Reproductive efficiency in dairy herds is a major welfare determinant, with reproductive failure causing prolonged lactation, metabolic disease, and early culling.
Reproductive health in dairy cows is closely linked to metabolic welfare in early lactation. Cows in severe negative energy balance fail to resume cyclicity promptly, extending the interval to conception and increasing the risk of culling for reproductive failure. Anovulatory cows often have other concurrent health problems including lameness, mastitis, and metabolic disease. Hormonal treatment programs enable controlled breeding but add handling stress and require veterinary prescription. Improving transition cow welfare and nutritional management is the most sustainable approach to reproductive efficiency. Monitoring reproductive performance at herd level identifies welfare problems before they become economically significant.