Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T21:21:34.964Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of suckling on reproductive activities of Bunaji cows during the postpartum period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

L. O. Eduvie  and
P. M. Dawuda
L. O. Eduvie
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
P. M. Dawuda
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Forty-one cows were used to determine calving intervals, intervals from calving to conception and pregnancy rates at 60–90 days postpartum for suckled and nonsuckled Bunaji cows. Twelve of the cows (six suckled and six non-suckled) were used to study the serum progesterone concentrations during the postpartum period. The mean intervals from calving to conception were 232·5 and 72·6 with calving intervals of 512·5 and 352·6 days for suckled and non-suckled cows, respectively. Pregnancy rates at 60–90 days postpartum were 21·1 and 72·7% for suckled and non-suckled animals, respectively. The overall mean calving interval and interval from calving to conception for all cows were 426·7 and 146·7 days, respectively, with a conception rate of 48·8%.

Based on serum content of progesterone and rectal palpation of ovaries, one of six suckled cows resumed ovarian activities within the first 90 days of calving with peak progesterone of 0·7 ng/ml. Four of six non-suckled cows resumed cyclic activities and conceived within the same period. Two of the four cows conceived at the first postpartum cycle and the remaining two conceived at the second cycle. The serum progesterone concentrations of the cows ranged from 0·1 to 6·9 ng/ml during the nonfertile cycle and 0·1 to 15 ng/ml at pregnancy. It is concluded that suckling interfered with ovarian activities and thus conception during the postpartum period, resulting in a prolonged calving interval.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 107 , Issue 2 , October 1986 , pp. 235 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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

Akpokodje, J. U. & Bolarinwa, R. O. A. (1974). Reproductive efficiency of White Fulani cattle of Northern Nigeria in southern environment. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 3, 6–11.Google Scholar
Arije, C. R., Wiltbank, J. N. & Hopwood, M. L. (1974). Hormone levels in pre and post-parturient beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 39, 338–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baud, S. R. & Cummins, L. J. (1977). The effect of partial weaning on the rebreeding performance of primiparous Hereford heifers. Theriogenology 8 (4), 189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eduvie, L. O. (1985). Factors affecting postpartum ovarian activity and uterine involution in Zebu cattle indigenous to Nigeria. Animal Reproduction Sciences 8 (1), 123–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erb, R. E., Surve, A. H., Callahan, C. J., Randel, R. D. & Garverick, H. A. (1971). Reproductive steroids in the bovine. VIII. Changes postpartum. Journal of Animal Science 33, 1060–1071.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lamorde, A. G. & Franti, C. E. (1973). A comparison of reproductive performance of northern Nigeria cattle with those of governmental farms. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 1, 19–22.Google Scholar
Oxenreider, S. L. (1968). Effect of suckling and ovarian function on postpartum reproductive activity in beef cows. American Journal of Veterinary Research 29, 2099–2102.Google ScholarPubMed
Oyedipe, E. O., Buvanendran, V. & Eduvie, L. O. (1982). Some factors affecting the reproductive performance of White Fulani (Bunaji) cattle. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 59, 231–234.Google Scholar
Pimentel, C. A., Deschamps, J. C., de Oliveira, J. A. F., Cardelino, R. & Pimentel, M. A. (1979). Effects of early weaning on reproductive efficiency in beef cows. Theriogenology 11, 421–427.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rutter, L. M. & Randel, R. D. (1984). Luteal competency during the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in postpartum Brahman cows. Theriogenology 21, 713–725.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wiltbank, J. N. & Cook, A. C. (1958). The comparative performance of nursed cows and milked cows. Journal of Animal Science 17, 640–648.CrossRefGoogle Scholar