Publications by authors named "Seekford Z"
Uterine infections cause ovarian dysfunction and infertility. The bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), accumulates in the follicular fluid of dominant follicles of cows with uterine infections. Granulosa cells produce an innate inflammatory response to LPS, altering the follicular microenvironment of the oocyte.
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- - Postpartum uterine disease, specifically metritis and endometritis, negatively impacts ovarian function in dairy cows, affecting hormone levels and follicle development based on timing.
- - Metritis within 14 days postpartum is linked to reduced follicle size and lower estrogen and progesterone levels, while endometritis occurring after 15 days post-birth is associated with decreased corpus luteum size but not progesterone levels.
- - Long-term effects of uterine infections induced by bacteria did not show significant changes in luteal function after several months, suggesting that the immediate postpartum period is critical for monitoring ovarian health in cows.
This study aimed to evaluate embryo yield in Holstein heifers superovulated with a single injection of recombinant, long-acting human follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) vs. multiple injections of pituitary-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In experiment 1, heifers were assigned randomly to one of four experimental groups: Control (280 mg of pituitary-derived FSH; six injections of 40 mg and two injections of 20 mg, each ~12 h apart, n = 16); rFSH1 (50 µg of FSH analog protein, n = 16); rFSH2 (75 µg of FSH analog protein, n = 16); or rFSH3 (100 µg of FSH analog protein, n = 16).
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- A high-gain diet in bulls leads to increased weight gain and subcutaneous fat, but negatively impacts sperm's ability to produce blastocysts after in vitro fertilization.
- Despite changes in sperm quality, such as early necrosis and acrosome damage, the diet does not affect sperm motility or morphology.
- The resulting blastocysts' cellular composition and gene expression remain unchanged, indicating that while embryo development is hindered, the overall genetic integrity is preserved.
Our objective was to determine the impact of different habituation protocols on beef cattle behavior, physiology, and temperament in response to human handling. Beef heifers were exposed to three habituation strategies: (1) tactile stimulation (brushing) in the working chute for seven consecutive days (STI; = 18); (2) passage through the working chute for seven consecutive days (CHU; = 19) and; (3) no habituation (CON; = 19). Individual heifer respiratory rate (RR; n/min), internal vaginal temperature (VAGT; °C), and blood cortisol were measured.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of in vitro produced embryos in dairy and beef cattle has increased in recent years, but compromised post-transfer pregnancy success prevents producers from capturing all the benefits this technology can provide. This study explored whether supplementing interleukin-6 (IL6) during in vitro embryo development influences post-transfer development of the embryo-proper, fetus and placenta during early gestation in cattle. Slaughterhouse-derived cumulus oocyte complexes underwent IVM (day -1) and IVF (day 0).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral tools exist to diagnose pregnancy in dairy cattle. However, substantial pregnancy loss occurs within the first 60 d of gestation in cattle, and these losses have a profound adverse economic impact on the dairy and beef cattle industries. Detecting these impending pregnancy losses could offer producers an opportunity to reduce costs associated with this source of reproductive inefficiency.
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