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Effect of Postpartum Live Weight Loss on Reproductive Functions in Dairy Cows

Inverkan av postpartum viktminskning på reproduktiva funktioner hos mjölkkor

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 29, pages 249–254 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Postpartum loss of live weight in dairy cows and its association with reproductive functions were studied in a total of 84 (42 Ayrshire and 42 Friesian) cows. The cows were divided according to type of feed into 2 groups of equal size: a hay-urea group and a silage group. The duration of the study was 3 years. All 84 cows were followed during their first postpartum period, 63 during 2 and 57 during 3 consecutive postpartum periods.

The resumption of ovarian function was monitored by means of a thrice weekly milk progesterone assay between calving and the first insemination.

Live weight changes during the first 30 and 60 days post partum were compared between the 2 breeds and the 2 feed groups.

After the second parturition, the mean live weight loss within 30 and 60 days post partum was roughly twice as high (11%) as after the first (4%) and third (6%) carvings. Breed had no significant effect on weight change. The cows in the silage group lost slightly more weight after each parturition than those in the hay-urea group. Low, but statistically significant correlations were noted between weight loss post partum and reproductive functions. The interval from calving to onset of the first visible oestrus was 6 days longer, and to pregnancy 8 days longer in cows which lost more than 10% live weight within 60 days post partum than in those which lost less than 10% (p<0.05). The fertility rate at first insemination (53.1%) was lower in cows which lost more than 10% weight than in those (74.4%) which lost less than 10% (p<0.01). Heat detection rate was not affected by weight loss.

Sammanfattning

Postpartum vikminskning hos mjölkkor samt dess samband med de reproduktiva funktionerna undersöktes. Totalt 84 kor (42 Ayrshire och 42 Frisiska) undersöktes. Korna indelades i två lika stora grupper som gavs olika foder: en hö-urea grupp och en ensilagegrupp. Undersökningen varade i 3 år. Alla 84 kor undersöktes under en (deras första) postpartum period, 63 under 2 och 57 under 3 påvarandra följande postpartuma perioder. Ovariefunktionernas återkomst granskades med hjälp av progesteronprov ur mjölk, 3 gånger i veckan under tiden mellan kalvning och den första insemineringen.

Viktförändringarna under de 30 och 60 första postpartuma dygnen jämfördes mellan raserna och fodergrupperna.

Efter den andra kalvningen var viktminskningen under de 30 och 60 första postpartuma dygnen grovt räknat dubbelt så hög (11%) som efter den första (4%) och den tredje (6%) kalvningen. Kornas ras hade ingen signifikant inverkan på viktförändringen. Korna i ensilagegruppen förlorade en aning mer vikt efter varje kalvning än korna i hö-ureagruppen. Låg men statistiskt signifikant korrelation mellan postpartum viktminskning och de reproduktiva funktionerna noterades. Tiden mellan kalvning och första tydliga estrus var 6 dagar längre och tiden till dräktighet 8 dagar längre hos kor som förlorat mera än 10% av sin vikt under 60 dygn postpartumt än hos kor som förlorat mindre än 10% av sin vikt (p<0,05). Fertilitetsprocenten vid den första inseimnationen (53,1%) var lägre bland kor som förlorat mer än 10% av sin vikt än bland de kor (74,4%) som förlorat mindre än 10% av sin vikt (P<0,01). Den procentuella andelen upptäckta estrus påverkades inte av viktminskning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Veterinary Medicine, SF-04840, Hautjärvi, Finland

    K. Heinonen, E. Ettala & M. Alanko

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  1. K. Heinonen
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  2. E. Ettala
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  3. M. Alanko
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Heinonen, K., Ettala, E. & Alanko, M. Effect of Postpartum Live Weight Loss on Reproductive Functions in Dairy Cows. Acta Vet Scand 29, 249–254 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548378

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147