Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T18:19:36.389Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of prepartum somatotropin injection in late-pregnant Holstein heifers on metabolism, milk production and postpartum resumption of ovulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2011

A. Schneider ,
E. Schwegler ,
P. Montagner ,
L. T. Hax ,
E. Schmitt ,
L. F. M. Pfeifer ,
F. A. B. Del Pino ,
I. Bianchi ,
G. R. Paludo  and
M. N. Corrêa
A. Schneider*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
E. Schwegler
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
P. Montagner
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
L. T. Hax
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
E. Schmitt
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
L. F. M. Pfeifer
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Animal Reproduction Laboratory, EMBRAPA CPAFRO, BR 364 – Km 5, 5, CEP 76815-800 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
F. A. B. Del Pino
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
I. Bianchi
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Department of Pathology, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
G. R. Paludo
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Veterinary College, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, CEP 70910-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil
M. N. Corrêa
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil Núcleo de Pesquisa, Ensino e Extensão em Pecuária (NUPEEC), Veterinary College, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Universitário, CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prepartum somatotropin injection in late-pregnant Holstein heifers on metabolism, milk production and resumption of postpartum ovulation. For this study, 31 late-pregnant Holstein heifers were used. The heifers were assigned randomly into two treatments: (1) 500 mg sc injections of somatotropin (somatotropin treatment, n = 15) at −35 and −21 days, and, if pertinent, at −7 days from expected calving date and (2) no treatment (control group, n = 16). Blood samples were collected weekly from −5 to 7 weeks after calving. Heifers with progesterone concentrations in plasma above 1 ng/ml in two consecutive postpartum samples were considered as having resumed ovarian activity. A higher proportion (P = 0.04) of heifers treated with somatotropin resumed ovarian activity in the first 7 weeks post partum (73.3%; 11/15) compared with the control group (37.5%; 6/16). A higher number (P = 0.02) of heifers in the somatotropin treatment group also ovulated during the first postpartum follicular wave (53.3%; 8/15) compared with the control group (12.5%; 2/16), as indicated by the number of heifers ovulating in the first 3 weeks post partum. Pregnancy rate was not affected by treatments (P > 0.10) and averaged 40.0% (6/15) in somatotropin-treated and 25.0% (4/16) in control heifers when evaluated up to 150 days in milk. Somatotropin treatment increased the average daily milk production by 2.8 kg/cow per day (P < 0.0001) and reduced the somatic cell count (P = 0.009). Plasma IGF-I was higher (P < 0.05) for somatotropin-treated heifers in the prepartum period. Insulin and body condition score were higher (P < 0.05) and non-esterified fatty acids were lower (P < 0.05) for somatotropin-treated cows in the early postpartum period. In conclusion, somatotropin injection during the prepartum period in late-pregnant Holstein heifers was able to increase the proportion of heifers resuming ovarian activity early post partum, inspite of higher milk production.

Keywords

bSTdairy heifersIGF-Iovarian activityprimiparous
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 935 - 940
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

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

Armstrong, DG, Webb, R 1997. Ovarian follicular dominance: the role of intraovarian growth factors and novel proteins. Reviews on Reproduction 2, 139–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Armstrong, DG, Gong, JG, Gardner, JO, Baxter, G, Hogg, CO, Webb, R 2002. Steroidogenesis in bovine granulosa cells: the effect of short-term changes in dietary intake. Reproduction 123, 371–378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Armstrong, DG, McEvoy, TG, Baxter, G, Robinson, JJ, Hogg, CO, Woad, KJ, Webb, R, Sinclair, KD 2001. Effect of dietary energy and protein on bovine follicular dynamics and embryo production in vitro: associations with the ovarian insulin-like growth factor system. Biology of Reproduction 64, 1624–1632.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ballou, MA, Gomes, RC, Juchem, SO, DePeters, EJ 2009. Effects of dietary supplemental fish oil during the peripartum period on blood metabolites and hepatic fatty acid compositions and total triacylglycerol concentrations of multiparous Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 657–669.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bauman, DE, Vernon, RG 1993. Effects of exogenous bovine somatotropin on lactation. Annual Reviews on Nutrition 13, 437–461.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baumrucker, CR, Stemberger, BH 1989. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I stimulate DNA synthesis in bovine mammary tissue in vitro. Journal of Animal Science 67, 3503–3514.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Britt, JH 1992. Impacts of early postpartum metabolism on follicular development and fertility. Proccedings of the Annual Convention of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners 24, 39–43.Google Scholar
Butler, WR 2003. Energy balance relationships with follicular development, ovulation and fertility in postpartum dairy cows. Livestock Science 83, 211–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butler, ST, Pelton, SH, Butler, WR 2004. Insulin increases 17 beta-estradiol production by the dominant follicle of the first postpartum follicle wave in dairy cows. Reproduction 127, 537–545.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler, ST, Pelton, SH, Butler, WR 2006. Energy balance, metabolic status, and the first postpartum ovarian follicle wave in cows administered propylene glycol. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 2938–2951.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carriquiry, M, Dahlen, CR, Weber, WJ, Lamb, GC, Crooker, BA 2009a. Postpartum ovarian activity in multiparous Holstein cows treated with bovine somatotropin and fed n-3 fatty acids in early lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 4876–4888.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carriquiry, M, Weber, WJ, Dahlen, CR, Lamb, GC, Baumgard, LH, Crooker, BA 2009b. Production response of multiparous Holstein cows treated with bovine somatotropin and fed diets enriched with n-3 or n-6 fatty acids. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 4852–4864.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Colazo, MG, Ambrose, DJ, Kastelic, JP, Small, JA 2008. Comparison of 2 enzyme immunoassays and a radioimmunoassay for measurement of progesterone concentrations in bovine plasma, skim milk, and whole milk. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research 72, 32–36.Google Scholar
el-Roeiy, A, Chen, X, Roberts, VJ, Shimasakai, S, Ling, N, LeRoith, D, Roberts, CT Jr, Yen, SS 1994. Expression of the genes encoding the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and II), the IGF and insulin receptors, and IGF-binding proteins-1–6 and the localization of their gene products in normal and polycystic ovary syndrome ovaries. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 78, 1488–1496.Google ScholarPubMed
Gong, JG, Bramley, T, Webb, R 1991. The effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin on ovarian function in heifers: follicular populations and peripheral hormones. Biology of Reproduction 45, 941–949.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gong, JG, Bramley, TA, Wilmut, I, Webb, R 1993. Effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin on the superovulatory response to pregnant mare serum gonadotropin in heifers. Biology of Reproduction 48, 1141–1149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gong, JG, Lee, WJ, Garnsworthy, PC, Webb, R 2002. Effect of dietary-induced increases in circulating insulin concentrations during the early postpartum period on reproductive function in dairy cows. Reproduction 123, 419–427.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gulay, MS, Hayen, MJ, Teixeira, LC, Wilcox, CJ, Head, HH 2003. Responses of Holstein cows to a low dose of somatotropin (bST) prepartum and postpartum. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 3195–3205.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gulay, MS, Hayen, MJ, Liboni, M, Belloso, TI, Wilcox, CJ, Head, HH 2004. Low doses of bovine somatotropin during the transition period and early lactation improves milk yield, efficiency of production, and other physiological responses of Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 948–960.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hortet, P, Beaudeau, F, Seegers, H, Fourichon, C 1999. Reduction in milk yield associated with somatic cell counts up to 600 000 cells/ml in French Holstein cows without clinical mastitis. Livestock Production Science 61, 33–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, JI, Clemmons, DR 1995. Insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins: biological actions. Endocrine Reviews 16, 3–34.Google ScholarPubMed
Kawashima, C, Kaneko, E, Amaya Montoya, C, Matsui, M, Yamagishi, N, Matsunaga, N, Ishii, M, Kida, K, Miyake, Y, Miyamoto, A 2006. Relationship between the first ovulation within three weeks postpartum and subsequent ovarian cycles and fertility in high producing dairy cows. Journal of Reproduction and Development 52, 479–486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kawashima, C, Fukihara, S, Maeda, M, Kaneko, E, Montoya, CA, Matsui, M, Shimizu, T, Matsunaga, N, Kida, K, Miyake, Y, Schams, D, Miyamoto, A 2007. Relationship between metabolic hormones and ovulation of dominant follicle during the first follicular wave post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Reproduction 133, 155–163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kirby, CJ, Smith, MF, Keisler, DH, Lucy, MC 1997. Follicular function in lactating dairy cows treated with sustained-release bovine somatotropin. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 273–285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knight, CH 2001. Lactation and gestation in dairy cows: flexibility avoids nutritional extremes. Proccedings of the Nutrition Society 60, 527–537.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, SH, Engle, TE, Hossner, KL 2002. Effects of dietary copper on the expression of lipogenic genes and metabolic hormones in steers. Journal of Animal Science 80, 1999–2005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leroy, JL, Opsomer, G, Van Soom, A, Goovaerts, IG, Bols, PE 2008. Reduced fertility in high-yielding dairy cows: are the oocyte and embryo in danger? Part I. The importance of negative energy balance and altered corpus luteum function to the reduction of oocyte and embryo quality in high-yielding dairy cows. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 43, 612–622.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Littell, RC, Henry, PR, Ammerman, CB 1998. Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science 76, 1216–1231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lucy, MC, Jiang, H, Kobayashi, Y 2001. Changes in the somatotrophic axis associated with the initiation of lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 89, E113–E119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Research Council (NRC) 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle, 7th edition. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Obese, FY, Humphrys, S, Macmillan, KL, Egan, AR 2008. Measuring concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent antibody assay in plasma samples from Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 160–168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Putnam, DE, Varga, GA, Dann, HM 1999. Metabolic and production responses to dietary protein and exogenous somatotropin in late gestation dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 982–995.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roth, Z, Meidan, R, Shaham-Albalancy, A, Braw-Tal, R, Wolfenson, D 2001a. Delayed effect of heat stress on steroid production in medium-sized and preovulatory bovine follicles. Reproduction 121, 745–751.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roth, Z, Arav, A, Bor, A, Zeron, Y, Braw-Tal, R, Wolfenson, D 2001b. Improvement of quality of oocytes collected in the autumn by enhanced removal of impaired follicles from previously heat-stressed cows. Reproduction 122, 737–744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spicer, LJ, Echternkamp, SE 1995. The ovarian insulin and insulin-like growth factor system with an emphasis on domestic animals. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 12, 223–245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stelwagen, K, Grieve, DG, Walton, JS, Ball, JL, Mcbride, BW 1993. Effect of prepartum bovine somatotropin in primigravid ewes on mammogenesis, milk-production, and hormone concentrations. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 992–1001.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stevenson, JS, Britt, JH 1979. Relationships among luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, glucocorticoids, milk yield, body weight and postpartum ovarian activity in Holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science 48, 570–577.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tabeleão, VC, Goulart, MA, Schwegler, E, Weiser, MA, Moura, SV, Silva, VM, Pereira, VS, Del Pino, FAB, Corrêa, MN 2008. Ruminal and metabolic evaluation of bovines maintained in semi-confinement system. Archivos de Zootecnia 57, 147–154.Google Scholar
Thatcher, WW, Wilcox, CJ 1973. Postpartum estrus as an indicator of reproductive status in the dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science 56, 608–610.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vallimont, JE, Varga, GA, Arieli, A, Cassidy, TW, Cummins, KA 2001. Effects of prepartum somatotropin and monensin on metabolism and production of periparturient Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 2607–2621.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wathes, DC, Fenwick, M, Cheng, Z, Bourne, N, Llewellyn, S, Morris, DG, Kenny, D, Murphy, J, Fitzpatrick, R 2007. Influence of negative energy balance on cyclicity and fertility in the high producing dairy cow. Theriogenology 68 (suppl. 1), S232–S241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed