ABSTRACT
Integrated management in livestock production combines the expertise of all specialty areas dealing with livestock and focuses on the solution to problems. The application of integrated management to animal systems is an offshoot of Integrated Pest Management, which has been well-defined and successful. A prioritization of needs resulted in an identification of reproduction as the most important problem. With that start, further events demonstrated that reproductive efficiency can be improved through an interdisciplinary, integrated approach. Therefore, considering the complexity of animal production, a team using the integrated approach can and should address the problems and evaluate the causes. Integrated management in livestock production combines the expertise of all specialty areas dealing with livestock and focuses on the solution to problems. To be successful, integrated management should follow the "heterosis" concept in genetics, i.e., the result is greater than the additive inputs of the sources.
