Obtaining optimal reproductive performance from a herd of cattle requires a knowledge of the basic principles of and factors affecting reproduction, an understanding of managemental strategies which can be employed to achieve such performance, and an awareness of existing and new technological advances which can be applied in the farm situation. All of these topics are put together in the series of papers included within this book, which were written to provide background material for a workshop on cattle reproduction held at Lincoln College, May 1984. The workshop participants include scientists, veterinarians, farm advisers and farmers. It is hoped that in addition this book will provide a useful text for a wider range of readers. A summary is provided at the start of each section to assist any reader who does not wish to examine each topic in the detail provided in the individual papers.