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| Chosen as Jetta's mate, Brown Swiss Bo Joy Agenda Goldwyn comes from a long line of dams and sires with excellent breeding characteristics. |
Jetta had been living the life of a happy heifer, eating and hanging out with other heifers her age. As Jetta grew taller and stronger, she became more and more capable and ready to be bred. Dairy cows are typically bred when they reach maturity, between 13 and 15 months of age. After she has her first calf, Jetta will take her place as a milk-producing cow in the dairy herd. Until then, she continues to eat and socialize with other heifers who are also expecting calves. She has fresh air that her housing offers and has grown quite a thick coat to help keep her warm this winter.
Jetta’s diet consists of a carefully balanced ration of forage (hay, peas and oats), a little corn and soybean meal and minerals. The extra minerals help to boost Jetta’s immune system. She also has access to plenty of fresh water.
During this time, her owners are careful not to give Jetta too many calories because if she packs on too much weight, she endangers her health. Heavy cows put a lot of stress on their feet and, as we talked about last time, healthy feet are essential to a cow’s longevity.
A cow’s gestation period is the same as humans—about nine months. That means Jetta's due date is August 2.
Who’s the Daddy?
For dairy farmers, choosing a sire (dad/bull) for a dam (mom/cow) is very important. Farmers often choose a sire that will complement the characteristics of the dam so that a strong, healthy calf is produced.
In today’s dairy industry, producers are discouraged from keeping a bull on a farm for breeding. A bull requires extra and extreme safety measures for animal housing and handling. And having only one bull limits the farmer's ability to choose breeding characteristics that will strengthen the herd.
For example, we have explained that Jetta's size is comparatively small. As a result, her owners chose a sire that tends to produce calves that mature into dairy cows with a wider and taller frame.
And, because Jetta is small, they chose a sire whose offspring tend to be smaller at birth, while growing quickly after birth. This characteristic is called “calving ease,” and it’s a characteristic that farmers choose to give a smaller mother and her calf the best chance of a good birthing experience.
How did Jetta get bred if her owners don’t have a bull on the farm? Artificial insemination (known as AI) is a common practice used in the dairy industry. Genetics companies all over the world collect semen, freeze it and offer it to farmers in straws for breeding. Working with New Generation Genetics based in Fort Atkinson, Wis., Jett's owners reviewed different sires that have proven to transmit superior genetic traits. For Jetta’s mate, they picked Bo Joy Agenda Goldwyn. He comes from a long line of sires and dams in the Brown Swiss breed who have proven their good health, strength and milk production capabilities.
Most farmers use veterinarians to check for pregnancy, either by palpation or ultrasound. Jetta’s owners used ultrasound to confirm her pregnancy (it was too early to determine the sex of the calf).
Always improving
Breed associations (such as the Brown Swiss Association) and many farmers keep records on dams and sires to help maximize each mating. There are seven major breeds of dairy cattle, all with associations which work to improve the genetics of their breed.
Mating and genetics are important to the dairy industry because new offspring are the future of a dairy herd. Technology has given the industry the capability of safely breeding animals while, at the same time, improving the health and longevity of the dairy cow. Thanks to the dairy industry’s focus on mating and breeding practices, the possibilities are limitless for a good outcome.
More on Jetta’s journey to motherhood next time, when we’ll check in to make sure she remains healthy and is maintaining her proper weight.