competitive. Reproductive performance affects
the quantity of milk produced per cow per day
of herd life, the number of potential replacements
needed to maintain a constant herd size,
and the longevity of the cow in the herd (4,
15). All of these factors alter efficiency and
affect profit. Because reproductive events
culminate in an "all or none" endpoint, a cow
is either pregnant or not. Therefore, reproductive
failure causes great frustration for dairy
producers. To be successful and remain competitive,
producers must minimize losses
resulting from infertility. In practice, this must
translate into well-designed programs of herd
health and reproductive management that
minimize involuntary culling of problem cows
by maintaining healthy, profitable cows in the
herd. Despite our best efforts in these individually
designed programs, some culling will
inevitably occur because of reproductive failure
and low milk yield