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Assessment of the post partum Reproductive Performance of the Icelandic Dairy Cow During a 3 Year Period

Bestämning av postpartumperiodens reproduktions-status hos isländska mjölkkor under 3 års period

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 29, pages 385–392 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

The time of ovulation, artificial insemination (AI), conception and conception rate were studied in 412 Icelandic dairy cows from 2 different areas during a period of 3 years. To assess these parameters the progesterone level was measured in sequential samples of milk and the status of the genital organs evaluated by monthly rectal palpations. The time and number of AI was recorded and the conception rate calculated and compared with the other parameters. Furthermore, the length of the calving interval and gestation period were determined. The effects of year, season, area, age, herd and parity on these parameters were evaluated.

The overall mean for the time of first post partum ovulation was 42 days and varied from 29 to 49 days between herds. This is a considerably longer time than recorded for many other breeds of dairy cows. The effects of season, area and herd were significant for the time of first post partum ovulation.

The overall time of first post partum AI and conception were 74 days and 97 days, respectively. In spite of late onset of ovarian activity in Icelandic dairy cows, these two pararmeters are comparable to those of other breeds of cattle. The effects of season, parity and herd were significant for these two parameters.

The conception rate to first post partum AI was 59% and the number of AI per conception was 1.6. The time of conception correlated closely (r = 0.5) with the time of first post partum AI, but the conception rate to first AI increased and the number of AI per conception decreased with increasing time of first post partum AI.

The calving interval was 382 days and the gestation period was 287 days.

Sammanfattning

Tiden för ovulation, konstgjord inseminering (ai), konception och konceptionsfrekvens undersöktes hos 412 isländska mjölkkor från två olika områden under 3 års tid. För att få fram dessa parametrar bestämdes progesteronnivån i mjölkprover och genitalorganens kondition månadsvis med rektalpalpation. Tidpunkten för och antal ai registrerades och konceptions- frekvensen jämfördes med andra parametrar. Dessutom bestämdes längden av kalvnings-intervallet och dräktighetstiden. Effekten av år, årstid, område, åider, besättning och paritet blev utvärderat.

Medeltalet för tiden för den första Ovulationen efter partus var 42 dagar och varierade från 29 till 49 dagar mellan besättningar. Detta är betydligt längre tid en vad som rapporterats för många andra raser av mjölkkor. Effekterna av årstid, område och besättning var signifikant för tidpunkten för den första Ovulationen efter partus.

Medeltiden för första ai och konception efter partus var 74 respektive 97 dagar. Även om äggstocksaktiviteten börjar sent hos isländska mjölkkor är dessa två parametrar jämnförbara med de från andra raser av mjölkkor. Effekterna av årstid, paritet och besättning var signifikanta för dessa två parametrar. Konceptionsfrekvensen och första ai efter partus var 59% och antal ai per konception var 1.6.

Konceptionstid korrelerade med första ai efter partus (r = 0.5), men konceptionsfrekvensen med första ai ökade och antal ai per konception minskade med ökad tid tili första ai efter partus. Kalvningsintervallet var 382 dagar och bördstiden var 287 dagar.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. H. Kindahl at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Dr. G. Georgsson at the Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, for reviewing the manuscript. Dr. H. Thors-son at the Computing Services, University of Iceland, for his assistance with the statistical analysis and Mr. G. Steindorsson, The Agricultural Society of Eyjafjor6ur, for his assistance on the farms. This study was supported by the Icelandic Science Fund and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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  1. Institute Tor Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, P. O. Box 8540, Is-128, Reykjavik, Iceland

    J. Eldon & Th. Ólafsson

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  1. J. Eldon
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  2. Th. Ólafsson
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Eldon, J., Ólafsson, T. Assessment of the post partum Reproductive Performance of the Icelandic Dairy Cow During a 3 Year Period. Acta Vet Scand 29, 385–392 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548633

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147