Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T01:04:54.397Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Influence of diet composition, dry-matter intake, milk production and energy balance on time of post-partum ovulation and fertility in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. C. Lucy
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
C. R. Staples
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
W. W. Thatcher
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
P. S. Erickson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
R. M. Cleale
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
J. L. Firkins
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
J. H. Clark
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
M. R. Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
B. O. Brodie
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
Get access

Abstract

Lactating Holstein-Friesian cows from two calving groups (no. = 90) were studied during the early post-partum period to determine the effect of dry-matter intake (DM1), 40 g/kg fat-corrected milk (FCM) production, energy balance (EB), parity, and food additives (calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids [CaLCFA] and niacin) on the recrudescence of ovarian function and establishment of pregnancy. Cows that ovulated early during the post-partum period (15 to 21 days after calving) consumed more food and tended to produce more FCM compared with cows ovulating later (22 to 42 days or after 42 days). Primiparous cows had lower EB and tended to have longer intervals to first ovulation compared with multiparous cows but the average interval to pregnancy was similar for primiparous and multiparous cows. Feeding CaLCFA tended to extend the interval to first service and decreased pregnancy rate. Production characteristics (including DMI and FCM production) seem to determine interval from calving to first ovulation as well as interval from calving to pregnancy (days open). Fertility was affected negatively by feeding CaLCFA.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bauman, D. E. and Currie, W. B. 1980. Partitioning of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation: a review of mechanisms involving homeostasis and homeorhesis. Journal of Dairy Science 63: 15141529.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berghorn, K. A., Allrich, R. D. and Noller, C. H. 1988. Energy balance and reproductive traits of postpartum dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 71: suppl. 1, p. 171 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Butler, W. R., Everett, R. W. and Coppock, C. E. 1981. The relationship between energy balance, milk production, and ovulation in postpartum dairy cows. Journal of Animal Science 53: 742748.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butler, W. R. and Smith, R. D. 1989. Interrelationships between energy balance and postpartum reproductive function in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 72: 767783.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coppock, C. E. 1985. Energy nutrition and metabolism of the lactating cow. Journal of Dairy Science 68: 34033410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erickson, P. S. 1989. Niacin-lipid interactions in lactating dairy cows. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Illinois, Urbana.Google Scholar
Ferguson, J. D., Shotzberger, S., Chalupa, W., Sklan, D. and Kronfeld, D. S. 1987. Reproductive responses in lactating cows fed diets supplemented with long chain fatty acids. Journal of Dairy Science 70: suppl. 1, p. 207 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Fonseca, F. A., Britt, J. H., McDaniel, B. T., Wilk, J. C. and Rakes, A. H. 1983. Reproductive traits of Holsteins and Jerseys. Effects of age, milk yield, and clinical abnormalities on involution of cervix and uterus, ovulation, estrous cycles, detection of estrus, conception rate, and days open. Journal of Dairy Science 66: 11281147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansen, P. J., Baik, D. H., Rutledge, J. J. and Hauser, E. R. 1982. Genotype × environmental interactions on reproductive traits of bovine females. II. Postpartum reproduction as influenced by genotype, dietary regimen, level of milk production and parity. Journal of Animal Science 55: 14581472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrison, R. O., Young, J. W., Freeman, A. E. and Ford, S. P. 1989. Effects of lactational level on reactivation of ovarian function, and interval from parturition to first visual oestrus and conception in high-producing Holstein cows. Animal Production 49: 2328.Google Scholar
Imakawa, K., Day, M. L., Zalesky, D. D., Clutter, A., Kittok, R. J. and Kinder, J. E. 1987. Effects of 17 beta estradiol and diets varying in energy on secretion of luteinizing hormone in beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science 64: 805815.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knickerbocker, J. J., Thatcher, W. W., Bazer, F. W., Drost, M., Barron, D. H., Fincher, K. B. and Roberts, R. M. 1986. Proteins secreted by day -16 to -18 bovine conceptuses extend corpus luteum function in cows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 77: 381391.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lamming, G. E., Peters, A. R., Riley, G. M. and Fisher, M. W. 1982. Endocrine regulation of postpartum function. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine Animal Science 20: 148158.Google Scholar
Lucy, M. C., Staples, C. R., Michel, F. J., Thatcher, W. W. and Bolt, D. J. 1991. Effect of feeding calcium soaps to early postpartum dairy cows on plasma prostaglandin F2(I, luteinizing hormone, and foUicular growth. Journal of Dairy Science 74: 483489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Macmillan, K. L., Taufa, V. K. and Day, A. M. 1986. Effects of an agonist of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (Buserelin) in cattle. III. Pregnancy rates after a post-insemination injection during metoestrus or dioestrus. Animal Reproduction Science 11: 110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Research Council. 1989. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle, 6th ed. National Academy of Science, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Nett, T. M. 1987. Function of the hypothalamic-hypophysial axis during the post-partum period in ewes and cows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility suppl. 34, pp. 201213.Google Scholar
Reid, J. T., Moe, P. W. and Tyrrell, H. F. 1966. Energy and protein requirements of milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 49: 215223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhind, S. M., McKelvey, W. A. C., McMillen, S., Gunn, R. G. and Elston, D. A. 1989. Effect of restricted food intake, before and/or after mating, on the reproductive performance of Greyface ewes. Animal Production 48: 149155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sonderegger, H. and Schiirch, A. 1977. A study of the influence of the energy and protein supply on the fertility of dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 4: 327333.Google Scholar
Staples, C. R., Thatcher, W. W. and Clark, J. H. 1990. Relationship between ovarian activity and energy status during the early postpartum period of high producing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 73: 938947.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1987. SAS user's guide — statistics. Statistical Analysis System Institute, Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Stevenson, J. S. and Britt, J. H. 1979. Relationships among luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, glucocorticoids, milk yield, body weight, and postpartum ovarian activity in Holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science 48: 570577.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thatcher, W. W., Macmillan, K. L., Hansen, P. J. and Drost, M. 1989. Concepts for the regulation of corpus luteum function by the conceptus and ovarian follicles to improve fertility. Theriogenology 31: 149164.Google Scholar
Thatcher, W. W. and Wilcox, C. J. 1973. Postpartum estrus as an indicator of reproductive status in the dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science 56: 608610.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Villa-Godoy, A., Hughes, T. L., Emery, R. S., Chapin, L. T. and Fogwell, R. L. 1988. Association between energy balance and luteal function in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 71: 10631072.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed