scholarly journals Effects of the body condition of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows before calving and in the early lactation on basic fertility indices

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 5984-2018
Author(s):  
EWA JANUŚ ◽  
ZYGMUNT LITWIŃCZUK

This study examined the effect of the body condition of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows in the last month before calving and in the first week of lactation and of the rate of the body condition loss in the early lactation on basic fertility indicators. Body condition of a total 327 cows was evaluated using the 5-point BCS scale. Five fertility indices were included. The fertility indicators analysed depended less on the BCS of cows in the last month before calving and in the first week of lactation, and more on the size of body condition loss and its duration. Scores of over 3.5 both before parturition and at the start of lactation were associated with the longest service periods and with the lowest percentage of conceptions after one insemination procedure. The length of the days open and calving intervals and the number of services per conception increased as the length of the decline in BCS after parturition increased. The most favourable values for the fertility indicators analysed can be expected in cows whose BCS before parturition and at the start of lactation was 2.75-3.5. A smaller energy deficit with a shorter duration after parturition was also more favourable for these traits..

2010 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Edit M. J. Jónás ◽  
Imre Mucsi ◽  
István Komlósi

The authors examined the body condition with relation to reproduction of Holstein-Friesian cows on three dairy farms in the South Plain region. During the examination they analyzed the data of 516 births of 494 Holstein-Friesian cows. They were trying to find correlation between the first service, the service period and the service rates. The examinations with regard to the correlations were different from the ones published in the professional literature. The body condition at the time of calving affected the interval from calving to the first service but not the conceptionrates or the service period. The examinations did not prove any correlations between body condition changes and reproduction.


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Stefańska ◽  
Agnieszka Poźniak ◽  
Włodzimierz Nowak

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body condition score (BCS) determined on the dry-off day, calving day, and in the first month of lactation, its changes during the dry period and early lactation, and periparturient indices and fertility in high-producing dairy cows. Material and Methods: The experiment was conducted in two herds: A and B, located in Western Poland. The studies were conducted on 116 and 108 Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows respectively, with an average milk yield of >10 000 kg/305-day lactation. The experiment included the dry period (-56 d to the calving day), the calving day, and early lactation (from +1 to +56 d). The experimental factor was BCS (0 to 5-point scale). The BCS was performed by one person on day -56, on parturition day (in the first 12 h after calving) and on day 30 of lactation. Results: A decrease in BCS (≥-0.25) in herd A during the dry period accelerated the planned calving period by 7.3 d. In the group of cows with BCS <3.25 on the dry-off day, the lowest artificial insemination index (1.80), the shortest period of insemination services (25 d), and days open (87 d) were recorded. Moreover, cows with BCS < 3.25 at calving had the shortest days open (91 d). BCS >3.50 in the first month of lactation (30 d) resulted in the extension of uterine involution period (56 d). Improvement of BCS during the dry period shortened the anoestrus (60 d) in herd A and the period of insemination service (60 d) in herd B. However, in this group (IM BCS ≥ 0.25) of cows the day of the highest artificial insemination index (2.50) in herd B was analysed. Conclusion: The body condition on the dry-off day and at calving, as well as its deterioration in the first month of lactation, have a considerable effect on fertility indices in dairy cows, thus confirming the advisability of its regular monitoring during routine operations connected with the management of a dairy cattle herd.


2008 ◽  
pp. 57-61
Author(s):  
Edit Mikó Józsefné Jónás ◽  
Imre Mucsi ◽  
István Komlósi

We carried out the examinations on a farm of 500 cows where We examined the body condition of the stock every month. We recorded the body condition data together with the milk production and calving data. We analysed the daily milk production as well as the body condition. During the examinations we sought an answer how the body condition and the production level change during the lactation period.


1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
J. A. Fregonesi ◽  
J.D. Leaver

Space allowance could be an important variable affecting production, health, reproductive performance and behaviour of dairy cattle. Also, high and low yielding cows may have different ways of coping with insufficient space allowance. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of strawyard housed dairy cows.The experiment was carried out using 24 Holstein Friesian cows with two groups in early lactation of high (over 30 kg/day milk yield) and two groups in late lactation of low yield (under 25 kg/day milk yield). The groups were allocated to strawyard systems with low stocking density (bed area/cow = 9 m2; pen area/cow = 13.5 m2; feed face width/cow = 1.5 m) or high stocking density (bed area/cow = 4.5 m2; pen area/cow = 6.75 m2; feed face width/cow = 0.75m) conforming to a changeover design with two periods, each of four weeks. The cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum and 2kg/cow/day of concentrate in the milking parlour. All animals were milked twice daily.


animal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 796-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lawrence ◽  
M. O’Donovan ◽  
T.M. Boland ◽  
E. Lewis ◽  
E. Kennedy

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Valentine ◽  
BD Bartsch

Milk production and composition was determined in Holstein-Friesian cows fed either 3.5 or 7.0 kg dry matter (DM) daily of lupin grain, pea grain, faba bean grain or barley grain with or without 1.5% added urea, as supplements to an oaten hay based diet. All the grains were hammermilled. Daily yields of milk (L), fat (kg) and protein (kg) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for cows fed lupin (20.0, 0.81, 0.57), pea (18.9, 0.80, 0.56) and faba bean (18.9, 0.79,0.55) grains compared with those of cows fed barley grain with (17.8, 0.73, 0.51) or without (18.0, 0.71, 0.52) urea. Yields of milk (L), fat (kg) and protein (kg) and milk protein content (g/kg) were significantly (P<0.05) higher when 7.0 kg DM (19.5, 0.80, 0.57, 29.6) compared with 3.5 kg DM (18.0,0.73,0.51,29.0) of grain was fed. There were no significant differences between treatments in hay DM intake by cows fed 3.5 kg DM of grain daily. A significantly (P<0.05) higher milk fat production per unit DM intake was recorded for cows fed legume compared with barley grain. There were generally higher returns above grain cost for cows fed legume compared with barley grain and for cows fed 4 kg compared to 8 kg daily of grain. It was concluded that it was more economical to feed 3.5 kg DM of legume grain compared with 3.5 kg DM of barley grain, with or without urea, as supplements for cows offered cereal hay in early lactation. However, the economics of feeding 7.0 kg DM of legume grain compared with 7.0 kg DM of barley grain and 7.0 kg DM compared with 3.5 kg DM of grain will depend on the costs of relative changes in hay intake associated with these practices.


1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
W. E. Ivings

The relationships between body composition, live weight (LW) and subjective condition score (CS) were examined in an experiment in which 54, second to fourth parity, lactating autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were slaughtered at 0, 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 19, 24 and 29 weeks post partum. Multiple regression analyses showed the weight of fat and the quantity of energy within the body were significantly correlated with both LW and CS. The weight of crude protein showed a linear correlation with LW. These results are discussed and compared with previously published investigations with non-lactating dairy cows.


Author(s):  
Petra Puklová ◽  
Jan Šubrt ◽  
Dušan Skrip ◽  
Radek Filipčík

The objective of our research was to evaluate the effect of some factors on the embryonic mortality of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in a herd. Monitoring was conducted in the course of three years (2006–2009) at a level of (9330–8970) kg/dairy cow per lactation. We monitored the reproduction parameters of 209 dairy cows (1st to 8th lactation). Ultrasonography was used to diagnose gravidity, and/or embryonic mortality, in each cow 6 times, at regular 4-day intervals between days 22 and 42 after insemination. We analysed the effect of 3 factors on embryonic mortality: age, body condition score and season of the year at the time of insemination. Embryonic mortality relative to the age of the female was significantly the lowest (20.69 %) in cows aged 42 to 47 months (3.5–3.9 years); high embryonic mortality (45.46 %) was recorded in the youngest females of 24 to 29 months of age (2.0–2.4 years). The results indicated that the body condition score of the cow at the time of insemination had a statistically significant (P > 0.01) effect on embryonic mortality (EM). Embryonic mortality was the lowest when the body condition of the cow was “ideal”, i.e. 5 points of the BCS (at the most 9 points). The season of the year when insemination was carried out had a positive effect on embryonic mortality.


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