IMMUNITY RESPONSE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‎LACTATING FRIESIAN COWS TREATED WITH BENTONITE

ABSTRACTIn three experiments the effects of giving Hereford × Friesian cows 61 to 64 MJ/day of metabolizable energy in the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, followed by either 49 to 56 (L) or 85 to 100 (H) MJ/day for the first 8 weeks of lactation, were determined. A further comparison was made in experiment 3, in which energy intakes were restricted to 46 and 64 MJ/day (M) in the two periods respectively. The L and M groups had a similar average weight loss of approximately 55 kg over winter whereas the H groups maintained their weight. The L and M treatments had a negligible effect on milk production at 3 weeks post calving but they caused a significant depression at 6 weeks in experiments 2 and 3. Milk energy and protein concentrations were reduced in all three experiments. Calf growth was similar on both treatments in experiment 1 but was 9 to 13% lower in experiments 2 and 3 for the L and M groups compared with the H group. Reproductive performance was not significantly affected. There was a substantial increase in milk production for all groups on turnout to grazing. This was greater for the L and M groups so that their summer milk production was almost equal to that of the H group. Cows from L and M groups gained more weight at pasture. By the end of the trials cows and calves from all treatments had similar weights except in experiment 3, when cows from the L and M treatments were still lighter than those from the H treatment.

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The effect of treatment with a GnRH analogue on postpartum reproductive performance in Friesian cows

Animal Reproduction Science ◽

10.1016/0378-4320(86)90049-7 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 99-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M.B. Aboul-Ela ◽

F.E. El-Keraby

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Performance ◽

Gnrh Analogue ◽

Effect Of Treatment ◽

Friesian Cows

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A protocol for initiating oestrus and ovulation earlypost partumin dairy cows

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800052073 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

pp. 539-546 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

A. O. Darwash ◽

G. E. Lamming ◽

M. D. Royal

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Performance ◽

Post Partum ◽

Treatment Protocol ◽

Ovarian Activity ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Management Regime ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Prostaglandin F ◽

The Mean ◽

Friesian Cows

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) and progesterone (P4) treatment in initiating oestrus and ovulation post partum (PP) in Holstein-Friesian cows. Using four herds, the treatment protocol consisted of a single intra-muscular injection of PGF2α(Estrumate) between days 12 to 14 PP followed 48 h later by progesterone treatment via intra-vaginal CIDR insertion for a period of 7 days. Milk samples for progesterone determination were collected three times weekly from 7 to 65 days PP. The ovarian activity and reproductive performance of treated (T, no. = 153) animals and untreated control cows (C, no. = 315) were compared. Treatment was effective (P< 0·001) in reducing the mean interval to PP commencement of luteal activity from 29·62 (s.e. 0·82) days to 22·09 (s.e. 0·70) days. The mean interval to first PP oestrus in the T animals was significantly reduced (P< 0·001) from 55·62 (s.e. 1·58) days to 44·91 (s.e. 1·44) days and the incidence of silent ovulation in cycles between days 21 to 65 PP was reduced (P< 0·001) from 56·28% to 42·27%. In two herds under one management regime and with a similar block-calving pattern (no. = 280 animals), the treatment protocol was beneficial to the overall reproductive performance as there was a significant shortening in the mean interval to first PP service (75·82 (s.e. 1·93) v. 80·86 (s.e. 1·32) days) and in the interval to PP conception (83·07 (s.e. 2·49) v. 88·90 (s.e. 1·95) days), bothP< 0·05.

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