scholarly journals Nutritional Effects on Dairy Cattle Fertility

Author(s):  
Alragubi. S. M. ◽  
Dr. Naser Estuty

Dairy cow fertility has declined in recent decades, coincidental with large increases in milk production. The problem is often considered being nutritional and can be corrected through dietary adjustment. The interaction between nutrition and reproduction is poorly tuned, and study results are often contradictory. Nutrition is an important component of successful reproduction, but dietary change to improve pregnancy rates is complicated, and merely offering pastured cows a supplement is unlikely to result in large effects, say authors. The effect of energy balance, carbohydrate type, protein and fat on reproductive outcomes will be considered.

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Roche ◽  
C. R. Burke ◽  
S. Meier ◽  
C. G. Walker

Dairy cow fertility has declined in recent decades, coincidental with large increases in milk production. Cows take longer to return to oestrus, display poorer signs of oestrus, have greater early embryo loss, and may have poorer conception rates. The problem is often considered to be nutritional, at least in part, and, therefore, can be corrected through dietary adjustment. Although acknowledged as highly digestible, high quality pastured forages tend to be low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), high in rumen degradable protein and the temporal supply may not be adequate for cow demand at key times; diet adjustment is often recommended to overcome these limitations. The interaction between nutrition and reproduction is poorly defined, however, and study results are often contradictory. Hypothesised limitations to pastured forages within a grazing system will be discussed, and the likely impact of nutritional adjustment on pre- and post-ovulatory reproductive processes examined. The effect of energy balance, carbohydrate type, protein and fat on reproductive outcomes will be considered. Nutrition is an important component of successful reproduction, but dietary adjustment to improve pregnancy rates is complicated, and merely offering pastured cows a supplement is unlikely to result in large effects. Conclusions indicate that care must be taken in interpreting associative analyses and in applying results from different farming systems.


2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Lucy ◽  
B. A. Crooker

AbstractSelection of dairy cattle for increased milk production has decreased some indices of reproductive efficiency. For example, days open are increased by one day for every 100 kg of increased milk yield per lactation. Some of the change in days open can be explained by delayed onset of oestrous cyclicity and lower conception rate to artificial insemination in cows with greater milk production. Despite these negative associations between milk production and reproduction, reproduction in herds of high producing dairy cattle is not necessarily compromised relative to reproduction in herds of low producing dairy cattle. This is because there is a large environmental effect on dairy reproduction. High producing herds generally have better management and better oestrous detection. Therefore, high producing dairy herds may partially overcome the antagonistic relationship between milk production and reproduction. Physiological mechanisms that lead to poorer reproduction in high producing cows are partially defined. Negative energy balance that occurs in high producing dairy cows can be associated with a delay in the initiation of ovarian cycles and the interval to first breeding. Many of the effects of negative energy balance on postpartum reproduction can be explained by decreased serum luteinizing hormone (LH) that is associated with negative energy balance. Serum LH increases as cows move toward positive energy balance and greater LH stimulates growth and ovulation of ovarian follicles. We have initiated studies to address physiological differences in high and low index dairy cows. The reproductive endocrinology of cows from a control line (5,900 kg milk/lactation) and a select line (10,900 kg milk/lactation) of dairy cows at the University of Minnesota was studied over a two-year period. Cows in Year 1 were similar for serum concentrations of LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and oestradiol (preovulatory period). In both years, serum concentrations of progesterone during luteal phases, however, were decreased in select cows. The Year 2 cows also had a delay in the return to oestrous cyclicity that was associated with reduced LH. The possibility that decreased progesterone causes infertility in dairy cows will require further study. Collectively, these data suggest that changes in blood progesterone concentrations may explain, partially, lower fertility in high index dairy cows.


1999 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 99-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Webb ◽  
P. C. Garnsworthy ◽  
J. G. Gong ◽  
R. S. Robinson ◽  
D. C. Wathes

AbstractAn effective method for enhancing milk production efficiency in dairy cows is to increase milk yield and significant progress has been achieved through intense selection, assisted by the application of new reproductive techniques. However this increased milk yield has been accompanied by a slow but steady decline in dairy cow fertility. The two main reasons for this reducing level of fertility appear to be selection for increased milk yield and large herd sizes, although the affect of the introduction of Holstein genes needs to be investigated. In addition, other negative consequences such as an increase in the incidence of metabolic diseases and lameness have been observed. This has given rise to public concern that the high-yielding dairy cow may be under a state of metabolic stress during peak lactation and therefore the welfare and performance of other body functions are compromised.The reason for this decline in fertility is not well understood, although a nutritional influence on the initiation of oestrous cycles, follicular growth, oocyte quality and early embryonic development has been implicated. In early lactation dietary intake is unable to meet the demands of milk production and most cows enter a period of negative energy balance. Negative energy balance has a broadly similar effect to undernutrition leading to a mobilization of body reserves. Furthermore diets high in rumen degradable protein lead to an excess of rumen ammonia, which before it is converted to urea by the liver and excreted in the urine, may cause an alteration in the reproductive tract environment reducing embryo survival. Such major changes in the metabolic and endocrine systems can therefore influence fertility at a number of key points.Possible reproductive sites where inadequate nutrition may have detrimental effects include: (i) the hypothalamic/pituitary gland where gonadotropin release may be impaired; (ii) a direct effect on the ovaries, where both follicular growth patterns and corpus luteum function may be directly influenced; (iii) the quality of the oocyte prior to ovulation may be reduced and coupled with an inadequate uterine environment will result in reduced embryo survival and (iv) there may be effects on subsequent embryo development. The initiation of normal oestrous cycles post partum is usually delayed in dairy cows with a higher genetic merit for milk production, confirming that intense selection towards high milk yield can compromise reproductive function. In addition, the effects of increased milk yield may include changes in circulating GH and insulin concentrations, which in turn alter both insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and IGF binding protein production. Nutrition has recently been shown to have a direct effect at the level of both the ovaries and the uterus to alter the expression of these growth factors.In conclusion, further knowledge is required to determine how the metabolic changes associated with high milk output reduce fertility. Identification and understanding of the mechanisms involved and the key sites of action responsible for compromised reproductive function, will enable the identification of possible indices for future multiple-trait selection programmes.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 12-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.W.J. Keady ◽  
C.S. Mayne

Breeding goals differ for different breeds of dairy cattle. For example the breeding programmes for Holstein-Friesian (HF) animals have been based primarily on improved milk production with little emphasis on functional traits such as fertility. In contrast, Norwegian (NC) dairy cattle have been bred using a multi-trait selection procedure for 25 years. These differences in selection procedures for the two breeds may have major effects on overall herd output and profitability with the forage-based systems of milk production employed in Northern Ireland. The objective of the present paper is to present the effects of two levels of nutrient input on food intake and utilisation, and animal performance of the two breeds, with diets based on grass silage during the first and second lactation.


1978 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.N.J. Parker ◽  
Gwyneth Lewis

The main objective when considering dietary energy levels in the dairy cow is to achieve optimum economical milk production, not necessarily energy balance, at all stages of lactation. Some cows may attain energy balance by reducing milk yield.In the early part of lactation, while appetite is increasing, a negative energy balance is acceptable, particularly in the high-yielding cow, at the expense of body reserves. During this time and up to peak yield, maximum use must be made of the cow's feeding capacity in order to attain its full milking potential. This is important, since the peak yield considerably influences the rest of the lactation, as concluded by Broster (1972).Failure to achieve a sufficient energy intake in early lactation may be reflected in excessive weight loss as well as in reduced milk production, whereas in the post-peak period, too rapid body-weight gain may be associated with over-generous feeding.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 388
Author(s):  
Amir Husaini Karim Amrullah ◽  
Dadang Suherman ◽  
Jarmuji Jarmuji

Giving sakura block plus that contain katuk leaf and turmeric flour are expected to increase the production of milk from dairy cow in Sumber Mulya livestock group. Community service activities are carried out through several stages: socialization, training, demonstration plots, and field tests. Socialization aims to provide an understanding of the purpose and objectives of the activity. The training has several objectives, namely the introduction of sakura block plus supplements, understanding the benefits of sakura block plus supplements for dairy cattle, materials and equipment used, and practices. Making sakura block plus begins with weighing ingredients, then mixed them until blended. Then, heat the brown sugar that has been mixed with 20% water. After that, mix the ingredients with brown sugar. Next, sakura block plus is pressed by presses tool. The last stage is wrapping it using plastic wrap. The demonstration plot and field test were conducted for three months and using three dairy cattle. The forage consumption of dairy cows used in demonstration plots ranges from 40-45 kg/head/day. Milk production in Sumber Mulya livestock group is 10.28 liters/head/day. The use of sakura blok can increase milk production 2 until 3 liters/head/day. The average milk production after using sakura block plus can reach 13 liters/head/day.Keywords: katuk leaf; livestock group; milk; suplement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Leduc ◽  
Sylvain Souchet ◽  
Marine Gelé ◽  
Fabienne Le Provost ◽  
Marion Boutinaud

Abstract In the dairy cow, negative energy balance affects milk yield and composition as well as animal health. Studying the effects of negative energy balance on dairy cow milk production is thus essential. Feed restriction (FR) experiments attempting to reproduce negative energy balance by reducing the quantity or quality of the diet were conducted in order to better describe the animal physiology changes. The study of FR is also of interest since with climate change issues, cows may be increasingly faced with periods of drought leading to a shortage of forages. The aim of this article is to review the effects of FR during lactation in dairy cows to obtain a better understanding of metabolism changes and how it affects mammary gland activity and milk production and composition. A total of 41 papers studying FR in lactating cows were used to investigate physiological changes induced by these protocols. FR protocols affect the entire animal metabolism as indicated by changes in blood metabolites such as a decrease in glucose concentration and an increase in non-esterified fatty acid or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations; hormonal regulations such as a decrease in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I or an increase in growth hormone concentrations. These variations indicated a mobilization of body reserve in most studies. FR also affects mammary gland activity through changes in gene expression and could affect mammary cell turnover through cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, and exfoliation of mammary epithelial cells into milk. Because of modifications of the mammary gland and general metabolism, FR decreases milk production and can affect milk composition with decreased lactose and protein concentrations and increased fat concentration. These effects, however, can vary widely depending on the type of restriction, its duration and intensity, or the stage of lactation in which it takes place. Finally, to avoid yield loss and metabolic disorders, it is important to identify reliable biomarkers to monitor energy balance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Dwi Priyanto ◽  
Dewi Rahmayuni

<p>Production of domestic fresh milk has not yet meet the national milk demand, so high amount of milk is still imported (88.56%). The distribution of the dairy cattle population is still concentrated in Java Island (98.84%) which already has limited available land resources. The low productivity of dairy cow is due to the decline in the quality of breed, limited feed and capital. The business scale majority is still low, although its institutional aspect has been well established with the existence of cooperatives and the milk processing industry. This paper discusses the strategies and policies for developing dairy cows in areas outside Java which are appropriate from the upstream to the downstream aspects. The development of dairy cows in areas outside Java Island is still slow, even experiencing a population decline in the last 4 years by 66.21% compared to that in Java that has an increase of 22.09%. Barriers include weak human resource factors, lack of availability of feed (forages and concentrates), low milk productivity and quality, and the production market which is the main thing in dairy business has not been developed. There were many obstacles encountered when dairy cow development program in areas outside Java island was established. Therefore, it requires strategies and policies as well as steps that must be carried out on target. There are several things that need to be done, namely selecting the location, procuring the right breed, training the human resources (target breeders), planting forage and making concentrates, and the main thing is institutional development (upstream to downstream), especially institutions for milk production and marketing. Routine assistance by related agencies and other institutions is needed to ensure the sustainability of dairy farming outside Java.</p>


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
C P Ferris ◽  
D C Patterson ◽  
D J Kilpatrick

Norway has adopted a multi-trait selection programme within its Norwegian Red (NR) dairy cow population for over thirty years, in contrast to breeding programmes with the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed, which have, until recently, focused primarily on milk production. As a result, evidence from Norway suggests a dairy cow population with high levels of fertility and a relatively low incidence of mastitis. Consequently, there is considerable international interest in the NR breed as a means of overcoming some of the fertility, health and longevity problems that currently exist within the HF breed. To examine the potential of the NR breed, an experiment was established on 19 commercial dairy farms to compare the production, fertility and longevity of animals of the NR and HF breed across a range of production systems.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 43-43
Author(s):  
A.D. Crawford ◽  
C.S. Mayne

In Northern Ireland, grazed grass is the main diet offered to dairy cattle throughout the summer months. Whilst the Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cow is extremely efficient at converting grass into milk, there is evidence that the incidence of infertility in this breed is increasing (Mayne et al. 2001). This may reflect the fact that the breeding goals for the HF breed have been based primarily on selection for milk production with little emphasis for other traits such as fertility or health. In contrast, Norwegian dairy cattle (NC) have been selected using a multi trait index, with less emphasis on milk production and inclusion of other fertility and health traits. The overall objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of varying stocking rate at pasture on performance of these two contrasting breeds.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document