Repeat Breeder in Cows & Buffaloes | 90-Day Practical Solution with BCS & Nutrition

The Real Root of Repeat Breeder and Preparing the Body

(Understanding BCS, Nutrition, and the System)

Introduction: The Mistake of Understanding Repeat Breeder Incorrectly

In villages, when a cow or buffalo does not conceive even after two or three inseminations, the first term that comes up is “Repeat Breeder.”

The biggest mistake that follows is that Repeat Breeder is considered a disease. Whereas the truth is:

Repeat Breeder is not a disease, but a warning from the dairy system.

This warning indicates that somewhere the body is not prepared, nutrition is incomplete, timing is incorrect, or proper records are not being maintained.

Correct Definition of Repeat Breeder (in Farmer’s Language)

A cow or buffalo that:

✔ Is inseminated at the right time
✔ With correct technique
✔ Using good quality semen
✔ Two or more times

and still fails to conceive, is called a Repeat Breeder.

But one thing must be clearly understood here:

Failure to conceive every time does not necessarily mean the fault lies in the animal.
Often, the fault lies in our management and process.

What Is the First Mistake Farmers Make?

As soon as a case of Repeat Breeder appears, farmers usually:

• Change injections
• Change doctors
• Increase medicines
• Increase expenses

But they do not change the system. This is where the problem deepens.

Repeat Breeder = Imbalance of Five Factors

Repeat Breeder cases are usually rooted in these five factors:

1) Body Condition Score (physical condition)
2) Nutrition and mineral balance
3) Internal infections
4) Heat detection and timing
5) Lack of follow-up and records

If all five are not corrected together, no treatment gives lasting results.

STEP–1: Body Condition Score (BCS) – The Real Beginning

The very first and most important step in correcting Repeat Breeder cases is to understand and improve BCS.

What Is BCS?

BCS means:

Whether the animal’s body is in a condition suitable for conception.

It is not body weight, not milk yield, but purely the balance of the body.

Why Should Farmers Understand BCS?

Because:

• Thin animals → body focuses on survival first
• Over-fat animals → hormonal imbalance occurs

In both conditions, conception gets delayed.

What Is Commonly Seen in Repeat Breeder Animals?

• Prominent backbone
• Clearly visible ribs
• Hollow area near the tail head

or on the other side:

• Excess fat
• Laziness in movement
• Heat appears but does not sustain

Both conditions are harmful.

How Can a Farmer Identify BCS? (Brief)

Remember these simple rules:

• Backbone feels sharp → animal is underconditioned
• Bone felt but not sharp → animal is in good condition
• Bone not felt at all → animal is overconditioned

Ideal BCS = 2.75 – 3.25

Why Is It Harmful to Proceed Without Correcting BCS?

Because:

• Injections given without correcting BCS give only temporary results.
• Even if conception occurs, there is a higher risk of early pregnancy loss.

Only a prepared body can sustain pregnancy.

STEP–2: Role of Nutrition – Filling the Stomach Is Not Enough

In Repeat Breeder cases, farmers often say, “There is no shortage of feed.”

But the reality is: there is feed, but not nutrition.

Difference Between Filling the Stomach and Providing Nutrition

• Dry fodder = fills the stomach
• Green fodder = provides energy
• Concentrate = increases production
• Minerals = run the body system

In Repeat Breeder cases, minerals and balance are usually missing.

Which Minerals Have the Greatest Impact?

• Calcium – uterine strength
• Phosphorus – egg quality
• Zinc – hormonal balance
• Copper – pregnancy stability
• Selenium – early embryo protection

Their deficiency is not clearly visible externally, but the impact occurs internally.

What Is the Most Common Mistake?

• Using minerals recommended by neighbors
• Following shopkeeper advice blindly
• Expecting results within 7 days

Whereas mineral supplementation works slowly and deeply.

What Is the Correct Method?

• Small quantity
• Daily
• Continuous
• At least 30–45 days

This gradually brings the body back into balance.

One Thing Farmers Must Understand

In Repeat Breeder cases, the goal should not be immediate conception.

The first goal should be:

“Preparing the body for pregnancy.”

The Complete 90-Day Practical System for Repeat Breeder Correction

(Infection Control, Heat Timing, Follow-up, and the Journey to Conception)

Introduction: This Is Where the Real Difference Begins

Till now, we understood that the root of Repeat Breeder lies in body preparation, BCS, and nutrition.

But preparing the body alone is not enough. If after that:

• Infections are ignored
• Heat is detected at the wrong time
• There is no follow-up after AI

then months of effort can be wasted by a single mistake.

STEP–3: Identification and Control of Internal Infections

Not Every Repeat Breeder Has Infection – This Is True

But it is also true that:

Every internal infection can lead to Repeat Breeding.

The problem is that most infections occur without obvious symptoms, so farmers fail to detect them.

Common Signs of Infection

• Frequent return to heat
• Restlessness after insemination
• Mild but foul-smelling discharge
• Symptoms reappearing 15–20 days after AI

The Biggest Mistake

Directly using in every Repeat Breeder case:

• Uterine wash
• Antibiotic injections
• Hormonal treatments

without proper evaluation.

Remember:

Unnecessary treatment pushes conception even further away.

What Should Be the Correct Approach?

First evaluation → then decision → then limited treatment

Not every case needs medicine; many times time and hygiene are sufficient.

STEP–4: Heat Detection – The Most Common Error

The Most Common Cause of Repeat Breeder

Insemination at the wrong time

Farmers often say:

“Heat came, yet conception did not occur.”

The real question is not whether heat came, but:

Was insemination done at the correct time?

How to Detect Heat Correctly?

Do not rely only on standing heat. Observe these supporting signs as well:

• Frequent bellowing
• Attempting to mount other animals
• Temporary drop in milk yield
• Tail lifting

Correct Timing Rule (Farmer-Friendly)

Heat seen in the morning → inseminate in the evening
Heat seen in the evening → inseminate next morning

That is, within 12–18 hours of observing heat.

Why Is Timing Even More Critical in Repeat Breeders?

Because in such animals:

• The ovum ages quickly
• The hormonal window is shorter

A small delay = the entire cycle is lost.

STEP–5: Follow-up System – The Most Neglected Part

What Does the Farmer Do After AI?

The common answer is:

“Now it’s in God’s hands.”

This is where Repeat Breeding is reborn.

Why Is Follow-up Necessary?

Because conception is not an event, but a process.

A Simple Farmer-Level Follow-up System

• Observe heat signs 21–24 days after AI
• Note any abnormal signs
• Confirm pregnancy at 45–60 days

Losses Due to Poor Record Keeping

• Repeated AI at wrong time
• Increased expenses
• Mental stress

Benefits of Record Keeping

• Prediction of next heat
• Better decisions
• Lower cost, higher success

What Changes Are Seen After 90 Days?

By following this complete system:

• 60–70% Repeat Breeders improve
• Dependence on injections decreases
• Conception becomes sustainable
• Farmer confidence returns

The Most Important Point

Repeat Breeder is not a single disease.

It is a combined signal of body condition, nutrition, timing, and management.

When a farmer builds a system:

The body finds its own way.

The Entire 90-Day Model in One Line

First prepare the body → then balance → then correct timing → then monitoring

Conclusion

Repeat Breeder problems are not solved by injections, but by understanding.

And when understanding comes into the hands of farmers, dairy farming truly becomes a profitable activity.

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Author Profile

Dr. Mukesh Swami

Senior Veterinary Officer (Voluntary Retired)  |  RVC No. 2139
Extensive experience in animal husbandry, breeding management, dairy advisory services, and farmer training.

This article is based on field-level experience and practical management, aiming to help farmers address Repeat Breeder problems not merely through “medicines” but through BCS, nutrition, correct heat timing, and systematic follow-up for sustainable improvement.

Website: pashupalan.co.in
Follow / Updates: New articles and training notes

— Dr. Mukesh Swami