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The Postpartum Reproductive Status of Dairy Cows in Two Areas in Iceland*

Reproduktionsstatus postpartum hos mjölkkor i två områden på Island

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 27, pages 421–439 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

The paper describes the postpartum (pp) reproductive performance of 252 dairy cows in 2 areas in Iceland, in the north (Eyjafjörður) and in the south (Skeið), during a 12 months period.

First pp ovulation occurred significantly earlier in primiparous cows, in cows in Skeið and in cows that calved in September—November.

The average time of first pp artificial insemination (ai) was 72 days in both areas. Conception rate to first ai in these cows was 58 % in Eyjafjörður and 53 % in Skeið and the number of ai per conception was 1.6 and 1.8, respectively. In Eyjafjörður, 23 % of the cows were inseminated at the time of first pp ovulation. Sixtytwo percent of these cows conceived. In Skeið, 20 cows were inseminated at the time of first pp ovulation, and 9 or 45 % of these cows conceived. The interval from calving to conception was, on the average, 92 days in Eyjafjörður and 100 days in Skeið.

Comparison of results from individual farms showed increase in number of conceptions to first pp ai (35–72 %) and decrease in number of services per conception (2.0–1.3) with increased mean number of days from calving to first ai (62–82 days).

Sammanfattning

Artikeln beskriver reproduktionsstatus postpartum (pp) hos 252 mjölkkor i två områden på Island, i norra (Eyjafjöröur) och i södra (Skeiö) delen av Island, över en 12 månaders period.

Första ovulationen pp förekom tidigare hos primipara kor i Skei∂-området och hos kor som kalvade i September-November.

Tiden för första artificiella inseminationen (ai) var i genomsnitt 72 dagar. Dräktigheten efter första ai hos dessa kor var 58 % i Eyjafjör∂ur och 53 % i Skei∂, och antal ai per dräktighet var 1.6 respektive 1.8. I Eyjafjör∂ur blev 23 % av korna inseminerade vid första ovulationen och 62 % av dessa blev dräktiga. I Skei∂ blev 20 % av korna inseminerade vid första ovulationen och 45 % blev dräktiga.

Intervallet från kalvning till dräktighet var i genomsnitt 92 dagar i Eyjafjör∂ur och 100 dagar i Skei∂.

Vid jämförelse av resultat från enstaka gårdar visade en ökning i antal dräktigheter till första ai (35 till 72 %) och minskning i antal ai (2.0 till 1.3) med ökad antal dagar från kalvning till första ai (62–82 dagar).

Resultaten visar att:

  1. 1.

    Första ovulationen pp förekom tidigare hos “normala” kor i Skei∂-området, primipara kor och hos kor som kalvade i September-November.

  2. 2.

    Dräktighet till första ai ökade och antal ai per dräktighet minskade med ökat antal dagar från kalvning till första ai.

  3. 3.

    Olika inseminationisrutiner (första ai tidig/sen) kan ge liknande resultat angående dräktighetstidpunkten.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Dr. H. Kindahl at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, for reviewing the manuscript, Dr. H. Thorsson at the Computing Services, University of Iceland, for his assistance in the statistical analysis and Mr. G. Steindórsson for his assistance on the farm. The study was supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Icelandic Science Fund.

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  1. Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur, P. O. Box 8540, 128, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Jón Eldon & Thorsteinn Ólafsson

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  1. Jón Eldon
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  2. Thorsteinn Ólafsson
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Eldon, J., Ólafsson, T. The Postpartum Reproductive Status of Dairy Cows in Two Areas in Iceland*. Acta Vet Scand 27, 421–439 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548156

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147