That is a really good article.

Not entirely accurate though re: why they impregnate them so quickly. They do that so that the cow doesn't suffer secondary infertility. If a cow doesn't have a calf every year, she may not 'take'.

Canadian cows have a 'prime' fertility zone at 54 to 56 days after giving birth. (I called my organic farmer and she told me all this. She has friends in other countries who she discussed this with also.) Apparently, New Zealand only has cows calve in the spring... so a New Zealand cow's prime fertility period is different from a Canadian cow. Another friend of hers in Africa has cows that are on different schedules than the previous two examples.

It made some sens to me as I had done some information gathering on secondary infertility. Humans kind of work the same way. Secondary infertility usually occurs in women who start having babies later in life. It is generally unexplainable... at least from my research several years ago. But we've all known those certain women who get pregnant fairly young and have babies year after year. Not so much anymore but families of 12 to 18 was not so unusual, even one generation ago... esp. in the very strict roman catholic families in my area.