Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T01:23:04.916Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. M. Senatore ,
W. R. Butler  and
P. A. Oltenacu
E. M. Senatore
Affiliation:
Institute di Alimentazione Animale, University of Milano, Italy
W. R. Butler
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
P. A. Oltenacu
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
Get access

Abstract

Forty 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.

Keywords

dairy cowsenergy balancefertility
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , February 1996 , pp. 17 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bauman, D. E. and Currie, W. B. 1980. Partitioning of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation: a review of mechanism involving homeostasis and homeorhesis. Journal of Dairy Science 63:1514–1529.Google Scholar
Butler, W. R. and Beam, S. W. 1993. Body condition, days to first ovulation and\fertility in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Animal Science 71: sitppl. 1, p. 227 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Butler, W. R., Everett, R. W. and Coppock, C. E. 1981. The relationships between energy balance, milk production and ovulation in post partum Holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science 53: 742–748.Google Scholar
Butler, W. R. and Smith, R. D. 1989. Interrelationships between energy balance and post partum reproductive function in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 72: 767–783.Google Scholar
Canfield, R. W. and Butler, W. R. 1990. Energy balance and pulsatile LH secretion in early post partum dairy cattle. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 7: 323–330.Google Scholar
Canfield, R. W. and Butler, W. R. 1991. Energy balance, first ovulation and the effects of naloxone on LH secretion in early post partum dairy cows. Journal of Animal Science 69: 740–746.Google Scholar
Canfield, R. W., Sniffen, C. J. and Butler, W. R. 1990. Effects of excess degradable protein on post partum reproduction and energy balance in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 73: 2342–2349.Google Scholar
Carrol, D. J., Jerred, M. J., Grummer, R. R., Combs, D. K., Pierson, R. A. and Hauser, E. R. 1990. Effects of fat supplementation and immature alfalfa to concentrate ratio on plasma progesterone, energy balance and reproductive traits of dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 73: 2855–2863.Google Scholar
Coppock, C. E. 1985. Energy nutrition and metabolism of the lactating cow. Journal of Dairy Science 68: 3403–3410.Google Scholar
Ducker, M. J., Haggett, R. A., Fisher, W. J. and Morant, S. V. 1985a. Prediction of energy status in first lactation dairy heifers. Animal Production 41:167–175.Google Scholar
Ducker, M. J., Haggett, R. A., Fisher, W. J., Morant, S. V. and Bloomfield, G. A. 1985b. Nutrition and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. 1. The effect of level of feeding in late pregnancy and around the time of insemination on the reproductive performance of first lactation dairy heifers. Animal Production 41:1–12.Google Scholar
Edmonson, A. J., Weaver, L. D., Farver, T. and Webster, G. 1989. A body condition scoring chart for Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 72: 68–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folman, Y., Rosemberg, M., Herz, Z. and Davidson, M. 1973. The relationship between plasma progesterone concentration and conception in postpartum dairy cows maintained at two levels of nutrition. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 34: 267–278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fonseca, F. A., Britt, J. H., McDaniel, B. T., Wilk, J. C. and Rakes, A. H. 1983. Reproductive traits of Holsteins and Jerseys. Effects of age, milk yield, and clinical abnormalities on involution of cervix and uterus, ovulation, estrous cycles, detection of estrus, conception rate, and days open. Journal of Dairy Science 66:1128–1147.Google Scholar
Garnsworthy, P. C. and Jones, G. P. 1987. The influence of body condition at calving and dietary protein supply on voluntary food intake and performance in dairy cows. Animal Production 44: 347–353.Google Scholar
Harrison, R. O., Ford, S. P., Young, J. W., Conley, A. J. and Freeman, A. E. 1990. Increased milk production versus reproductive and energy status of high producing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 73: 2749–2758.Google Scholar
Lamming, G. E., Peters, A. R., Riley, G. M. and Fisher, M. W. 1982. Endocrine regulation of post partum function. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science 20: 148–172.Google Scholar
Lucy, M. C., Staples, C. R., Thatcher, W. W., Erickson, P. S., Cleale, R. M., Firkins, J. L., Clark, J. H., Murphy, M. R. and Brodie, B. O. 1992. Influence of diet composition, dry-matter intake, milk production and energy balance on time of post-partum ovulation and fertility in dairy cows. Animal Production 54: 323–331.Google Scholar
Nara, B. S. and First, N. L. 1981. Effect of indomethacin and prostaglandin F2α on parturition in swine. Journal of Animal Science 52:1360–1370.Google Scholar
National Research Council. 1989. Nutrient requirements of cattle. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Pedron, O., Cheli, F., Senatore, E. M., Baroli, D. and Rizzi, R. 1993. Effect of body condition score at calving on performance, some blood parameters, and milk fatty acids composition in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 76: 2528–2535.Google Scholar
Rosemberg, M., Herz, Z., Davidson, M. and Folman, Y. 1977. Seasonal variations in post-partum plasma progesterone levels and conception in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 51: 363–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spicer, L. J., Alpizar, E. and Echternkamp, S. E. 1993. Effects of insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, and gonadrotropins on bovine granulosa cells proliferation, progesterone production, estradiol production, and(or) insulin-like growth factor I production in vitro. Journal of Animal Science 71:1232–1241.Google Scholar
Spicer, L. I., Tucker, W. B. and Adams, G. D. 1990. Insulin-like growth factor-I in dairy cows: relationships among energy balance, body condition, ovarian activity and estrous behavior. Journal of Dairy Science 73: 929–937.Google Scholar
Staigmiller, R. B., Short, R. E., Bellows, R. A. and Carr, J. B. 1979. Effect of nutrition on response to exogenous FSH in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 48:1182–1190.Google Scholar
Staples, C. R., Thatcher, W. W. and Clark, J. H. 1990. Relationship between ovarian activity and energy status during the early post partum period of high producing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 73: 938–947.Google Scholar
Stevenson, J. S. and Britt, J. H. 1979. Relationships among luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, glucocorticoids, milk yield, body weight and post partum ovarian activity in Holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science 48: 570–577.Google Scholar
Thatcher, W. W. and Wilcox, C. J. 1973. Postpartum estrus as an indicator of reproductive status in the dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science 56: 608–610.Google Scholar
Treacher, R. J., Reid, I. M. and Roberts, C. J. 1986. Effect of body condition at calving on the health and performance of dairy cows. Animal Production 43:1–6.Google Scholar
Villa-Godoy, A., Hughes, T. L., Emery, R. S., Chapin, L. T. and Fogwell, R. L. 1988. Association between energy balance and luteal function in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 71:1063–1072.Google Scholar
Whitaker, D. A., Smith, E. J., daRosa, G. L. and Kelly, J. M. 1993. Some effects of nutrition and management on the fertility of dairy cattle. Veterinary Record 133: 61–64.Google Scholar