Repeat breeding in a crossbred cow with poor body condition
A crossbred cow in her third lactation calved 150 days ago and has not conceived after four artificial inseminations. Her heat cycles are regular at about 21 days, heat lasts 10–12 hours, and cervical mucus is clear and copious with no pus. The farmer observes heat in the morning and calls the inseminator, who usually arrives the next morning, about 24 hours after heat was first seen. The cow weighs 380 kg, has a body condition score of 2.25, and receives 4 kg wheat straw, 10 kg green fodder and 1.5 kg concentrate daily while giving 9 litres. She had a retained placenta after the last calving. Two different bulls' semen have been used. The farmer now wants to use a village bull because 'the AI is not working'. The village has a history of brucellosis.
1. Is this cow a true repeat breeder? What are the likely causes, and which would you investigate first?
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She fits the practical definition of a repeat breeder: more than three services without conception while showing regular heat cycles and no obvious pus. That does not mean the cause is the bull or the semen. The first thing to examine is timing. Heat was seen in the morning, but insemination occurred about 24 hours later, which may be after ovulation. The usual rule is to inseminate in the evening if heat is first seen in the morning, and the next morning if first seen in the evening. Late insemination is a common and correctable cause.
The second priority is energy status and uterine health. A body condition score of 2.25 in early lactation, with only 1.5 kg concentrate and a history of retained placenta, suggests negative energy balance and possible subclinical endometritis. Both can lower conception. I would check body condition, feed intake and milk yield, and examine the uterus by ultrasound or cytology if available. I would also review semen handling and inseminator technique, and check for brucellosis and other infectious causes before blaming the AI system. The village bull is not a safe diagnostic test.
2. What breeding and management plan would you advise for the next heat, and why reject the village bull?
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For the next heat, record the exact time heat is first seen and inseminate at the correct time-evening for a morning heat, next morning for an evening heat-using an experienced inseminator and properly handled semen. If heat detection is uncertain, use a teaser bull or heat-mount patches, but do not rely on a village bull for service. A veterinarian should examine the uterus before breeding and treat any endometritis. At the same time, increase energy and mineral supply gradually: better green fodder, a balanced concentrate with maize and a moderate protein source, and a mineral mixture. Avoid sudden fattening; the aim is a rising plane of nutrition, not obesity.
The village bull should be rejected because brucellosis is present in the area and natural service can spread it, along with other venereal and teat- injury risks. There is also no genetic or fertility record for the bull. AI gives known semen quality, avoids disease transmission and allows selection for milk traits. If AI has failed, the answer is to correct timing, nutrition and uterine health, not to introduce an untested bull.
3. How would you monitor whether the changes are working, and what would you do if she fails again?
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I would keep a simple breeding record: date and time of heat, date and time of insemination, bull/semen batch, inseminator, and any discharge or treatment. A non-return check at 21 days and pregnancy diagnosis at 35–45 days are essential. Body condition and milk yield should be recorded monthly. The measure of success is a confirmed pregnancy, not merely a repeat heat that was missed.
If she fails again after a correctly timed service, I would re-examine the uterus and ovaries, repeat brucellosis testing if indicated, and review semen quality and technique. A progesterone profile or ultrasound can help distinguish poor heat detection from ovulation failure. If repeated treatment fails and she remains a poor converter with low body condition, the economically rational decision may be to stop breeding her and cull, rather than continue spending on inseminations. That decision should be based on her milk yield, treatment cost and replacement cost, not on sentiment.