The physiology of multifactorial problems limiting the establishment of pregnancy in dairy cattle

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander C. O. Evans ◽  
Siobhan W. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Embryo Mortality ◽  
Uterine Infection ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Carry Over

The failure of cows to successfully establish pregnancy after insemination is an important limiting factor for the efficiency of dairy production systems. The physiological reasons for this are many and pertain to the post partum and early pregnancy periods. Cows that suffer severe negative energy balance after parturition are prone to diseases (including uterine infection) that are, in part, explained by reduced function of the immune system, having negative consequences for subsequent fertility. In high-producing dairy cows, the duration and intensity of oestrus is low as a consequence of low circulating oestradiol concentrations, and after insemination, high embryo mortality is the single biggest factor reducing calving rates. Embryo mortality occurs as consequences of poor oocyte quality (probably caused by the adverse metabolic environment) and by poor maternal uterine environment (probably caused by carry-over effects of uterine infection and low circulating progesterone concentrations). Immediate improvements in the fertility of lactating cows on many farms can be achieved by applying existing knowledge, but longer-term sustained improvement will require additional knowledge in many areas including the physiology of the tissues that contribute to reproduction.

The effects of two contrasting grassland-based milk production systems, on the performance and fertility of high genetic merit, autumn calving, dairy cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.P. Ferris ◽  
M.A. McCoy ◽  
S.D. Lennox ◽  
D.C. Catney ◽  
F.J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Negative Energy Balance ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Feed Value

AbstractThe development of production systems, which allow increased nutrient intakes to be achieved, is a key issue in the management of high genetic merit dairy cows. Consequently, forty high genetic merit autumn calving dairy cows (PTA95fat + protein = 38.2 kg) were managed on either a ‘high forage (HF)’ or ‘high concentrate (HC)’ based system of milk production for the first 305 days of lactation, with the study encompassing both the indoor winter and outdoor summer grazing periods. System HF involved a high feed value silage, a lax grazing regime, and a low concentrate input (842 kg DM), while system HC involved a medium feed value silage, a tighter grazing regime and a higher concentrate input (2456 kg DM). Total milk outputs with each of systems HF and HC were 7854 and 8640 kg respectively (P<0.01), illustrating that high genetic merit cows can perform satisfactorily on very different inputs over a single lactation. However animals on system HF experienced a more extreme and prolonged period of negative energy balance post partum than those on system HC, and completed the winter with a significantly lower condition score. Detailed fertility records were maintained for all animals on the study. Days to first observed heat were 51.2 and 59.3 with systems HF and HC respectively, while the respective conception rates to first service were 26 and 21%. The number of services/conception were 2.22 and 2.50, while the calving interval was 390 and 404 days for systems HF and HC respectively. Despite the greater degree of negative energy balance associated with system HF, none of the fertility measures was significantly affected by system of milk production (P>0.05), although fertility with both systems was poor. There were no obvious reasons for the poor fertility noted in this trial.

Relationships between changes in plasma concentrations of leptin before and after parturition and the timing of first post-partum ovulation in high-producing Holstein dairy cows

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kadokawa ◽  
D. Blache ◽  
Y. Yamada ◽  
G. B. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Reproductive Axis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Metabolic Signal ◽  
Plasma Leptin ◽  
Holstein Dairy Cows

During early lactation, dairy cattle are in negative energy balance and the delay to first post-partum ovulation depends on the time taken to recover from this situation. Lactating cows rely heavily on body fat to meet their requirements, leading to the suggestion that leptin, a hormone secreted mainly by adipocytes, is acting as a metabolic signal to sites that control the reproductive axis. The relationship between plasma leptin concentrations and the timing of the first ovulation post partum in 20 high-producing Holstein dairy cows, using a radioimmunoassay based on recombinant bovine leptin was studied. Plasma leptin concentrations declined after parturition, reached a nadir of 0.74 ± 0.17 ng mL–1 on 10.1 ± 2.2 days after parturition (all values are mean ± SEM). They then increased and became stable near the time of ovulation. Leptin concentrations averaged 1.81 ± 0.31 ng mL –1 in the 14 days prepartum, 1.32 ± 0.21 ng mL –1 in the post-partum preovulatory period, and 1.61 ± 0.24 ng mL –1 in the post-ovulatory period. The differences between periods were significant (P<0.01). The interval from parturition to first ovulation averaged 25.9 ± 2.0 days and was not correlated with the prepartum, preovulatory or post-ovulatory leptin values. However, the interval to first ovulation correlated significantly (r = 0.83;P<0.0001) with the interval from parturition to the leptin nadir. These results show that plasma concentrations of leptin decrease in dairy cows in the early post-partum period and suggest that a delay in the recovery of leptin secretion increases the delay to the first ovulation.

scholarly journals Subclinical hypomagnesemia: Prevalence and causes in dairy cows in the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Cézar da SILVA ◽  
Beatriz Dantas FERNANDES ◽  
Jéssica Monique dos Santos LIMA ◽  
Bismark Alves da SILVA ◽  
Gilderlândio Pinheiro RODRIGUES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
The State ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Mineral Supplement ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Significant Difference

ABSTRACT In dairy farming, cows display important metabolic changes during the transition period, particularly high-production cows, which need nutrients in greater quantity to meet the required demand. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical hypomagnesemia in pre- and post-partum dairy cows inserted in milk-production systems in the Sousa microregion and the district of São João do Rio do Peixe, both in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. As such, visits were made every two weeks to 34 rural properties, where the team collected 357 blood samples by venepuncture, 106 from pre-partum lactating cows and 251 from lactating cows in the post-partum period. It was found that the properties supplied three types of mineral supplement: a single supplement of NaCl, a supplement of NaCl + mineral base, and a commercial supplement. The cows receiving the commercial mineral supplement had the highest prevalence (10.53%) of the disorder, even showing a significant difference (P < .05) between the other types of supplement. In relation to reproductive period, it was found that the post-partum cows had a higher prevalence of subclinical hypomagnesemia (9.96%) than did the pre-partem cows (8.49%); there was, however, no significant difference (P > .05) between the two. Studies such as this are fundamental for alerting rural and technical producers to the occurrence of subclinical hypomagnesemia in the region, in addition to the damage caused by metabolic disorders.

scholarly journals Effects of feeding system and pre-partum supplementation on the β-carotene status of South African Holstein cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-348
Author(s):  
L.J. Erasmus ◽  
G. Machpesh ◽  
R.J. Coertze ◽  
C.J.L. Du Toit
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Carotene Content ◽  
Forage Type ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Β Carotene ◽  
Carry Over Effect

AbstractThe objectives were to investigate the β-carotene status of dairy cows under various production systems, and to determine the effect of pre-partum β-carotene supplementation on their post-partum β-carotene status. Ten farms were selected from each of the three  production systems, namely pasture-based, hay-based total mixed ration (TMR) and silage-based TMR. Twenty cows per farm were sampled in each system, and blood plasma β-carotene concentration was determined with a portable spectrophotometer (n = 200 cows per system). Mean blood β-carotene concentrations of pasture-fed cows were 5.54 mg/L, and were higher (P <0.05) than concentrations of cows on hay-based (2.98 mg/L) and maize silage-based TMR systems (1.71 mg/L); in β-carotene status, therefore, these systems were optimal, marginal, and deficient, respectively. In the second experiment, 10 cows received a hay-based control TMR, and 10 were  supplemented with 1.2 g/day of β-carotene pre-partum from day -56 to calving and monitored until day 56 postpartum. The supplemented cows were in optimal β-carotene status until calving, with a minor carry-over effect until 10 days post partum, and then declined gradually in status until they needed supplementation. The β-carotene status between the groups differed from three weeks pre-partum to two weeks post partum, with the control group being marginal to deficient from three weeks pre-partum onwards. Forage type and its β-carotene content play a major role in the β-carotene status of cows and more research is needed on the potential storage and mobilization of β-carotene in cows.

scholarly journals Reproductive characteristics of female swamp buffalo reared under Kalang production system in South Kalimantan

2021 ◽  
Vol 902 (1) ◽  
pp. 012041
Author(s):  
T S M Widi ◽  
S Pratowo ◽  
A Sulaiman ◽  
R Hulfa ◽  
I Sumantri
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Reproductive Characteristics ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Health Care Practices ◽  
Swamp Buffalo

Abstract Swamp buffalo has been an integral component of society in the swamp area in South Kalimantan. The system is characterized by 2-5 farmers rearing herds semi intensively in one shared kalang, a traditional wooden shelter on swamp area. This study was aimed to determine the reproductive characteristics of female swamp buffalo under kalang systems in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, The Province of South Kalimantan. The data of reproductive characteristics and farming systems were collected through interviewing 21 farmers in 4 kalang groups who kept 351 buffaloes (153 of them were females). The observed parameters were average of productive females ages, age at first mating, calving interval, post-partum estrus (PPE), percentages of pregnant and lactating cows. Results showed that the average of productive female buffalo ages was 9.9 ± 0.99 years; female swamp buffaloes were first mating at 51.4 months; first calving at 63.4 months; calving interval was 16.5±0.70 months; PPE was 4.9±0.64 month; gestating and lactating cows were 21.6% and 60.1%, of the productive female population, respectively. We concluded reproductive characteristics of female swamp buffalo under kalang production systems can be enhanced through improvements of the production system, including pre-weaning calf management, feed supplementation, and health care practices.

Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations among Mothers and Newborns and Follow-up Study to Assess Implication on the Growth Velocity and the Urinary Methylmalonic Acid Excretion

2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (56) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Hussein ◽  
Sahar Abdel Aziz ◽  
Salwa Tapouzada ◽  
Boehles
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Growth Velocity ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Metabolic Marker ◽  
Biochemical Measurement

Objective:Cobalamin (B12) deficiency has been reported in infants born to mothers with low cobalamin intake. Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants is critical for the prevention of neurobehavioral disorders. We investigated the relationship between serum vitamin B12 level in newborns and in their healthy mothers who consumed an omnivorous diet. Anthropometry was studied longitudinally to assess the growth velocity of the infants. Urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) excretion of 6-month old infants was compared retrospectively as the biomarker correlated with the initial serum vitamin B12 concentrations. Methods: Serum cobalamin and blood hemoglobin were determined in 84 pairs of newborns and their mothers. Urinary MMA excretion was measured in the same subjects during the first 6 months of the post partum period. Results: At birth, median serum cobalamin levels were 152.0 pmol/L in the mothers and 296.6 pmol/L in the newborns. Maternal and neonatal serum cobalamin levels had no effect on growth velocity during the first six months of postnatal life. Serum maternal and neonatal cobalamin levels were inversely associated with urinary MMA excretion. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 status in neonates and infants is crucial, particularly in nutritionally deprived areas. Biochemical measurement of plasma cobalamin or its metabolic marker MMA is highly recommended. Urinary MMA measurement in cobalamin diagnostics provides an advantage in that blood sampling is not required. A vitamin B12 taskforce should be created to alleviate vitamin deficiency and its negative consequences.

scholarly journals Selective Harvesting Robotics: Current Research, Trends, and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Kootstra ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Pieter M. Blok ◽  
Jochen Hemming ◽  
Eldert van Henten
Keyword(s):  
Review Paper ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Selective Harvesting ◽  
Important Solution ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Current Systems

Abstract Purpose of Review The world-wide demand for agricultural products is rapidly growing. However, despite the growing population, labor shortage becomes a limiting factor for agricultural production. Further automation of agriculture is an important solution to tackle these challenges. Recent Findings Selective harvesting of high-value crops, such as apples, tomatoes, and broccoli, is currently mainly performed by humans, rendering it one of the most labor-intensive and expensive agricultural tasks. This explains the large interest in the development of selective harvesting robots. Selective harvesting, however, is a challenging task for a robot, due to the high levels of variation and incomplete information, as well as safety. Summary This review paper provides an overview of the state of the art in selective harvesting robotics in three different production systems; greenhouse, orchard, and open field. The limitations of current systems are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.

scholarly journals 395 Impact of pig mortality on U.S. pig producers

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 184-185
Author(s):  
Caleb M Shull
Keyword(s):  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Significant Challenge ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Step

Abstract Swine producers in the U.S. face a significant challenge. On top of the ever-changing market dynamics that lead to wide swings in profitability or loss, is an underlying issue of pig mortality that the industry must address. While significant improvements in total piglets born per litter have been achieved over the last 10 years, pig mortality has seen no improvement or has worsened (Figure 1). When expressed as a percentage of piglets born (excluding mummies), a total of 7.9% were recorded as stillborn and 13.4% died prior to weaning in 2019. Assuming a typical mortality range of 7–10% from weaning to harvest, a typical U.S. producer could expect to lose around 27–30% of all piglets born. In addition, the average producer had around 12% annual sow mortality (Figure 1). Litter size and post-weaning growth rate and feed efficiency will always factor heavily into research priorities due to the economic impact associated with those traits; however, the opportunity to drive value through reduction in pig losses across the production cycle is staggering. In defense of the industry, improving pig survival is not an easy task for a number of reasons. The sample size (i.e., number of pigs) required to do mortality research correctly is often a limiting factor for many production systems. Furthermore, a cross-functional approach is likely required to make significant improvements in mortality. Specifically, the relationship between genetics, health, and management practices warrant consideration. Recent collaboration across the industry to improve mortality is a positive step forward and this collaboration should continue moving forward.

Mechanisms of Impairment of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Intact Leaves by Ozone

1999 ◽  
Vol 54 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 824-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Gerhard Reichenauer ◽  
Harald Romuald Bolhàr-Nordenkampf
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Calvin Cycle ◽  
Photosynthetic Apparatus ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Photochemical Reactions ◽  
Early Event ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Negative Consequences

Tropospheric ozone has been recognised as a limiting factor for plant growth since late fifties of our century. The decrease in the rate of light saturated net photosynthesis (Asat) was shown to be the major effect of ozone in leaves with negative consequences for plant growth and the development of plant communities. The reasons for the ozone-induced decrease in Asat are still under investigation. Possible mechanisms are an increasing stomatal limitation, an increase in mesophyll limitation including a reduction of the CO2 fixation in the Calvin cycle and an impairment of the photochemical reactions in the grana membranes of chloroplasts. We conclude from the reviewed literature and from our own experiments that a decrease in carboxylation efficiency (CE) seems to be an early event caused by ozone leading to a decrease in Asat. The loss in current photochemical capacity (Fv/Fm) appears with a lag phase of many days and therefore the loss is thought to be a secondary effect due to a decreased demand of ‘assimilatory power’

scholarly journals Emerging Viral Diseases of Tomato Crops

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 539-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge M. Hanssen ◽  
Moshe Lapidot ◽  
Bart P. H. J. Thomma
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Genetic Resistance ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Climate Conditions

Viral diseases are an important limiting factor in many crop production systems. Because antiviral products are not available, control strategies rely on genetic resistance or hygienic measures to prevent viral diseases, or on eradication of diseased crops to control such diseases. Increasing international travel and trade of plant materials enhances the risk of introducing new viruses and their vectors into production systems. In addition, changing climate conditions can contribute to a successful spread of newly introduced viruses or their vectors and establishment of these organisms in areas that were previously unfavorable. Tomato is economically the most important vegetable crop worldwide and many viruses infecting tomato have been described, while new viral diseases keep emerging. Pepino mosaic virus is a rapidly emerging virus which has established itself as one of the most important viral diseases in tomato production worldwide over recent years. Begomovirus species and other whitefly-transmitted viruses are invading into new areas, and several recently described new viruses such as Tomato torrado virus and new Tospovirus species are rapidly spreading over large geographic areas. In this article, emerging viruses of tomato crops are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document