Accurate estrus detection and reproductive management improves cattle welfare by reducing failed inseminations, extended calving intervals, and unnecessary hormonal interventions.
Poor reproductive management extends the non-productive period between lactations, increasing the number of times cows undergo the welfare-significant calving event. Good estrus detection enables timely insemination reducing failed cycles and unnecessary repeat procedures. Technology including activity monitoring improves detection accuracy without pharmacological intervention. Where hormonal synchronisation is used, selecting protocols with the lowest welfare impact balances operational and welfare considerations.