@conference {40767,
	title = {Assessment of female traits for genetic improvement of fertility in dairy cattle},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {56},
	year = {1996},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {27-31},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = { The objective of the present study was to investigate the suitability of  various fertility traits for describing the reproductive performance of dairy  cows in New Zealand. Using a data set from herds participating in the  Livestock Improvement Sire Proving Scheme over the 1986/87 to 1992/93  seasons, the following female fertility traits have been investigated. Based  on the start of mating (STOM) in a particular herd, the intervals from STOM  to first mating (SMFM) and to the successful mating (SMCO) were  calculated and compared to the internationally used traits that are based on  the calving date, such as, calving to first mating (CFM) and calving to  successful mating (days open, DO). Further traits considered are age at  calving (AC), number of matings per conception (NS), first to successful  mating (FMCO), calving interval (CI) and two traits that indicate whether a  cow became pregnant within 21 or 42 days of STOM (PR21, PR42). The  traits defined for the unique conditions in New Zealand, SMFM, SMCO,  PR21 and PR42 emphasize the economic importance of reproduction to  dairy production. The comparison to overseas studies using DO, FMCO and  CI showed that New Zealand dairy cows had a better fertility performance  than overseas cows.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Grosshans T and Xu ZZ and Burton LJ}
}
