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Getting to know MINDA Reproduction
Getting to know MINDA Reproduction

Learn about Reproduction in MINDA

Neissa avatar
Written by Neissa
Updated over 2 weeks ago

What is MINDA Repro?

MINDA Repro dives into the reproductive performance of your herd. Using calving, mating and pregnancy diagnosis info, Repro looks at Eligible Cows to provide you with insights that you can use to compare with industry standards, allowing you to see how your herd is performing. MINDA Repro is split into the following areas:

  • Dashboard

  • Pregnancy

  • Body Condition Score

  • Pre-Calving

  • Calving

  • At Risk

  • Reports

Each area has detailed graphs & insights which focus on different aspects of your herds reproductive performance.


What are Eligible Cows?

MINDA Repro uses similar rules as DairyNZ's Fertility Focus Report to align with industry standards. This means the majority of graphs/insights in repro will be run using 'Eligible Animals'. For an animal to be included in the Eligible Cows group, they need to be:

  • 2 years and older

  • Have had a calving recorded for the mating season you're looking at (no more than 130 days before to 59 days after the mating start date)

  • Be in the herd at the start of mating

Important: To ensure the Eligible Cows Group is calculated correctly, record your calvings BEFORE you begin mating.

Eligible Cow rules:

  • Cows that are culled after the Mating Start Date are included

  • Cows that are culled before the Mating Start Date but are not recorded as culled are included

  • Cows that calved in another herd (within the correct timeframe) that were purchased in before the Mating Start Date are included

  • Carry-over cows are not included

  • Cows that do not have a calving recorded are not included

  • Cows that calved in another herd, (outside the correct timeframe) that were purchased in before the Mating Start Date are excluded

  • Cows that calved in another herd (within the correct timeframe) that were purchased in after the Mating Start Date are excluded

  • Yearlings/15 month old heifers are not included


How is the Mating Start Date (MSD) calculated?

Mating Start Date is calculated once you have 2 consecutive days of matings (AB or natural) AND have at least 3 days of matings over the next 6 days. When these rules are met, the Mating Start Date will be the first of the 2 consecutive days.

Note: Mating Start Date also looks at Eligible Cows so it's important that your records are up to date before you start mating.

Example 1:

Say you started mating on the 1st November. For the MSD to be calculated, we need:

  • 2 consecutive days of matings ✅

  • At least 3 matings over the next 6 days ✅

This means our MSD will be the 1st November because that is the first date where there are 2 consecutive days of matings.

1st Nov

2nd Nov

3rd Nov

4th Nov

5th Nov

6th Nov

7th Nov

8th Nov

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Mating

Mating

No mating

Mating

No mating

Mating

No mating

Mating

Example 2:

Say you started mating on the 1st November. For the MSD to be calculated, we need:

  • 2 consecutive days of matings ✅

  • At least 3 matings over the next 6 days ✅

This means our MSD will be the 2nd November because that is the first date where there are 2 consecutive days of matings.

1st Nov

2nd Nov

3rd Nov

4th Nov

5th Nov

6th Nov

7th Nov

8th Nov

9th Nov

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

No mating

Mating

Mating

No mating

Mating

No mating

No mating

Mating

Mating

Example 3:

Say you started mating on the 1st November. For the MSD to be calculated, we need:

  • 2 consecutive days of matings ✅

  • At least 3 matings over the next 6 days ❌

Because we haven't had at least 3 matings over the next 6 days, the 6 day check starts again.

1st Nov

2nd Nov

3rd Nov

4th Nov

5th Nov

6th Nov

7th Nov

8th Nov

9th Nov

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Mating

Mating

No Mating

No Mating

No mating

No mating

Mating

Mating

Mating

Note: If your Mating Start Date is showing incorrectly despite meeting the above rules, contact the Customer Experience Centre on 0800 264 632.


How is the Planned Start of Mating date (PSM) calculated?

The Planned Start of Mating date for the current season uses last seasons Mating Start Date. For example, if your Mating Start Date last season was 1st November 2023, the Planned Start of Mating for this season will be 1st November 2024.

Note: If this is your first year using MINDA, no Planned Start of Mating will display.


How is the Planned Start of Calving date (PSC) calculated?

The Planned Start of Calving date for the current season uses last seasons Mating Start Date + 282 days (average gestation length of a dairy cow). For example, if your Mating Start Date last season was 24th October 2023, the Planned Start of Calving for this season will be 2nd August 2024.


How are Age Groups calculated?

MINDA Repro looks at an animals age in months. The +30 days accounts accounts for the time between the 2 months where the animal hasn't reached the next month of age. The table below shows the break down of age groups.

Age Group

Months

Young stock

0-21 months +30 days

2 years

22-34 months +30 days

3 years

35-46 months +30 days

4-8 years

47-107 months +30 days

9+ years

108 months +


Why can I see 2 seasons?

If you notice an additional season in the drop down options i.e. Spring 2024 and Autumn 2024, it means you have too large of a gap (more than 30 days) between matings. In this example, MINDA Repro will consider those matings as part of the autumn mating group.

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