Effects of Nutrition and Management of the Dry and Fresh Cow and Fertility

Today many veterinarians and nutritionists are pointing to feeding programs as the cause of breeding problems in dairy cows. Deficiencies of various trace minerals, inadequate vitamin intakes, energy-protein imbalances and excessive protein intakes are mentioned as contributing to infertility and poor reproductive performance. Data are available on the effects of severe deficiencies of a few nutrients. However, relatively little is known regarding the possible effects of long term marginal deficiencies, the interaction of many nutrients, especially trace minerals, and the effect of excessive intakes of some of these nutrients. These factors and others not identified may be of increasing importance as production per cow increases, feeding programs change, and dairy farming becomes more intensive. It, therefore, seems important that the effects of nutrition on reproduction should receive increasing emphasis.