Impacts of body condition score at beginning of fixed-timed AI protocol and subsequent energy balance on ovarian structures, estrus expression, pregnancy rate and embryo size of Bos indicus beef cows

2022 ◽  
pp. 104823
Author(s):  
Marcelo Vedovatto ◽  
Renan Barbosa Lecciolli ◽  
Eduardo de Assis Lima ◽  
Raizza Fátima Abadia Tulux Rocha ◽  
Rafaela Nunes Coelho ◽  
...  
2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Renquist ◽  
J. W. Oltjen ◽  
R. D. Sainz ◽  
J. M. Connor ◽  
C. C. Calvert

AbstractFall-calving multiparous Angus × Hereford cows 3 to 10 years of age were stratified by age in a three by two factorial treatment arrangement to evaluate the efficacy of modifying stocking rate and supplementation strategy to manage cow body condition and production parameters over a 5-year study. Efficacy was evaluated quarterly in association with calving, breeding, weaning, and mid way between weaning and calving (i.e. in August). Three protein supplementation strategies (none, standard, strategic) were imposed across both a moderate (0·3 cows per ha) and a high (0·4 cows per ha) stocking rate. In the strategically supplemented group, protein supplement was provided to cows with a body condition score <5·5 at the quarterly evaluations. There was an effect of supplementation on pregnancy rate, which in combination with previously established culling practices resulted in different age profiles amongst supplementation strategies in years 2 to 5 (P < 0·01). Two statistical analyses were therefore conducted to dissociate the confounding effects of supplementation strategy and age. One model included the effect of stocking rate, supplementation strategy, production year, and all interactions; the second included the addition of age and its interactive effects. Stocking rate and supplementation strategy affected pregnancy rate in each of the models (P = 0·003 and P = 0·10, respectively). Standard, non-supplemented and strategically supplemented animals had estimated pregnancy rates of 0·83, 0·76, and 0·79, respectively (P = 0·10). The effects of nutrition on both calving interval and birth weight were independent of the model employed. Animals that were not supplemented had extended calving intervals (P = 0·06), but there was no effect of stocking rate (P > 0·10). Birth weight was not affected by supplementation strategy or stocking rate (P > 0·10). The lower 205-day weights of calves on a heavy compared with moderate stocking rate was independent of age (P = 0·02). However, the increased 205-day weight of calves born to strategically supplemented cows compared with those born to unsupplemented cows was only evident when data were not corrected for differences in age among groups (P = 0·03). Likewise, analyses of cow condition parameters using models without and with age resulted in different interpretations. These results suggest that strategic and standard supplementation result in similar animal performance and that the improvement in herd productivity associated with altering stocking rate and supplementation may partially be due to altered herd age dynamics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 862 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Soca ◽  
M. Carriquiry ◽  
M. Claramunt ◽  
G. Ruprechter ◽  
A. Meikle

The objective of the present experiment was to analyse the effect of body condition score (BCS) at calving, type of suckling restriction and flushing on metabolic and endocrine profiles, and productive and reproductive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. Primiparous beef (n = 56) cows in anestrus classified by BCS at calving (low ≤3.5 and moderate ≥4; 1–8 visual scale) were assigned randomly to four treatments in a two by two factorial arrangement of type of suckling restriction and flushing. Type of suckling restriction started at 55 ± 10 days postpartum (DPP ± s.e.m.; Day 0 = initiation of the treatment) and consisted of applying nose plates to calves for 12 days (i.e. TS treatment) or 5 days of isolation of the cow–calf pair, followed by applying nose plates to calves for 7 days as calves were reunited with their mothers (i.e. IS treatment). Immediately after the suckling restriction treatments were finished, the breeding season started, and each cow received (flushing group) or not (control group) 2 kg/day (fresh basis) of whole-rice middling for 22 days. The BCS was superior in moderate-BCS cows through the experiment. The type of suckling restriction did not affect any plasma parameter, but insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations increased in all cows during suckling restriction. Cholesterol concentration was affected by flushing × day interaction (P < 0.05), while insulin and IGF-I concentrations were affected by the interaction among BCS at calving, flushing and days (P < 0.03). Flushing increased cholesterol concentration in both BCS groups at calving, while insulin and IGF-I concentrations increased during flushing only in moderate-BCS cows. Suckling restriction, flushing, and BCS at calving did not affect calf weight or milk production. Moderate BCS cows had a shorter postpartum anestrous interval (PPI) (98 vs 123 DPP; P < 0.01). Isolated type of suckling reduced postpartum anestrous interval when compared with TS treatment (97 vs 115 DPP, P < 0.05). Early pregnancy rate was greater in flushed than in control cows (0.8 vs 0.55, P < 0.01) and in moderate-BCS cows than in low-BCS cows (0.84 vs 0.46, P < 0.01). Total pregnancy rate was also greater in flushed and moderate cows and tended to be affected by the interaction between flushing and BCS at calving (P = 0.06; flushed cows: moderate = 1 vs low = 0.5, P < 0.08; and control cows: moderate = 0.8 vs low = 0.4, P < 0.09). These results confirmed the great value of suckling restriction and flushing during post-calving and relevance of BCS at calving as a link between energetic nutrition and metabolic and reproductive processes in primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland.


2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 1219-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto Schneider ◽  
Luiz Francisco Machado Pfeifer ◽  
Eduardo Schmitt ◽  
Ivan Bianchi ◽  
Marcelo Brandi Vieira ◽  
...  

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of insulin alone or in association with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on the fertility of postpartum beef cows subjected to synchronization. A total of 340 cows was subjected to fixed time artificial insemination. In the trial 1, the cows were subjected to temporary weaning (TW), while in the trial 2 the same protocol was tested without TW. The addition of an insulin injection to a progesterone/eCG-based protocol without TW increased the pregnancy rate of beef cows with body condition score (BCS) equal to or lower than 2.5. Insulin had no effect on cows submitted to TW or with BCS equal to or higher than 3.0.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 832
Author(s):  
Lucas Balinhas Farias ◽  
Matheus Wrege Meireles Barbosa ◽  
Matheus Gomes Lopes ◽  
Gabriel Weizenmann Fernandes ◽  
Ana Laura Aita Xavier ◽  
...  

The search for better reproductive rates in beef cattle breeding must consider some important issues, such as nutrition, health, animal category, type of reproductive technique, and selection of animals. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the body condition score (BCS), the number of uses of the intravaginal progesterone device and the effect of the bull on the gestation rate of lactating beef cows, with different calving orders, submitted to a fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. In the study, 623 Aberdeen Angus cows were used, which were categorized into three groups according to the calving order: primiparous cows, second-parity cows, and multiparous cows. On day zero of the FTAI protocol, an evaluation of the BCS of the cows was performed, using progesterone intravaginal devices (IVD) for 9 days, starting from the D0 of the protocol both for used and new IVD. Semen from three different Aberdeen Angus breeders was used. Statistical analysis was made in the NCSS 7.0 software, using the Chi-square test and a significance value of p<0.05. The calving order influenced the pregnancy rate, with the category of primiparous cows having the lowest rates (p<0.05). The BCS and the number of uses of the IVD showed significance only in the primiparous category, in which animals with BCS equal or above 3.5 obtained a higher pregnancy rate, as well as animals with second-use IVD when compared to other groups (p <0.05). Therefore, primiparous cows presented a lower pregnancy rate when compared to the other categories, as well as the BCS and the number of uses of the IVD.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Cutaia ◽  
M. Ramos ◽  
P. Chesta ◽  
G. A. Bó

An experiment was designed to test the following hypotheses: (1) the administration of 400IU of eCG (Novormón, Syntex SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina) 14 days after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) increases pregnancy rates in cross-breed Zebu × Bonsmara suckled cows synchronized with progesterone releasing devices (DIB 0.5, 0.5 g of progesterone, Syntex SA); and (2) pregnancy rates in cows treated with estradiol or GnRH, combined with a DIB device, are not different. Primiparous suckled cows (n = 260), between 60 and 120 days postpartum (DPP) and with a body condition score between 2.0 and 2.5 (1 to 5 scale) were used. At the beginning of the experiment (Day 0), all cows were examined by rectal palpation (only 11% had a CL), received a DIB device, and were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Cows in the E2 group received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) intramuscularly (i.m.) at DIB insertion and those in the two GnRH groups received 100 μg of gonadorelin (GDR Gonasyn, Syntex SA) at the same time. On Day 7, DIB devices were removed and all cows received 500 μg of cloprostenol (Ciclase DL, Syntex SA) plus 400 IU of eCG (i.m.). Cows in the E2 group received 0.5 mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP, Cipiosyn, Syntex SA) and underwent FTAI administered by one technician, using semen from 1 of 2 bulls between 52 and 56 h later. Cows in the GnRH groups received a dose of 100 μg of gonadorelin (full GnRH group) or 50 μg of gonadorelin (1/2 GnRH group) at the time of the FTAI (52 to 56 h after DIB removal). Fourteen days after FTAI cows in the 3 groups were further subdivided (3 × 2 factorial) to receive or not 400 IU of eCG i.m. Pregnancy was determined 30 days after FTAI using real-time ultrasonography. Data were analyzed by logistic regression, taking into account the effect of the synchronization treatment, eCG or noteCG, 14 days after FTAI and sire used. No differences in pregnancy rates were found (P = 0.16) among treatment groups (E2: 39/87, 43.7%, full GnRH: 38/92, 41.3%, and 1/2 GnRH: 25/81, 30.9%). However, there was a significant (P = 0.02) effect of eCG treatment 14 days after FTAI (eCG: 60/127, 47.2% v. no eCG: 41/133, 30.8%). Furthermore, bull A (77/155, 47.1%) resulted in higher pregnancy rate (P = 0.009) than bull B (28/107, 26.2%), but there were no significant interactions between bull and synchronization treatment or eCG administration 14 days after FTAI (P > 0.1). We conclude that the application of 400 IU of eCG 14 days after FTAI increases pregnancy rates in suckled Bos taurus × Bos indicus primiparous cows with fair to poor body condition score synchronized with progesterone releasing devices. Furthermore, the use of estradiol ester or GnRH at DIB insertion and removal did not affect pregnancy rates.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Ilona Strączek ◽  
Krzysztof Młynek ◽  
Agata Danielewicz

A significant factor in improving the performance of dairy cows is their physiological ability to correct a negative energy balance (NEB). This study, using Simmental (SIM) and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows, aimed to assess changes in NEB (non-esterified fatty acid; body condition score; and C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1) and its effect on the metabolic efficiency of the liver (β-hydroxybutyrate and urea). The effects of NEB on daily yield, production at peak lactation and its duration, and changes in selected milk components were assessed during complete lactation. Up to peak lactation, the loss of the body condition score was similar in both breeds. Subsequently, SIM cows more efficiently restored their BCS. HF cows reached peak lactation faster and with a higher milk yield, but they were less able to correct NEB. During lactation, their non-esterified fatty acid, β-hydroxybutyrate, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and urea levels were persistently higher, which may indicate less efficient liver function during NEB. The dynamics of NEB were linked to levels of leptin, which has anorectic effects. Its content was usually higher in HF cows and during intensive lactogenesis. An effective response to NEB may be exploited to improve the production and nutritional properties of milk. In the long term, it may extend dairy cows’ productive life and increase lifetime yield.


1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
Rosemary A. Haggett ◽  
W. J. Fisher ◽  
S. V. Morant

ABSTRACTData from a large controlled experiment to investigate the effect of level of nutrition on reproductive performance were used to assess the value of production and blood measures as indicators of energy status in lactating dairy heifers. Live-weight change showed the strongest and most consistent relationship to mean energy balance (the difference between metabolizable energy intake and that used for milk production and maintenance) (P < 0·01 to P < 0·001). Body-condition score at a particular time was more closely related to mean energy balance in the preceding 4-week period (P < 0·05) than current energy balance. There was also a lag in the relationship between energy balance and live-weight change and mean body-condition score. Ultrasonic back fat measurements were significantly correlated with both loin and tailhead body-condition score (P < 0·001) but were more strongly related to mean energy balance in the preceding period (P < 0·05 to P < 0·001) than the body-condition scores.Blood samples were taken from all heifers 2 weeks before calving and 1, 5, 9, 13 and 18 weeks after calving and were analysed for 13 constituents. Concentrations of blood metabolites did not show consistently strong correlations with mean energy balance. The only blood metabolite to be measurably affected by the nutritional treatments applied in lactation was β-hydroxybutyrate.At best, combinations of production measures and blood metabolites were only able to predict the mean daily energy balance with a 95% confidence interval of ±20 MJ for an individual animal although this confidence interval was reduced to ±3 MJ for 100 animals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín Claramunt ◽  
Andrea Fernández-Foren ◽  
Pablo Soca

The effects of two levels of herbage allowance (HA, kg DM/kg liveweight (LW)) on forage mass and chemical composition, cow body condition score, cow LW, stocking rate, productive and reproductive responses were evaluated during two consecutive years. Eighty primiparous spring-calving beef cows were allocated to a completely randomised block design of two HA that had an annual average of 2.5 (low) and 4.0 kg DM/kg LW (high) from –150 to 195 days postpartum. The grazing system was continuous, and the put-and-take method was employed to adjust HA. At 86 ± 12 days postpartum, all cows were submitted to calf suckling restrictions with nose plates (12 days) and dietary flushing (2 kg/cow.day of whole-rice bran for 22 days), 6 days before bull introduction. Forage mass was affected by HA (P = 0.004) and year (P = 0.014); the high HA had a greater forage mass than the low HA (1474 vs 1212 ± 86 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05), and Year 2 had a greater forage mass than Year 1 (1545 vs 1134 ± 78 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05). Stocking rate was affected by HA and season (P = 0.0004) interaction. The stocking rate during autumn and spring was greater in low than high HA, and no differences were identified in winter and summer. The body condition score was improved in high HA during autumn and resulted in a greater winter (mid-gestation) body condition score than the low HA without differences during spring-summer (postpartum). Cow LW was lower during autumn, winter and early postpartum (16 days postpartum) in low HA in Year 1 than high HA of Year 1 and high and low HA cows in Year 2. Furthermore, the probability of total pregnancies (0.88 vs 0.59 ± 0.07; P = 0.01) and the calf weight adjusted to 205 days (194 vs 175 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) were greater in high HA. Calf weight adjusted to 205 days (Year 1: 192 vs Year 2: 177 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) and survival curves of postpartum anoestrus (P = 0.01) were affected by year but did not affect the probability of conception, early or total pregnancies. In conclusion, the reproductive and productive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing Campos grasslands were improved in high HA and could contribute to alleviating adverse climatic conditions effects.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document