Reproductive assistance

 Our group provides reproductive assistance to the K-State Dairy Teaching and Research Center. That includes modifications to the reproductive programs used in the center and visiting or discussing with the dairy team about daily chores decisions and opportunities. Moreover, our group conducts weekly pregnancy diagnosis on Monday mornings, weekly timed artificial insemination on Thursday mornings, and on several occasions, helps to comply with the hormonal shot program. Along with the pregnancy diagnosis, we make decisions on the type of resynchronization to use for different groups of animals according to their ovarian physiologic status. 

Our goal is to maintain the first service in cows at ~72 days in milk, heifers at ~13 months of age, and a high 21-day pregnancy rate by increasing service and conception rates.

This service has allowed us to develop a good relationship with the K-State Dairy Teaching and Research Center team. It has also provided the opportunity to train students in the ASI department in pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasound and to experience how the reproductive dairy programs are managed.
The image below illustrates some initial training of students in the K-State Dairy Teaching and Research Center.