The effect of energy balance and condition score on early lactation fertility in two genetic lines of Holstein cattle maintained in two contrasting feeding systems

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
G. E. Pollott ◽  
M. P. Coffey

The ability of high-yielding modern dairy cows to perform in the range of systems found on UK dairy farms, and to be profitable and sustainable, needs investigating. As part of a project to study the robustness of such animals, milk-progesterone profiling was used to investigate the reproductive performance of two genotypes of dairy cow on two production systems (Pollott and Coffey, 2006). In this paper differences in fertility between genotypes and systems was investigated using energy balance (EB) and body condition score (CS) as explanatory factors.

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Stefańska ◽  
Włodzimierz Nowak ◽  
Ewa Pruszyńska-Oszmałek ◽  
Robert Mikuła ◽  
Daniel Stanisławski ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of BCS (Body Condition Score) on the calving day and its decrease during early lactation on the biochemical blood indices and reproductive performance. One hundred and thirty-one Polish Holstein-Friesian cows were divided into three groups according to the North-American body condition score on the calving day (AC≤3.5 point BCS; MID 3.51-3.75 point BCS; FAT>3.75 point BCS) and according to the decrease in BCS during early lactation (HG >0.49 point BCS; WEL 0.49-0.25 point BCS, L<0.25 point BCS). In current study, significant interaction between change of BCS during early lactation and time of blood sampling on BHBA concentration was observed. In the AC group (≤3.5 BCS), the highest concentrations of glucose on 3 and 5 d of lactation compared to the MID and FAT groups and of insulin on 28 d and also IGF-I on 5 and 28 d of lactation compared to the FAT group were recorded. In the FAT group, the highest concentration of NEFA on 3 and 5 d compared to the AC group and of BHBA on 28 d of lactation compared to the MID group was recorded. The body condition score on the parturition day affected the reproductive performance; in the FAT group (>3.75 BCS) the lowest conception rate of the first insemination, insemination index and thereby the longest days open were observed. The highest decreases in BCS (HG >0.49 points) resulted in increased concentrations of NEFA on 3 d and of BHBA on 3 and 5 d. Moreover, in the HG group, the lowest concentration of T3 on 3, 5 and 28 d as compared to the WEL group was recorded. We concluded that the BCS (>3.5 points) on the calving day had a significantly negative effect on the metabolic status of dairy cows in the postpartum period estimated by the concentration of biochemical blood indices characterising carbohydrates (IGF-I, insulin) and lipid (NEFA, BHBA) metabolism and also the reproductive performance such as the conception rate of the first insemination, insemination index, days open. We suggested that the blood serum concentrations of IGF-I and NEFA were the most sensitive biochemical markers of the metabolic status of dairy cows in our study.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Ilona Strączek ◽  
Krzysztof Młynek ◽  
Agata Danielewicz

A significant factor in improving the performance of dairy cows is their physiological ability to correct a negative energy balance (NEB). This study, using Simmental (SIM) and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows, aimed to assess changes in NEB (non-esterified fatty acid; body condition score; and C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1) and its effect on the metabolic efficiency of the liver (β-hydroxybutyrate and urea). The effects of NEB on daily yield, production at peak lactation and its duration, and changes in selected milk components were assessed during complete lactation. Up to peak lactation, the loss of the body condition score was similar in both breeds. Subsequently, SIM cows more efficiently restored their BCS. HF cows reached peak lactation faster and with a higher milk yield, but they were less able to correct NEB. During lactation, their non-esterified fatty acid, β-hydroxybutyrate, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and urea levels were persistently higher, which may indicate less efficient liver function during NEB. The dynamics of NEB were linked to levels of leptin, which has anorectic effects. Its content was usually higher in HF cows and during intensive lactogenesis. An effective response to NEB may be exploited to improve the production and nutritional properties of milk. In the long term, it may extend dairy cows’ productive life and increase lifetime yield.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 19-19
Author(s):  
T. Yan ◽  
R. E. Agnew ◽  
C. S. Mayne

Body condition of lactating dairy cows varies at different stages of lactation. Cows usually mobilise their body reserves to provide energy and protein for milk production in early lactation, and gain weight to deposit energy and protein for pregnancy at a later stage. The objective of the present study was to examine relationships between body condition score (CS) and body concentration of lipid, CP and energy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 87-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.R.G. Wylie ◽  
D.J. Devlin ◽  
A.J. Bjourson

A review of published leptin data for growing lambs, older ewes and mature dairy cows in late lactation showed that only 0.30-0.37 of the variation in blood leptin concentration was explained by differences in body fat variably expressed as % of liveweight (LW), backfat thickness and body condition score (BCS) respectively (Wylieet al., 2002). In dairy cows between 15d and 226d postpartum, Wylieet al(2002) observed no overall correlation between leptin at slaughter and lipid expressed as % of LW, empty body weight or carcase weight and only a weak correlation in cows in mid-lactation. Losses of fat during early lactation may ‘uncouple’ the link between leptin and fat and produce a bias across all of lactation. Another explanation is that leptin may be more closely linked with lipogenesis than with the amount of stored fat. This study revisits some metabolite and hormone data from a previous investigation of IGF-1 changes in fed, fasted and re-fed sheep in the light of more recently obtained leptin concentrations in the same animals.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
C Kawashima ◽  
K Watanabe ◽  
R Meza Fernandez ◽  
M Matsui ◽  
M Kawai ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. e05SC02 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Barrio ◽  
Marcos Vigo ◽  
Luis A. Quintela ◽  
Juan J. Becerra ◽  
Pedro J. García-Herradón ◽  
...  

<p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of subclinical endometritis (SE) on the reproductive performance of dairy cows. Ninety-four dairy cows of parity 1 to 8, distributed in 25 herds, were examined once between 30 and 45 days in milk using transrectal palpation, vaginoscopy and ultrasonography. A cytological sample of the endometrium was taken only from cows with an apparent healthy uterus (n=65). Serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, total proteins, albumin, urea and hepatic enzymes were analyzed. Reproductive indexes were recorded during the next 11 months. Endometrial cytology was considered indicative of SE if percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was superior to 5% of all cells present in the smear, except erythrocytes. Results indicated that 14.9% of the cows sampled for uterine cytology had SE, and that healthy cows become pregnant significantly before than those with SE (hazard ratio=2.35; 95% confidece interval: 1.05-5.3). From all the metabolic and productive variables analyzed, only triglycerides affected negatively to reproduction; serum albumin concentration, body condition score and milk production had positive effects on the reproductive performance. In conclusion, our results indicate that SE has a negative impact on reproductive performance and uterine cytology is necessary to diagnose it since almost 15% of the affected animals were not detected by other diagnosis methods.</p>


2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
G. Oikonomou ◽  
G. Arsenos ◽  
G.E. Valergakis ◽  
A. Tsiaras ◽  
G. Banos

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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