The research underscored the importance of fertility and how it plays a central role in how dairy farms perform, particularly in New Zealand’s seasonal calving systems.
“Most New Zealand dairy herds calve seasonally, so timing matters. When cows don’t conceive early in the mating period, they calve later the following season, produce less milk early in lactation, and are more likely to be carried over,” said senior scientist Dr Susanne of DairyNZ, an industry organisation.
Over time, that sort of pattern could erode lifetime milk production and increases both workload and cost.
New research under the Resilient Dairy Programme is strengthening the case for genetics as an actionable tools farmers have to manage reproductive performance.
The programme is a Primary Growth Partnership between DairyNZ, its subsidiary NZ Animal Evaluation, breeding company LIC and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Fertility breeding value
The research underscored the importance of fertility breeding value (BV) as a practical way to address that challenge.
The measure estimates how desirable a cow’s fertility traits are when passed on to the next generation.
This can give farmers a clearer signal to guide mating decisions rather than relying solely on short‑term reproductive outcomes.
The research showed that cows with higher fertility breeding values tend to resume cycling sooner after calving, conceive more reliably, mature earlier and remain productive in the herd for longer.
The combined effect is improved lifetime performance and greater herd stability, outcomes that align closely with farmers’ economic and sustainability goals.
“Every season’s mating decisions shape the future of the herd,” said Meier.
Future research priorities
Over the past decade, fertility research has broadened beyond traditional measures.
To speed up improvements, DairyNZ recently brought together researchers and industry partners involved in the programme to identify where the biggest gains could be made.
Scientists have been refining fertility indicators and exploring new data sources, including improved pregnancy diagnosis, accounting for reproductive treatments, and incorporating heifer puberty information into genetic evaluations.
To keep pushing progress, DairyNZ said it has brought together researchers and industry partners involved in the Resilient Dairy Programme to see where gains can be made faster.
Two priority areas stood out. The first was pregnancy diagnosis, and the second was measuring the time between calving and first heat using wearable technology.
These areas were chosen because they are influenced by genetics, can be measured accurately at scale and fit more easily into existing farm systems, making them practical for widespread industry use.
Meier said: “DairyNZ is well placed to act as a ‘trait development accelerator’, bringing the right people together early on – geneticists, sire selection and sales teams, and data custodians early in the development cycle. By coordinating this work early, it reduces risk, and avoids duplication. Importantly, valuable new traits can be developed faster and are ready to be used on farm, for the benefit of the whole industry.”
