Poor reproductive fertility in dairy cows is both an economic problem and a welfare indicator, reflecting the physiological burden of high milk production.
Dairy cow fertility problems reflect the physiological compromise created by selection for extreme milk yield. Cows producing very high volumes of milk enter severe negative energy balance in early lactation — drawing body reserves to sustain production when feed intake cannot meet demand. This energy deficit suppresses reproductive hormone signaling, impairs immune function, and increases metabolic disease risk. The resulting poor fertility creates additional welfare problems through repeated artificial insemination attempts, hormonal synchronization protocols, and earlier culling when cows fail to conceive. Management approaches that optimize body condition at calving, reduce peak yield to sustainable levels, and select for fertility alongside production improve welfare while also improving economic performance.