Visited a dairy Holstein Friesian herd outside Newcastle, County Tipperary this evening with a year round milk production system. The pregnancy rate in this herd was attributed to excellent silage and maize reserved for the dry cow and early post calving period. Cows were in a BCS in excess of 2.5 to 3.0. When I see figures like this, I am satisfied that it is feasible to achieve high figures in terms of reproductive performance when management of the cows is correct.
Dr.Dan @ www.cows365.com