Even the most experienced pregnancy testers know: not every cow confirmed pregnant ends up calving. So what’s happened? Here are a few key factors behind “failure to calve”:
1. Early Testing = Higher Loss Risk The earlier you test, the more likely some pregnancies won’t go to term. In dairy herds, ultrasound as early as day 28 can show viable embryos that ultimately don’t result in calves — often due to high production demands. Embryonic or fetal loss in these herds typically ranges from 2% to 15%, influenced by temperature, production levels, twins, and testing timing.
2. Disease Shouldn’t Be Overlooked Both infectious (Trich, IBR, Brucellosis) and non-infectious (like Vitamin A deficiency) diseases can cause pregnancy loss. In well-managed herds on the Northern Great Plains, a 1–2% failure rate is considered normal. Higher rates — especially if dead fetuses or abortions are observed — should prompt a vet consult. ** 3. Don’t Rush — Anomalies Matter** Rare fetal anomalies can be caught during ultrasound, but only if time is taken to look. Quick scans might miss twins, dead fetuses, or developmental issues. Slowing down just a bit can provide invaluable insight.
Take a look the helpful video below created by Andrew Bronson, DVM.