Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T21:30:32.380Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reticulorumen temperature and pH as indicators of the likelihood of reproductive success

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2018

Ramūnas Antanaitis ,
Vida Juozaitienė ,
Arūnas Rutkauskas ,
Mindaugas Televičius  and
Indrė Stasiulevičiūtė
Ramūnas Antanaitis*
Affiliation:
Large Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, Kaunas, Lithuania
Vida Juozaitienė
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, Kaunas, Lithuania
Arūnas Rutkauskas
Affiliation:
Large Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, Kaunas, Lithuania
Mindaugas Televičius
Affiliation:
Large Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, Kaunas, Lithuania
Indrė Stasiulevičiūtė
Affiliation:
Large Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, Kaunas, Lithuania
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The temperature and pH of the contents of the reticulorumen of cattle can be monitored using sensors placed in a rumen bolus. In this research communication we test the hypothesis that these measurements can be used as a predictor of the likelihood of reproductive success. The study was performed on 20 Lithuanian Black and White dairy cows. The pH and temperature of the contents of their reticulorumens were measured using boluses manufactured for animal care (smaXtec animal care technology®). The data from reticulorumen were recording at 1 to 7 and 7 to 56 d post calving and then post insemination (on average 60 ± 12) until 170 d after calving. The pregnancies were tested with ‘Easy scan’ ultrasound 30–35 d after insemination. Those cows which were pregnant were assigned to the PD+ group (n = 12), and those which were not pregnant – assigned to the PD− group (n = 8). Rumen pH was initially lower in the PD+ group but then higher than in PD−, but temperature did not differ between the groups until after conception. We can conclude that cows with disturbed rumen metabolism (with low rumen pH) are less likely to conceive. The measurements of reticuloruminal pH may be useful as a predictor of the likelihood of reproductive success, but more research is needed before practical application.

Keywords

CowsrumenpHtemperaturepregnancy
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 85 , Issue 1 , February 2018 , pp. 23 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Hannah Dairy Research Foundation 2018 

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

Alzahal, O, Kebreab, E, France, J, Froetschel, M & McBride, BW 2008 Ruminal temperature may aid in the detection of subacute ruminal acidosis. Journal of Dairy Science 91 202–207 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooper-Prado, MJ, Long, NM, Wright, EC, Goad, CL & Wettemann, RP 2011 Relationship of ruminal temperature with parturition and estrus of beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 89 1020–1027 Google Scholar
Devries, TJ, Beauchemin, KA, Dohme, F & Schwartzkopf-Genswein, KS 2009 Repeated ruminal acidosis challenges in lactating dairy cows at high and low risk for developing acidosis: feeding, ruminating, and lying behaviour. Journal of Dairy Science 92 5067–5078 Google Scholar
Dorigo, M, Dalvit, P & Andrighetto, A 2009 L'acidosi ruminale sub-acuta della vacca da latte tra teoria e pratica: le patologie correlate. Large Animal Review 14 235–237 Google Scholar
Inchaisri, C, Chanpongsang, S, Noordhuizen, J & Hogeveen, H 2013 The association of ruminal pH and some metabolic parameters with conception rate at first artificial insemination in Thai dairy cows. Tropical Animal Health and Production 45 1183–1190 Google Scholar
Khafipour, E, Krause, DO & Plaizier, JC 2009 A grain-based subacute ruminal acidosis challenge causes translocation of lipopolysaccharide and triggers inflammation. Journal of Dairy Science 92 1060–1070 Google Scholar
Kleen, JL & Cannizzo, C 2012 Incidence, prevalence and impact of SARA in dairy herds. Animal Feed Science and Technology 172 4–8 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saint-Dizier, M & Chastant-Maillard, S 2012 Towards an automated detection of oestrus in dairy cattle. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 47 1056–1061 Google Scholar
Suthar, VS, Burfeind, O, Patel, JS, Dhami, AJ & Heuwieser, W 2011 Body temperature around induced estrus in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 94 2368–2373 Google Scholar
Walsh, SW, Williams, EJ & Evans, ACO 2011 A review of the causes of poor fertility in high milk producing dairy cows. Animal Reproduction Science 123 127–138 Google Scholar