Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Influence of Restricted Suckling and Level of Feed Supplementation on Postpartum Reproductive Performance of Zebu and Crossbred Cattle in the Semi-Arid Tropics

Inverkan av begränsad digivning och utfodringsnivå på fertiliteten efter kalvning hos zebu- och blandraskor i Tanzania

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 40, pages 57–67 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

This study was carried out in central Tanzania on a group of 45 Zebu and 37 crossbred cows which were 4 to 10 years old. At calving time, the animals were allocated to one of the 4 treatment groups. In addition to free access to grazing for all cows in the study, in group H: AR (n = 18), cows were fed a high level of concentrate supplementation (4kg/day) and calves were artificially reared; in group H:RS (n = 24), cows were fed a high level of concentrate supplementation (4kg/day) and calves were only allowed restricted suckling up until the weaning age of 6 months. In group L:AR (n = 23) cows were fed a low level of concentrate supplementation (2kg/day) and calves were artificially reared; and in group L:RS (n = 17) cows were fed a low level of concentrate supplementation (2kg/day) and calves were only allowed restricted suckling up until the weaning age of 6 months. Milk progesterone was used as a means of determining the postpartum resumption interval (PRI) and the interval from parturition to conception (PCI). The overall PRI was 47.4 ± 0.4 days and was significantly affected by breed but not by calving season, with crossbred cows exhibiting a shorter PRI than Zebu cows. The effect of the treatments was significant, with cows in the group H:AR displaying a significantly shorter PRI than those in the other groups, while cows in group L:RS showed a significantly longer PRI than those in the other groups. The overall PCI was 149.5 ±3.7 days, and was not significantly affected by breed or calving season. The effect of the treatments was significant, with cows in the group H:AR having a significantly shorter PCI than cows in the other groups, while cows in group L:RS showed a significantly longer PCI than those in the other groups. Crossbred cows had higher live weights at calving (299.4 kg) than Zebu cows (272.6 kg), while all cows gained weight during the first 3 months after calving. The treatments had a significant effect on weight gain, with cows in the group H:AR gaining significantly more weight than those in the other groups. Cows which had high live weights at calving exhibited significantly shorter PRI and PCI than the lighter cows. Animals which had gained more than 5 kg during the first month after calving, or which had gained more than 8 kg during the first 3 months after calving, showed significantly shorter PRI and PCI than cows which had gained less weight. The results show that the calf rearing system and the level of feed supplementation interact with each other and can influence the postpartum anoestrous period in Zebu and Zebu crossbred cattle. Increasing the level of nutrition in restricted suckling cows tended to improve the postpartum anoestrous period, but the positive effects of supplementation could not completely compensate for the negative effects of suckling.

Sammandrag

Studien genomfördes i Tanzania på en grupp av 45 zebu och 37 blandraskor mellan 4–10 år gamla. Efter kalvning delades korna in i fyra gupper. I den forstå gruppen (H:AR) supplementerades korna med 4 kg koncentrat per dag och kalvarna föddes upp artificiellt. I den andra gruppen (H:RS) supplementerades korna med 4 kg koncentrat per dag och kalvarna tilläts dia 2 gånger per dag. I den tredje gruppen (L: AR) supplementerades korna med 2 kg koncentrat per dag och kalvarna foddes upp artificiellt. I den fjärde gruppen (L:RS) supplementerades korna med 2 kg koncentrat per dag och kalvarna tilläts dia 2 gånger per dag. Samtliga djur hade fri tillgång till bete. Koncentrationen progesteron i mjölk användes för att bestämma när den cykliska äggstocksaktiviteten började efter kalvning och hur långt intervallet var mellan kalvning och dräktighet. Korna började cykla i genomsnitt 47.4 ± 0.4 dagar efter kalvning. Renrasiga zebukor startade senare än blandraskor. Effekten av behandling påverkade när äggstocksaktiviteten startade. Kor i gruppen H:AR startade signifikant tidigare än övriga grupper och kor i gruppen L:RS startade signifikant senare än de övriga grupperna. Det genomsnittliga intervallet mellan kalvning och dräktighet var 149.5 ± 3.7 dagar och ingen skillnad registrerades mellan raser. Effekten av behandling påverkade intervallet. Kor i gruppen H:AR hade ett signifikant kortare intervall mellan kalvning och dräktighet än kor i de andra grupperna och djur i grupp L:RS hade ett signifikant längre intervall än kor i de andra grupperna. Blandraskor vägde mer vid kalvningen (299.4 kg) än zebukor (272.6 kg). Samtliga djur ökade i vikt de första tre månaderna efter kalvning. Behandlingen påverkade viktökningen Kor i gruppen H:AR ökade signifikant mer i vikt än djur i de övriga grupperna. Ett samband registrerades mellan vikt vid kalvning och fortplantningsparametrarna. Ju högre vikt destå kortare var intervallet till återupptagen cyklicitet och dräktighet. Kor som hade ökat mer än 5 kg den första månaden och mer än 8 kg de första tre månaderna efter kalvning visade signifikant kortare tid till återupptagen äggstocksaktivitet och dräktighet. Studien visade att en förbättrade utfodringsregim kan forkorta tiden mellan kalvning och nästa dräktighet men den positiva effekten av förbättrad utfodring kan inte helt kompensera den negativa effekten av digivning.

References

  • Bastidas P, Troconiz J, Verde O, Silva O: Effect of restricted suckling on ovarian activity and uterine involution in Brahman cows. Theriogenology, 1984, 21, 525–532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolanos JM, Forsberg M, Kindahl H, Rodriguez-Martinez H: Influence of body condition and restricted suckling on postpartum reproductive performance of Zebu cows (Bos indicus) in the humid tropics. Reprod. Dom. Anim., 1996, 31, 363–367.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butler WR, Everett RW, Coppock CE: The relationships between energy balance, milk production and ovulation in post-partum Holstein cows. J. Anim. Sci., 1981, 53, 742–748.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carruthers TD, Hafs HD: Suckling and four times daily milking: Influence on ovulation, estrus and serum luteinizing hormone, glucocorticoids and prolactin in postpartum Holsteins. J. Anim. Sci., 1980, 50, 119–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carstairs JA, Morrow DA, Emery RS: Effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and calf removal on pituitary-ovarian function and reproductive performance in postpartum beef cows. J. Anim. Sci., 1980, 51, 903–910.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain A: Systems of milk production. Milk production in the tropics. Longman group. UK Limited, Scientific and Technical, 1989, pp. 2–6.

  • Das SM, Mgheni M, Msechu JKK, Mpiri DB: Association between milk production and reproductive efficiency traits in Mpwapwa cattle and their crosse. Proc. of 13th Sci. Conf. of Tanzania Anim. Prod. Soc., 1986, 13, 167–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doren PE, Long CR, Cartwright TC: Factors affecting the relationship between calving interval of cows and weaning weight of calves. J. Anim. Sci., 1986, 62, 1194–1202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn TG, Kaltenbach CC: Nutrition and postpartum interval of the ewe, sow and cow. J. Anim. Sci., 1980, 57, 29–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eduvie LO: Factors affecting postpartum ovarian activity and uterine involution in Zebu cattle indigenous to Nigeria. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 1985, 8, 123–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards S: The effects of short term calf removal on pulsatile LH secretion in the postpartum beef cow. Theriogenology, 1985, 23, 777–785.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Escobar J, Jara L, Galina C, Fernandez-Baca S: Efecto del amamantamiento sobre la actividad reproductiva postparto en vacas cebu, criollas y F1 (Cebu×Hostein) en el tropico humedo de Mexico. Veterinaria Mex., 1984, 15, 243–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia M, Edqvist L-E: Effects of suckling, level of nutrition and crossbreeding on the reproductive performance of Zebu cattle. In: On the reproductive efficiency of pure- and crossbred Zebu cattle in the Amazon basin of Peru, 1988, Report 6, Uppsala, Sweden.

  • Garcia M, Echevarria L, Huanca W: Postpartum reproductive efficiency of pure and crossbred Zebu cattle under different management and nutritional conditions in the Amazon basin of Peru. Livestock Reproduction in Latin America. Proc. of the final research coordination meeting, Bogota, Colombia, 19–23 Sept. 1988, pp 181–197.

  • Garcia M, Huanca W, Echevarria L: Reproductive performance of purebred and crossbred zebu cattle under artificial insemination in the Amazon tropics. In: PhD Thesis, 1988, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

  • Irvin HJ, Randel RD, Haensly WE, Sorensen, Jr. AM: Reproductive studies of Brahman cattle. III. Comparison of weight, progesterone content, histological characteristics, and 3 -dehydrogenase activity in corpora lutea of Brahman, Hereford, and Brahman×Hereford heifers. Theriogenology, 1978, 10, 417–427.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Izaike Y: Effect of suckling stimulation and milk yield on postpartum ovarian activity and uterine involution in grazing beef cows. Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly (JARQ), 1990, Vol. 24, 209–215.

  • Little DA, Anderson FM, Durkin JW: Influence of partial suckling of crossbred dairy cows on milk offtake and calf growth in the Ethiopian Highlands. Trop. Anim. Health and Prod., 1991, 23, 108–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mejia CE: Effects of restricted suckling versus artificial rearing on milk production, calf performance and reproductive efficiency of dual purpose Mwapwa cattle in a semi-arid climate. Msc. Thesis, 1994, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

  • Mihn M, Baguisi A, Boland MP, Roche JP: Association between the duration of dominance of the ovulatory follicle and pregnancy rate in beef heifers. J. of Reprod. and Fertility, 1994, 102: 1, 123–130.

  • Mukasa-Mugerwa E, Tegegne A, Franceschini R: Influence of suckling and continuous cow-calf association on the resumption of postpartum ovarian function in Bos indicus cows monitored by plasma progesterone profiles. Reprod. Nutrition, Development, 1991, 31, 241–247.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orihuela A: Effect of calf stimulus on the milk yield of Zebu-type cattle. Short Communication. Applied Anim. Behaviour Sci., 1990, 26, 187–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters AR, Lamming GE, Fisher MW: A comparison of plasma LH concentrations in milked and suckling post-partum cows. J. Reprod. Fert., 1981, 62, 567–573.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Randel RD: Effect of once- daily suckling effect on postpartum interval and cow-calf performance of first-calf Brahman×Hereford heifers. J. Anim. Sci., 1981, 53, 754–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds WL, DeRouen TM, Moin S, Koonce KL: Factors affecting pregnancy rate of Angus, Zebu and Zebu-cross cattle. J Anim Sci., 1979, 48, 1312–1321.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richards MW, Spitzer JC, Warner MB: Effect of varying levels of postpartum nutrition and body condition at calving on subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 1986, 62, 300–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter LM, Randel RD: Postpartum nutrient intake and body condition: Effect on pituitary function and onset of estrus in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 1984, 55, 819–828.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanh MV: Effects of restricted suckling versus artificial rearing on performance and fertility of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cows and calves. Msc Thesis, 1994, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

  • SAS Institute Inc.: SAS Users Manual. Statistical Analysis Systems, Cary, NC, USA, 1987.

  • Schrick FN, Spitzer JC, Gimenez T, Henrichs DM, Jenkins TC, Plyler BB: Is nutritional anestrus precipitated by subfunctional corpora lutea in beef cows? Dom Anim Endocr., 1992, 9, 187– 197.

  • Short RE, Bellows RA, Moody EL, Howland BE: Effects of suckling and mastectomy on bovine postpartum reproduction. J. Anim. Sci., 1972, 34, 70– 74.

  • Silveira PA, Spoon RA, Ryan DP, Williams GL: Evidence for maternal behaviour as a requisite link in suckling-mediated anovulation in cows. Biology of Reprod., 1993, 49, 1338–1346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tegegne A, Entwistle KW, Mukasa-Mugerwa: Effects of dry season nutritional supplementation on growth, onset of puberty and subsequent fertility in Boran and Boran×Friesian heifers in Ethiopia. Theriogenology, 1992, 37, 1017–1027.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toribio RE, Molina JR, Forsberg M, Kindahl H, Edqvist L-E: Effects of calf removal at parturition on postpartum ovarian activy in Zebu (Bos indicus) cows in the humid tropics. Acta vet. scand. 36, 343–352.

  • Ugarte J: Restricted suckling in dual-purpose systems. Feeding dairy cows in the tropics. FAO Anim. Prod, and Health paper. Proc. Of the FAO expert consultation held in Bangkok, Thailand 7– 11 July, 1989, pp 199–207.

  • Vicker SD, McGuire WJ, Wright JM, Beeman KB, Kiracofe GH: Cow-calf association delays postpartum ovulation in mastectomised cows. Theriogenology, 1989, 37, 467–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voh Jr. AA, Oyedipe EO, Buvanendran V: Influence of management and season of breeding on pregnancy rates of Zebu cattle in an artificial insemination programme. Tropical Agric. (Trinidad), 1984, 61, 265–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells PL, Honess DH, McCabe CT, Lishman AW: Fertility in the Afrikaner cow. 3. Once a day suckling and its effect on the pattern of resumption of ovarian activity and conception rate in early lactation. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 1986, 12, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams GL: Suckling as a regulator of postpartum rebreeding in cattle: A review. J. Anim. Sci., 1990, 68, 831–852.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams GL, Koziorowski M, Osborn RG, Kirsch JD, Slanger WD: The post-weaning rise of tonic luteinizing hormone secretion in anestrous cows is not prevented by chronic milking or the physical presence of the calf. Biology of Reprod., 1987, 36, 1079–1084.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakari AY, Molokwu ECI, Osori DIK: Effect of season on the oestrous cycle of cows (Bos indicus) indigenous to northern Nigeria. Vet. Record, 1981, 109, 213–215.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, USA

    S.M Das & H. Wiktorsson

  2. Centre for Reproductive Biology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7038, Uppsala, Sweden

    M. Forsberg

  3. Livestock Production Research Institute, Tanzania, Mpwapwa, USA

    S.M Das

Authors
  1. S.M Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Forsberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Wiktorsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Das, S., Forsberg, M. & Wiktorsson, H. Influence of Restricted Suckling and Level of Feed Supplementation on Postpartum Reproductive Performance of Zebu and Crossbred Cattle in the Semi-Arid Tropics. Acta Vet Scand 40, 57–67 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547041

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547041

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147