• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of abnormal ovarian cycle postpartum on subsequent reproductive performance of Holstein cows. The cows were considered to have resumed ovarian cyclicity on the day of ovulation if followed by regular ovarian cycles. Total 58.8 percentage of the cows(l14/194) had normal resumption of ovarian cyclicity(resumption within 40 days after calving), and 41.2%(80/194) had delayed resumption(resumption did not occur until >40 days after calving). Delayed resumption Type I(one or more ovarian cycles with luteal phase >20 days, i.e. prolonged luteal phase; 17.5%) and delayed resumption Type II(first ovulation did net occur until $\geq$40 days after calving, i.e. anovulation 22.7%) were the most common types of delayed resumptions. When compared with cows with a normal ovarian cycle, the cows of delayed resumption Type I had a lower 100 days AI submission conception and pregnancy rates(84.2% vs 40.0%; p<0.01, 24.0% vs 21.4% and 20.2% vs 11.1%, respectively), and longer intervals to first AI and to conception($64.7{\pm}2.79$ days vs $105.7{\pm}7.48$ days and $105.1{\pm}7.16$ days vs $133.7{\pm}11.17$ days, respectively; p<0.01). Similarly, when compared with cows with normal ovarian cycles, the cows of delayed resumption Type II had lower 100 days conception and pregnancy rates(24.0% vs 20.0% and 20.2% vs 16.3%, respectively), and longer intervals to first AI and to conception($64.7{\pm}2.79$ days vs $72.6{\pm}4.45$ days and $105.1{\pm}7.16$ days vs $120.8{\pm}12.33$ days, respectively). In conclusion, abnormal ovarian cycles postpartum adversely affected reproductive performance, including AI submission rate, pregnancy rate, interval to first AI, and calving to conception interval in Holstein cows.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 1985

To probe the subclinical mastitis in a herd of cows in Chonnam district, the electrical conductivity(EC) of 825 foremilk samples were measured for 2 years. Normal (n=487) and mastitic(n=110) foremilk samples were classified by the California mastitis test (CMT) and direct somatic cell count(DSCC) and investigated the relations between the changes of the EC value and the calving history, age, days of postpartum, estrus and causative organism isolated. Obtained results are summarized as follows. 1. In the normal foremilk samples, positive correlation, though not significant, was found between the EC value and calving history (r=0.573) and age (r=0.247). 2. In the normal foremilk samples, the EC values were lowered at 30～120 days of postpartum through the whole lactation period and revealed a tendencies to higher values following the day of postpartum increased untill to the drying off (r=0.823), and the days of postpartum was recognized as one of a influencing factor on the EC value(p<0.05). 3. In the mastitic foremilk samples, significant correlation between EC value and resazurin reduction test (RRT) were observed (r=0.904, p<0.05). 4. In the mastitic foremilk samples, EC values were obtained in the E. coli infection as 63.9mM-NaCl, in the Streptococcus spp. infection as 60.5mM-NaCl and in the Staphylococcus spp. infection as 57.0mM-NaCl. 5. At day 0 of estrus, the mean EC values of normal and mastitic foremilk samples were 41.2mM-NaCl and 68.3mM-NaCl respectively and the EC value of day 0 of estrus was higher than that of days before and after estrus.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2016

Improving the reproductive traits of Hanwoo might decrease their production cost. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of environmental factors [registration grade (basic, pedigree or advanced), birth year, birth season, parity, delivery year, and delivery season] on various reproductive traits (age at 1st service, age at 1st conception, age for 1st calving, days at 1st service postpartum, non-pregnant condition period, calving interval, gestation length, and number of services for conception) in Hanwoo (primiparous 12,219 heads, multiparous 10,471 heads). All data was acquired from Gyeongnam province areas which were surveyed from 2007 to 2015. All environmental factors significantly influenced (p < 0.01) reproductive traits of primiparous cows but, but not all environmental factors influenced multiparous cows. Primiparous cows registered as advanced grade showed significantly lower age at 1st service (by 15.36 days), age at 1st conception (by 8.66 days), and age for 1st calving (by 8.77 days) (p < 0.01) than those registered as basic grades. Age at 1st service, age at 1st conception and age for 1st calving were not significantly related to birth year in primiparous cows. As delivery years advanced from 2005 to 2012, all durations associated to reproductive traits tended to be shorter. Days at 1st service postpartum, non-pregnant condition period, and calving interval tended to be shortened as parity increased. Days at 1st service postpartum, days open, calving interval, and gestation in multiparous cows calved in winter were shorter than those in summer. The registration grade was not a effected with reproductive traits in Hanwoo.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.810-817
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• 2023

Objective: The aim was to compare the behavioral response to full separation of cows and calves maintained together for 100 days or 24 h. Methods: Twelve Holstein-Friesian cow-calf pairs were enrolled into either treatment or industry groups (n = 6 cow-calf pairs/group). The treatment cows and calves were maintained on pasture together for 106±8.6 d and temporarily separated twice a day for milking. The Industry cows and their calves, were separated within 24 h postpartum. Triaxial accelerometer neck-mounted sensors were fitted to cows 3 weeks before separation to measure hourly rumination and activity. Before separation, cow and calf behavior was observed by scan sampling for 15 min. During the separation process, frequency of vocalizations and turn arounds were recorded. At separation, cows were moved to an observation pen where behavior was recorded for 3 d. A CCTV camera was used to record video footage of cows within the observation pens and behavior was documented from the videos in 15 min intervals across the 3 d. Results: Before separation, industry calves were more likely to be near their mother than Treatment calves. During the separation process, vocalization and turn around behavior was similar between groups. After full separation, treatment cows vocalized three times more than industry cows. However, the frequency of time spent close to barrier, standing, lying, walking, and eating were similar between industry and treatment cows. Treatment cows had greater rumination duration, and were more active, than industry cows. Conclusion: These findings suggest a similar behavioral response to full calf separation and greater occurrence of vocalizations, from cows maintained in a long-term, pasture-based, cow-calf rearing system when ompared to cows separated within 24 h. However, further work is required to assess the impact of full separation on calf behavior.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1105-1109
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• 2005

The effect of dietary fatty acid supplementation on milk production, milk composition and plasma constituents in dairy cows was examined. Dietary fatty acids including mainly palmitic acid and stearic acid were given to cows from 2 weeks before and 8 weeks after parturition. Weekly gain of daily milk production was increased gradually during early lactation period and reached a plateau at 4 weeks after parturition. Weekly gain of daily milk production in lactating cows received dietary fatty acids was significantly higher than that of cows given a control diet alone. Although milk lactose concentration was slightly decreased by dietary fatty acid supplementation, milk fat and protein were not significantly influenced by dietary fatty acid supplementation. Dietary fatty acids did not affect plasma concentrations of triglyceride, non-esterified fatty acids, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose during postpartum. It is suggested that dietary fatty acid supplementation has the potency to enhance energy balance and improve milk yield without any adverse effects on milk composition.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.12
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• pp.46.1-46.19
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• 2015

Background: This study examined whether activation of innate immunity and alterations of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism precede development of subclinical mastitis (SCM). Methods: Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein from 100 Holstein dairy cows at -8, -4, disease diagnosis week, and +4 weeks postpartum. Six healthy cows (controls - CON) and six cows that showed clinical signs of SCM were selected for serum analyses. All serum samples were analyzed for acute phase proteins (APP) haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA); proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and serum lactate, BHBA, and NEFA concentration. Data of DMI, milk production, and milk composition were recorded and analyzed. Results: The results showed that cows with SCM had greater concentrations of SAA, TNF (P < 0.01), and lactate before expected day of parturition (P < 0.05) compared to CON cows. Cows with SCM showed greater concentrations of lactate starting at -8 weeks (P < 0.05) and TNF starting at -4 weeks prior to the expected day of parturition (P < 0.01). Interestingly, at -4 weeks, concentrations of IL-1 and Hp were lower in cows with SCM compared to healthy cows (P < 0.01) followed by an increase during the week of disease diagnosis (P < 0.05). Subclinical mastitis was associated with lower DMI, at -4 weeks before calving, milk production (P < 0.05) and increased somatic cell counts (SCC) (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that SCM is preceded by activated innate immunity and altered carbohydrate metabolism in transition dairy cows. Moreover the results support the idea that Hp, lactate, and SAA, at -8 weeks, and TNF and IL-1 at -4 weeks can be used as early indicators to screen cows during dry off for disease state.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive performance of average (less than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) and high yielding (more than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) Holstein cattle at commercial dairy herds (n=22). Data on milk progesterone (10 to 60 days postpartum), days to post-partum estrous, days to post-partum conception, service per conception and calving interval were recorded for two consecutive years. Post-partum milk progesterone concentration and days to reach peak milk progesterone concentration were similar in high and average yielding cows. High yielding cows took more days to show signs of first postpartum estrous than average yielding cows. Post-partum conception was 20 days earlier in average yielding cows than high yielding cows. Artificial insemination per conception was similar between average and high yielding cows. Calving interval was 26.9 days longer in high yielding cows compared to average yielding cows. In conclusion, better reproductive and feeding management may help improve the reproductive performance of high yielding dairy cattle in commercial dairy farms.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2013

This study evaluated the effects of milk yield on the postpartum health and reproductive performance of dairy cows. In total, data were collected from 1,060 cows on six dairy farms, including their milk production, body condition score (BCS), postpartum disorders, and reproductive performance. The lactation data were grouped based on the 305-day milk yield into control (< 10,000 kg, n = 445) and high milk yield (${\geq}$ 10,000 kg, n = 615) groups. The milk fat and protein, and BCS were lower during the first 5 months postpartum in the high milk yield group compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Ovarian cysts were more frequent (p < 0.0001) in the high milk yield group (28.6%) than in the control group (15.3%), whereas endometritis tended to be less frequent in the high milk yield group (29.6%) than in the control group (35.1%, p = 0.06). A higher proportion of cows tended to receive reproductive hormones (p = 0.06) in the high milk yield group (62.4%) than in the control group (56.6%). The probability of a pregnancy after first insemination tended to be lower (odds ratio = 0.78, p = 0.07) in the high milk yield group (30.2%) than in the control group (35.2%). Furthermore, the hazard of pregnancy by 210 days in milk was lower in the high milk yield group (hazard ratio = 0.84, p = 0.04) than in the control group, which resulted in a 20-day increase in the median interval to pregnancy. In conclusion, high milk yield was related to lower milk fat and protein, lower BCS, an increased incidence of ovarian cysts, and increased use of reproductive hormones, which resulted in decreased reproductive performance of dairy cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 1997

This study was conducted in North Sulawesi, Indonesia to identify the factors affecting reproductive efficiency and to determine the contribution of each factor in reproductive efficiency of Indonesian native cows. Records of reproductive efficiency, body size (hip height, body weight, body length, heart girth) as well as age on one hundred and sixty seven Indonesian native cows (seventy six cows of the Bali breed and ninety one cows of the synthetic breed from unknown proportion of th Madura, the Sumba and the Ongole breeds) of 58 farmers were available in this research. The data were analyzed by covariance analysis using SAS package including reproductive efficiency as a dependent variable and breed, body size (hip height, body weight, body length, heart girth) and age of cows as independent variables. The contribution of each independent factor to dependent variable was estimated as the percentage of the sum of square in the corrected total sum of squares. The results showed that body weight and body size of cows would be considered as th most important factors affecting reproductive efficiency of Indonesian native cows. Therefore, the reproductive efficiency could be increased by 1) using cows that reached a target weight of at least 250 kg, 2) using cows with relatively well developed height at hip of at least 117 cm, heart girth of at least 150 cm, and body length of at least 125 cm, 3) keeping breeding cows that reach a target age of 24 months old with the maximum interval between postpartum and next breeding season of 90 days for each year, and 4) using good nutritional feeding to reach the optimum weight and body condition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.313-317
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• 1997

Data collected from crossbred dairy cattle at the Institut Haiwan, Kluang, were used to evaluate the effects of breed of sire, percentage of Bos taurus inheritance and season of birth on some calving traits. Breed of sire effect was significant on age at first service (p < 0.01), age at first calving (p < 0.01) and postpartum interval to first service (p < 0.05) but not on calving interval (p > 0.05). Linear contrasts indicate that crossbred-sired cows had first service 593 days earlier and first calving 508 days earlier than purebred-sired cows. Cows sired by Friesians, however, had the earliest first service (466 days) and were among the earliest at first calving (917 days). However, the crossbred-sired cows had slightly longer post-partum interval to first service (13 days longer) and calving interval (20 days longer). Percentage of B. taurus inheritance affected (p < 0.01) all the calving traits studied. In general, the cows with 50% inheritance had the best calving performance. Season of birth had no effect (p > 0.05) on them.