DC305 breeding type codes

Definition

The breeding type code (also called the breeding code) is a one-letter code stored on each BRED event that records how the cow was bred: on a detected heat, at a timed AI from a synchronization protocol, or by embryo transfer. It is set when the breeding is entered and doesn’t change.

It is a different field from the result code, which records what happened to the breeding (pregnant, open, rebred).

Types you will commonly see:

Kind of breeding	Example letter
Natural or detected heat (AI on observed estrus)	N or H
Synchronized / timed AI (e.g. Ovsynch)	O or a protocol letter
Embryo transfer, frozen embryo	E
Embryo transfer, fresh embryo	F
Other protocols (CIDR, Presynch, resynch)	herd-defined letters

Unverified

The letters are not fixed across herds. DC305 lets each herd set up its own breeding codes, so check the herd’s code table (and the DC305 help for the setup screen) before reading any letter. Don’t guess a letter’s meaning (e.g. F as “sexed semen” vs “fresh embryo”) from its initial. Herd-specific letters belong in the herd’s private dc305-vocab mapping, not here.

How to pull it in DC305

• BREDSUM by breeding code (\O) gives conception rate per type, and the \X cross tables split it further:

BREDSUM\O FOR LACT>0       conception by breeding code, cows
BREDSUM\XBO FOR LACT>0     times bred × breeding code
BREDSUM\XTO FOR LACT>0     technician × breeding code
BREDSUM\XCO FOR LACT>0     calendar month × breeding code
BREDSUM\YO                 heifers, by breeding code

See BREDSUM for the full switch list.

• EVENTS BRED lists breedings with the type code alongside sire, technician and result:

EVENTS BRED ID LACT FOR EDAY>-90

Unverified

Which EVENTS switch or column shows the breeding type code.

Typical range

Herd context: any DC305 herd; codes and items vary by herd setup.

• Herds on heavy timed-AI programs often have most first services coded as a synch protocol, with later services split between detected heats and resynch.
• Herds breeding mostly on activity monitors or tail chalk code most services as heat breedings.
• Embryo codes are a small share in most commercial herds, larger in herds with an IVF/ET program.
• Conception rate by type is not directly comparable: timed AI includes cows that would not have shown heat.

Unverified

These are general patterns, not benchmarks; no numeric split is given.

Common mistakes

• Reading the type letter as a result. O can mean Ovsynch in the type column and Open in the result column. Always check which column you are reading.
• Assuming another herd’s letters. Codes are set up per herd; a letter that means “fresh embryo” in one herd can mean something else in the next.
• Comparing timed-AI and heat conception rates head to head. They are different populations; compare pregnancy rate.
• Missing type codes. Breedings entered without a type fall into a blank row in BREDSUM. Check how many before drawing conclusions.
• Counting ET embryos as AI services in AI conception rate. Report ET separately (see embryo transfer KPIs).

Related

• DC305 breeding result codes
• DC305 events
• DC305 BREDSUM
• Synch compliance
• Embryo transfer KPIs