Associations among patterns in daily body weight, body condition scoring, and reproductive performance in high-producing dairy cows

Although it has become increasingly clear that fertility in modern dairy cattle is declining in association with increased milk yields, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The first ovulation post partum is delayed in dairy cows undergoing selection for genetic merit for milk yield in association with lower circulating insulin concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether feeding a diet to increase circulating insulin concentrations can overcome this delay in the first ovulation post partum. The experiment was a 2 x 2 factorial design (n = 10 per group) involving diet and genetic merit for milk yield. The dietary treatment started on the day of calving and lasted for 50 days. Plasma samples were collected each day and ovarian ultra-sonography was performed three times a week during the experimental feeding period. Milk yield was recorded each day, and body weight and body condition score were determined each week. Milk samples were collected three times a week from day 50 to day 105 post partum, and reproductive performance data were recorded for all the cows as part of the routine farm practice. The dietary treatment induced significant differences in plasma insulin concentrations in both high and low genetic merit cows. Although high genetic merit cows produced more milk, lost more body weight and had lower body condition scores during the experiment, no significant effect of diet was observed on these measurements. The high insulin inducing diet increased the proportion of cows ovulating within 50 days of calving and reduced the intervals from calving to first ovulation, and tended to reduce the intervals from calving to first service and to conception. These fertility parameters were also more favourable in low than in high genetic merit cows, but no interaction between diet and genetic merit was observed for any of these parameters. Genetic merit, but not diet, also affected the number of services required per conception and the conception rate. In conclusion, these results have confirmed that genetic selection for high milk yield is associated with a decrease in reproductive performance in dairy cows. More importantly, this study has demonstrated that it is possible to alleviate this problem by nutritional manipulation.

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Body condition score and reproductive performance in dairy cows in Greece

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200019633 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 ◽

pp. 60-60

Author(s):

G. Oikonomou ◽

G. Arsenos ◽

G.E. Valergakis ◽

A. Tsiaras ◽

G. Banos

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Energy Content ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Reliable Estimate ◽

Condition Score ◽

Body Condition Scoring ◽

Body Energy ◽

The Impact

Various studies in dairy cows have shown that their Body Condition Score (BCS) effectively reflects their nutritional status and energy content (Ferguson et al. 1994). Extremes in BCS and BCS losses have been identified as a risk factor for health problems and reduced reproductive efficiency (Markusfeld et al. 1997, Lopez-Gatius et al. 2003). Body condition scoring is easy and inexpensive to perform and gives a reliable estimate of body energy reserves. Hence, in practice, BCS can be used as a tool for ration formulation and management decisions concerning reproduction of dairy cows (Banos et al. 2004). The objective of this study was to determine and quantify the impact of BCS in the reproductive performance of primiparous Holstein cows.

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Importance of Body Condition Scoring in Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cows: A Review

Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.4236/ojvm.2021.117018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (07) ◽

pp. 272-288

Author(s):

Sayed Ahmad Nazhat ◽

Amanullah Aziz ◽

Jahid Zabuli ◽

Shahpoor Rahmati

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Body Condition Scoring

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Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cows in Relation to Genotype, Age, Parity, Body Weight and Body Condition Score at Rajshahi District of Bangladesh

Research in Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries ◽

10.3329/ralf.v7i3.51368 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 481-495

Author(s):

Rashida Khaton

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Post Partum ◽

Age Groups ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Condition Score ◽

Heat Period

The present study was carried out from selected areas at Rajshahi district to evaluate the reproductive performance of dairy cows in relation to breed/genotype, age, parity, body weight and body condition. A total of 500 cows selected and data were collected directly from the dairy farms owner by using pre-tested questionnaires during the period from September 2013 to December 2014. The average reproductive performance (RP) were recorded as age at puberty (AP) 26.42±0.22 m, age at first calving (AFC) 35.48±0.22 m, post-partum heat period (PPHP) 121.85±3.48 days, service per conception (S/C) 1.93±0.04, days open (DO) 136.80±3.57 days and calving interval (CI) 401.04±3.94 days. Genotype had significant effect (P<0.05) on all the reproductive traits except on S/C. Local (L) × Holstein Friesian (HF) genotype showed earlier AP and AFC than L× Sahiwal (SL) and L. Age group had significant (P<0.05) effect on AP, AFC and other parameters were not significant (P>0.05). Middle age groups of cows had shown better RP than others groups. Parities of cows had significant effect (P<0.05) on PPHP, S/C, DO except on AP, AFC and CI. Third parity had better RP than others. The best RP was found in >300 kg BW groups. Body condition score had significant effect (P<0.05) on all RP. Good body condition score (BCS) had excellent RP. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(3): 481-495, December 2020

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