Currently, in France and the United States of America, only 30-35 % of first artificial inseminations in Holstein cows result in a calving. Pregnancy failure mainly occurs during embryonic development (fertilization failure - early embryonic mortality (FF-EEM) between D0 and D16 or late embryonic mortality (LEM) between D16 and D45 after insemination). Early pregnancy failure explains the majority of the differences in fertility between the Holstein breed and the other breeds in France, which are more fertile. There are numerous risk factors which cause pregnancy failure: animal, environmental and farm management factors. There are however, three factors which have been modified over time in Holstein cows: genetic merit, abnormal patterns of resumption of cyclicity and negative postpartum energy balance (NEB). Our objective was to identify the relationships between these three factors and early pregnancy failure after first postpartum insemination in Holstein dairy cows. Genetic merit was related to the incidence of FF-EEM and LEM. Prolonged luteal phases seemed to increase the incidence of LEM. The NEB was associated with FF-EEM and LEM. The impact of NEB on oocyte quality during the breeding period remains unclear. Our early pregnancy failure studies have helped to provide some tools to improve farm management.
