The objective of this study was to determine the association of metabolic parameters and cow associated factors with the conception rate at first insemination (FCR) in Thai dairy cows. The investigation was performed with 529 lactations from 32 smallholder dairy farms. At 3-6 weeks after parturition, blood samples and ruminal fluid were collected. Body condition scores (BCS) of cows were scored 1 week before expected calving date and at blood sampling date. Ruminal pH was measured at 2-4 h after morning feeding in ruminal fluid collected by ruminocentesis. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate and serum urea nitrogen were measured by kinetic enzyme method. Cows with first insemination (AI) between 41 and 114 days postpartum were identified after pregnancy diagnosis for FCR. Breed, parity, interval from calving to first AI, BCS before calving, BCS after calving, loss in BCS after calving, SBHB, SUN, ruminal pH, and postpartum problems were selected as independent variables for a model with FCR as a dependent variable. A multivariable logistic regression model was used with farm as a random effect. Overall FCR was 27.2 %. The FCR depended on interval from calving to first AI, BCS before calving, and ruminal pH. The FCR between 69 and 91 days postpartum was significantly highest (45 %). Before calving, a cow with high BCS (≥ 3.5) had significantly greater FCR than a cow with low BCS (≤ 3.25; P<0.01). An increased ruminal pH raised significantly FCR (OR=2.53; P=0.03).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0344-5 | DOI Listing |
Animals (Basel)
December 2024
Veterinary Herd Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Hokkaido, Japan.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the activity of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), the enzyme responsible for esterification of cholesterol in plasma, as a predictor of retained placenta (RP) in close-up cows, compared with the non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration. This study was conducted as a case-control study between February 2010 and February 2016, on a single farm with approximately 200 Holstein parous cows in Hokkaido, Japan. Of the 1187 dairy cattle that calved, 835 dairy cattle were enrolled that underwent routine regular health examinations including blood sampling, body condition score (BCS) and the rumen fill score (RFS) at the close-up stage between 2 and 21 days before their expected calving dates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Vet Sci
December 2024
Institute of Dairy and Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Introduction: High-producing dairy cows often face calving stress and reduced feed intake during the transition period, leading to body fat mobilization to meet production demands. Supplementing rations with energy-dense sources like rumen-protected glucose (RPG) may enhance production performance in early lactation.
Methods: This study evaluated the effects of RPG supplementation on feed intake, body condition score (BCS), production performance, and blood metabolites in 32 early-lactation Holstein Friesian cows (6 ± 1 DIM; milk yield: 30 ± 5 kg/day; body weight: 550 ± 50 kg; BCS: 3.
J Anim Sci
January 2025
Selko USA, Indianapolis, IN 46231, USA.
Seventy-two nonlactating, pregnant Angus cows (initial body weight [BW] = 637 ± 13 kg; body condition score [BCS] = 5.5 ± 0.07 yr; and age = 6.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Dairy Sci
December 2024
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
Body condition score (BCS) and hyperketonemia (HYK) have been associated with diseases, fertility, and culling but data are contradictory about their association with pregnancy loss. Our objective was to conduct a retrospective cohort study to investigate associations between BCS, BCS change (ΔBCS), blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and HYK with mastitis, pregnancy/artificial insemination (P/AI), pregnancy loss (PGL), milk yield, and risk of leaving the herd on a Michigan dairy farm that uses an automated milking system (AMS). We recorded BCS for cows prepartum (14 d before calving), postpartum (14-21 DIM), and multiparous cows were evaluated for HYK between 3 and 7 DIM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Dairy Sci
January 2025
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Electronic address:
B vitamins, including niacin (vitamin B), are synthesized by rumen microbes, but supplementation may provide additional benefits for ruminant health and productivity. Supplementing rumen-protected niacin (RPN) during the transition period can reduce lipolysis after calving and, consequently, may improve health and fertility of dairy cattle later in lactation. Our objective was to determine if supplementing RPN during the first 21 DIM would improve the health of dairy cows on a commercial dairy farm.
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