Accurate record analysis enables you to assess the efficacy of treatments used for metritis, cystic ovaries, and repeat breeders. Conception rate and days open may be calculated for each group of cows to evaluate if treatment is benefiting reproductive performance in these animals. Records allow monitoring of breeding performance by season and by groups of cows in the herd. Records should monitor herd performance and individual cow performance. They need to be easy to use and the information retrievable so management decisions may be based on the information contained in them.
Organized records allow quick calculation of conception rate and heat detection efficiency.
Lists of cows to be bred and checked for pregnancy for each herd visit should be easy to generate. It is important to record information at each veterinary exam on palpation findings, intervention, body score, and anticipated action. This information should be available for review at the subsequent herd visits, so palpation information can be checked and response to intervention can be evaluated. Each cow should have information on date fresh, any postpartum complications, previous palpation findings and treatments, and any previous breedings. This information provides a history to make decisions about intervention and provides historical data for future intervention in cows with similar histories.