Dairytalk 712: Pregnant Too Early or Too Late? Why 70 to 130 Days May Offer the Best Balance - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Oct 10, 2026 · 20m

This podcast episode draws on several scientific sources examining how breeding timing and dry-period length influence milk production, health, and long-term dairy cow performance. Today's higher-producing cows may sustain profitable lactations for longer, but extending days open indefinitely can create reproductive and metabolic costs that offset additional milk. The evidence points toward a middle ground, with roughly 70 to 130 days to pregnancy and a conventional dry period of around 45 to 70 days performing well when lifetime output and herd survival are considered together. The challenge…