Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of feeding rumen-protected Met (RPM) in the pre- and postpartum total mixed ration (TMR) on pregnancy per artificial insemination (AI) and pregnancy loss in multiparous Holstein cows. We also evaluated multiple secondary reproductive physiological outcomes before and after AI, including uterine health, ovarian cyclicity, response to synchronization of ovulation, and markers of embryo development and size. A total of 470 multiparous Holstein cows [235 at the University of Wisconsin (UW) and 235 at Cornell University (CU)] were used for this experiment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objectives of this experiment were to evaluate and compare underivatized (UND) and precolumn derivatized (DER) methods for quantification of bovine plasma AA by isotope dilution ratio via liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization (ESI)-single quadrupole mass spectrometry. Linearity of the mass-to-charge ratio signal and area signal sensitivity of C were evaluated for each AA with 5-point standard curves (range: 1.1-500 µ).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreasing methionine availability in dairy cow diets during the first third of lactation may enhance their performance and health. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing rumen-protected methionine (Smartamine® M, SM) in a lactation diet with protein and energy levels calculated according to the literature. Seventy-six multiparous Holstein cows (39.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives were to evaluate the effect of feeding rumen-protected methionine (RPM) in pre- and postpartum total mix ration (TMR) on lactation performance and plasma AA concentrations in dairy cows. A total of 470 multiparous Holstein cows [235 cows at University of Wisconsin (UW) and 235 cows at Cornell University (CU)] were enrolled approximately 4 wk before parturition, housed in close-up dry cow and replicated lactation pens. Pens were randomly assigned to treatment diets (pre- and postpartum, respectively): UW control (CON) diet = 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the impacts of nutrition on reproductive physiology in cattle are fundamental to improve reproductive efficiency for animals under different nutritional conditions. Starting on Day 0 (day of ovulation) until next ovulation, Holstein heifers (n = 24) were fed: low energy diet (ad libitum grass hay; LED) and high energy diet (ad libitum grass hay + concentrate supplement; HED). Heifers on HED gained more weight (average daily gain: 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaintenance of the corpus luteum (CL) during pregnancy is essential for continuing the elevated circulating progesterone (P4) that is required to maintain pregnancy. The mechanisms that protect the CL during early pregnancy when the non-pregnant animal would typically undergo CL regression have been extensively investigated. It is clear uterine prostaglandin F2α (PGF) causes regression of the CL in non-pregnant ruminants and that maintenance of the CL during early pregnancy is dependent upon secretion of interferon-tau (IFNT) from the elongating embryo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of daily top-dressing (individually feeding on the top of the total mixed ration) with rumen-protected methionine (RPM) from 30 ± 3 until 126 ± 3 Days in milk on productive and reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows. A total of 309 lactating dairy Holstein cows (138 primiparous and 171 multiparous) were randomly assigned to treatment diets containing either RPM (21.2 g of RPM + 38.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLoss of pregnancy can occur at many different stages of gestation and for a variety of causes but clearly produces a negative impact for reproductive and economic performances of dairy herds. This review describes four pivotal periods for pregnancy loss during the first trimester of gestation and discusses possible causes for pregnancy failure during these periods. The first period occurs during the first week after breeding with lack of fertilization and death of the early embryo producing major losses in pregnancy, particularly under specific environmental and hormonal conditions.
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