Effect of genetic merit on postpartum follicular development, milk production, body weight and, insulin and glucose levels in dairy cows

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 188-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E.M. Snijders ◽  
K. O'Farrell ◽  
M. P. Boland ◽  
P. Dillon ◽  
M. Diskin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Production Body

Efficient milk production in Ireland in both spring and autumn calving herds is very much dependent on compact calving. This requires an early resumption of ovarian activity, high submission rate, and pregnancy rate to service. Since 1984 there has been an increase in the genetic merit of Irish dairy herds. High genetic merit animals have reduced reproductive performance due to the demands of high milk yield (Nebel and McGilliard, 1993) and the loss of body weight and body condition (Butler and Smith, 1989). However, little comparative data on the reproductive performance of dairy cows of different genetic merit are available. The objective of this study was therefore, to determine the relationship between genetic merit of dairy cows and follicular growth patterns, milk production, body weight loss, insulin and glucose levels in early lactation.

Effect of genetic merit on postpartum follicular development, milk production, body weight and, insulin and glucose levels in dairy cows

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 188-188
Author(s):  
S.E.M. Snijders ◽  
K. O'Farrell ◽  
M. P. Boland ◽  
P. Dillon ◽  
M. Diskin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Production Body

Efficient milk production in Ireland in both spring and autumn calving herds is very much dependent on compact calving. This requires an early resumption of ovarian activity, high submission rate, and pregnancy rate to service. Since 1984 there has been an increase in the genetic merit of Irish dairy herds. High genetic merit animals have reduced reproductive performance due to the demands of high milk yield (Nebel and McGilliard, 1993) and the loss of body weight and body condition (Butler and Smith, 1989). However, little comparative data on the reproductive performance of dairy cows of different genetic merit are available. The objective of this study was therefore, to determine the relationship between genetic merit of dairy cows and follicular growth patterns, milk production, body weight loss, insulin and glucose levels in early lactation.

scholarly journals Effect of dietary-induced increases in circulating insulin concentrations during the early postpartum period on reproductive function in dairy cows

Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 419-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Gong ◽  
WJ Lee ◽  
PC Garnsworthy ◽  
R Webb
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Selection For

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.

Relationships between energy balance and post-partum ovarian activity and fertility in first lactation dairy cows

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Senatore ◽  
W. R. Butler ◽  
P. A. Oltenacu
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Subsequent Fertility

AbstractForty primiparous Holstein dairy cows were monitored from calving through 100 days in milk to evaluate the effect of energy balance in the early post-partum period on subsequent fertility. The post-partum interval to first ovulation (R2 = 0·41; P < 0·005) was lengthened by greater negative energy balance, and reduced by greater body weight at parturition or decreased body-weight loss during the experimental period. Luteal activity (R2 = 0·58; P < 0·0001), measured by plasma progesterone area under curve, was increased in the first cycle post partum by a shorter interval to first ovulation, improved energy balance during the 1st week of lactation and by decreased body-weight loss. Pregnancy status following first artificial insemination was related positively to the number of ovulations before insemination, improved energy balance during the 1st month post partum, fewer days to first ovulation and greater body weight at calving. These data suggest that energy balance and body weight are important in determining the post-partum interval to first ovulation and the subsequent fertility of first lactation dairy cotes.

Relationship between genetic merit, milk production, body condition, blood parameters and reproductive performance of dairy cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 499-502
Author(s):  
S.E.M. Snijders ◽  
P.G. Dillon ◽  
K.J. O'Farrell ◽  
M. Diskin ◽  
D. O'Callaghan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Production Body

AbstractBased on their pedigree indices for milk production traits, 48 high (HM) and 48 medium (MM) genetic merit cows were studied in each of two years to determine the possible relationships between genetic merit, milk production, body condition, metabolite and hormone concentrations, feed intake and reproductive performance. The high genetic merit cows had higher milk production, greater body condition loss between calving and first service, lower plasma glucose and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and lower first and second service conception rates than the medium genetic merit cows. Furthermore, more high genetic merit cows were not pregnant at the end of the breeding period compared with medium genetic merit cows. Cows that did not conceive to first service were retrospectively compared to those that conceived to first service within each genetic merit category. Within the high and medium genetic merit category there were no significant differences between the cows that did not conceive and those that conceived to first service in terms of milk production, or plasma concentrations of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Although medium genetic merit cows that did not conceive to first service lost more body condition score between calving and first service than those that conceived to first service, there was no difference in body condition score (BCS) change between calving and first service between high genetic merit cows that did not conceive and those that conceived to first service. In the present study, high genetic merit cows had higher milk production and reduced reproductive performance in comparison with medium genetic merit cows. However, reproductive performance was not associated with milk production, energy balance or plasma concentrations of glucose, NEFA or IGF-1 between calving and insemination

COMPARISON OF CORN AND OAT BASED CONCENTRATES FOR LACTATING DAIRY COWS

1969 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Fisher ◽  
V. S. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows

Corn-based and oat-based concentrates were each fed with a restricted amount of hay of two qualities to lactating cows. The corn-based concentrate was consumed at a significantly higher rate (P < 0.05), 14.6 vs 11.45 kg/day, and resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher solids-corrected milk production, 24.68 vs 20.42 kg/day. Metabolizable energy required per meal of solids-corrected milk produced was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for the corn-based concentrate, 2.48 vs 2.14. However, body weight loss was apparently greater when the oat-based concentrate was fed.

scholarly journals Differential gene expression in the endometrium reveals cytoskeletal and immunological genes in lactating dairy cows genetically divergent for fertility traits

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Moran ◽  
Stephen T. Butler ◽  
Stephen G. Moore ◽  
David E. MacHugh ◽  
Christopher J. Creevey
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Significant Differential Expression ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Uterine Environment

Profitable milk production in dairy cows requires good reproductive performance. Calving interval is a trait used to measure reproductive efficiency. Herein we used a novel lactating Holstein cow model of fertility that displayed genetic and phenotypic divergence in calving interval, a trait used to define reproductive performance using a national breeding index in Ireland. Cows had similar genetic merit for milk production traits, but either very good genetic merit for fertility (Fert+; n = 7) or very poor genetic merit for fertility (Fert–; n = 6). We tested the hypothesis that Fert+ cows would have a corresponding detectable difference in endometrial gene expression compared with the Fert– cows. To do this, we sequenced the transcriptome of endometrial biopsies collected on Day 7 of the oestrous cycle (non-pregnant). This is an important stage for uterine remodelling and initiation of histotroph secretion. Significant differential expression (false discovery rate-adjusted P < 0.1) of 403 genes between Fert+ and Fert– cows was found. A novel network-based functional analysis highlighted 123 genes from three physiologically relevant networks of the endometrium: (1) actin and cytoskeletal components; (2) immune function; and (3) ion transportation. In particular, our results indicate an overall downregulation of inflammation-related genes and an upregulation of multiple ion transporters and gated-voltage channels and cytoskeletal genes in Fert+ cows. These three topics, which are discussed in terms of the uterus and in the context of fertility, provide molecular evidence for an association between gene expression in the uterine environment and genetic merit for fertility in dairy cows.

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