % of the yearly global revenue from reproductive activities. 85.3 % of the veterinarians fix the herd monitoring objectives, 64 % use a paper notebook to manage breeding data, and only 22 % establish a reproduction statute inventory. The most requested information before the visit is the last mating (80 %), oestrus (80 %), and calving (90.7 %) dates. Monthly routine fertility visits were practiced by 32 % of the interviewed veterinarians, and only about half of them (52 %) checked the cows systematically at post-partum. The pregnancy diagnosis is practiced by 72 % of veterinarians at 56.71 ± 22.82 days postpartum and confirmed at 91.85 ± 26.94 days postpartum. Furthermore, 73 % of the respondents systematically examined non-pregnant cows after 3 matings; however, only 48 % simultaneously recorded the cows’ body condition score. Regarding postpartum genital pathology control 38.7 %, 22.7 %, and 26.7 % of veterinarians always perform manual transrectal exploration of the genital tract, vaginoscopy, and ultrasonography, respectively. While, 73 % of them examine the cows’ cyclicity when evaluating uterine involution. A substantial proportion of veterinarians included monitoring feed, milk quality/mammary disease, and livestock diseases, in their regular visits. The dairy farmers must be advised of the economic benefits of routine fertility monitoring to achieve good herd reproductive traits.

Keywords

• dairy cattle
• fertility
• population medicine
• reproduction monitoring
• veterinary practices