• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 1992

The present study was conducted to find out the changes of progesterone and 20$\alpha$-dihydroprogesterone(20$\alpha$-OHP) levels before and after parturition, 4 pluriparous goats were offered for this experiment. Blood samples were taken from jugular vein on Days, 5, 3, 2 and 1 before parturition, the day of parturition, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 after parturition. The blood samples were centraifuged and stored at -2$0^{\circ}C$ until hormone assay. The serum levels of progesterone and 20$\alpha$-OHP were measrued by radioimmunoassay. The changes of serum progesterone level during peripartum period were characterized as a remarkable decrease. The progesterone level was 4.05$\pm$0.52ng/ml on 56 days before parturition and decreased to 2.24$\pm$0.38ng/ml on 1 day before parturition and 0.79$\pm$0.09ng/ml on the day of parturition and the basal level was maintained through 9 days of postpartum period. The serum level of 20$\alpha$-OHP during the peripartum period was 1.25$\pm$0.21ng/ml on 5 days before paturition and increased to 1.32$\pm$0.25 on 3 days and 1.59$\pm$0.24ng/ml on 1 day before parturition, and reached a peak level of 1.78$\pm$0.25ng/ml just prior to parturition and then decreased greatly to 0.31$\pm$0.03ng/ml on 1 day postpartum and the basal level was remained until 9 days postpartum. The high serum level of 20$\alpha$-OHP, which was peak just prior to parturition, was maintained for 2 days following the onset of remarkable decrease in the serum level of progesterone. From the above results, it was concluded that the enzyme 20$\alpha$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20$\alpha$-HSD) catalyzing the conversion of progesterone to a biologically inactive steroid, 20$\alpha$-OHP was active properly in the luteal cells in Korean native goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.1415-1421
• /
• 2006

Proper nutritional management during the dry period is required to prevent metabolic disorders during the time of parturition and for potential increase milk yield during early lactation, especially under the heat of summer. The effect of prepartum diets on partitioning of nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) during dry period and early lactation in summer was investigated. Nine cows were assigned to two groups and fed either control (group C: four cows) or high concentrate (group H: five cows) diets to meet 110% of their requirements before parturition. The proportion of concentrate in control diet was 35%, and that in the high concentrate diet was 45%. After parturition, all cows were fed the same diets ad libitum during lactation. Balance trials were conducted at 9, 8 and 7 days before parturition and at 12, 13 and 14 days after parturition. Before parturition, dry matter intake (DMI), DM and NFE digestibility in group C tended to be lower than those in group H. The retention of N (p<0.01) and P (p<0.05) in group C during the dry period was significantly lower than those in group H. The retention of Mg in group C during the dry period tended to be lower than in group H. The concentration of plasma NEFA in group C tended to be higher than in group H during dry period. The prepartum diet did not have an apparent effect on DMI and milk yield at 2 weeks after parturition and N, Ca, P, Mg and K balance after parturition.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.607-613
• /
• 2018

The aim of this study is to predict the exact time of parturition from analysis and classification of preliminary behavior based on parturition signals in sows. This study was conducted with 12 crossbred sows (with an average of 3.5 parities). Behavioral characteristics were analyzed for duration and the frequency of different behaviors on a checklist, which includes the duration of the basic behaviors (feeding, standing, lying down, and sitting). The frequency of specific behaviors (investigatory behavior, shame-chewing, scratching, and bar-biting) was also recorded. Image information was collected every two minutes for 24 hours before the first piglets were born. As a result, the basic behavior of a sows' standing time (22.6% of the time after 24 h, 24.9% after 12 h) and time lying down (55.9% after 24 h, 66.3% after 12 h) increased over the 12 h period before parturition, compared with the 24 h period before parturition (p<0.01). Feeding (13.42% after 24 h, 4.38% after 12 h) and sitting (8.2% after 24 h, 4.5% after 12 h) tended to decrease during the 12 h before parturition (p>0.05). The sows' investigatory behavior ($11.44{\pm}1.80$ after 24 h, $55.97{\pm}6.13$ after 12 h), scratching ($3.75{\pm}1.92$ after 24 h, $20.99{\pm}5.81$ after 12 h), and bar-biting ($0.69{\pm}0.15$ after 24 h, $3.71{\pm}1.53$ after 12 h) increased in the 12-hour period before parturition, compared with the 24-hour period before parturition (p<0.01). On the other hand, shame-chewing ($2.20{\pm}1.67$ after 24 h, $0.07{\pm}0.01$ after 12 h) decreased compared to the 12-hour period before parturition (p>0.05). Thus, standing, investigatory behavior, scratching, and bar-biting could be used as behaviors indicative of parturition in sows.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.1675-1688
• /
• 2022

Objective: Pregnant Nelore heifers (n = 417) were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation with monensin-molasses multinutrient block (B) during pre and/or postpartum on reproductive and progeny performance. Methods: Heifers were allocated in four treatments: i) CC: heifers received control supplement (C) in loose meal form (0.06% of body weight [BW] offered daily before and after parturition; n = 108); ii) CB: received C before parturition and B (0.07% of BW offered weekly after parturition; n = 117); iii) BC: received B before and C after parturition (n = 103) and iv) BB: received B before and after parturition (n = 89). During pre and postpartum periods, concentration of metabolites/hormones and cow/calf performance was evaluated over time. Cows were synchronized twice for fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) using an estradiol/progesterone-based protocol. Data was analyzed by orthogonal contrasts (C). Results: B increased pregnancy at first FTAI (p = 0.04) and overall pregnancy rate (C1: CC vs BB+BC+CB; p = 0.05). Supplemented cows had greater body condition score (BCS) only at parturition (D0; p = 0.04) and at D40 (p = 0.02). B increased BW (p = 0.03), glucose concentrations (p = 0.01) and subcutaneous fat thickness (p = 0.03) only at D40. Concentrations of insulin were higher in supplemented cows (p = 0.008). Calves born by cows supplemented before and after parturition (C2: BB vs BC+CB) were heavier at 80 (p<0.001), 120 (p<0.001), 170 (p = 0.002) and 210 (p = 0.02) days old. Conclusion: Regardless of period of treatment, block supplementation increased pregnancy at first FTAI and overall pregnancy rate. Additionality, block supplementation during both pre and postpartum periods improved progeny weight until weaning. Block supplementation can be a tool to optimize fertility and calf performance in Nelore primiparous cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.58-68
• /
• 2015

Requirements to control the large decrease in serum calcium (Ca) due to parturition and to increase the feed intake soon after parturition have been well accepted in dairy cows. This study was aimed to investigate the feed intake affected by serum Ca concentration with difructose anhydride (DFA) III supplement in dairy cows soon after parturition. Fourteen transition Holstein cows were divided into DFA and control (CONT) groups within 1 to 5 parity variations in each group. Measurement schedule for an individual cow was from 14 d before parturition to 7 d following parturition. The cows in DFA group were supplied 0.2 kg/head/d of DFA III feed containing 40 g of pure DFA III while the cows in CONT group received no DFA III. Other feeding procedures were the same for all cows in both groups. At parturition (d 0), serum Ca concentration sharply declined in both groups (p<0.05). Time interval for recovery from decreased serum Ca to its normal range (>9.0 mg/dL) tended to be faster in DFA group (12 h) than in the CONT group (48 h), but the differences were not significant. Active ruminal contraction was observed in DFA group at following parturition of d 1 (p<0.05), d 3 (p<0.05), and d 5 (p<0.01). Dry matter (DM) intake did not differ between the groups. However, positive correlations were observed between serum Ca concentration and ruminal contraction (p<0.001), and between ruminal contraction and DM intake (p<0.001) during following parturition. According to multiple regression analysis ($R^2$ = 0.824, p<0.001), the DM intake was positively affected by serum Ca concentration and ruminal contraction. These results suggest that feed intake soon after parturition in dairy cows can be increased by improvement of serum Ca concentration and active ruminal contraction, but DFA III supplementation in this study did not improve the lower serum Ca concentration due to parturition.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.119-127
• /
• 1995

These studies were carried out to examine the estradiol-17$\beta$ levelsin plasma and ovarian tissues, as well as the contents of collagen and catecholamines in the uterus, and to determine the effects of GnRH administrations of uterine involution in postpartum Korean native goats. Plasma concentrations of estradiol-17$\beta$ were 63.81$\pm$8.00 pg/ml at day 1 of kidding, declined to 36.78$\pm$22.90 ng/ml at day 24 and decreased progressively to 27.81$\pm$17.06 and 12.46$\pm$8.13 pg/ml at days 30 and 36 postpartum, respectively. In ovarian tissues, the concentrations of estaiol-17$\beta$ were increased just before parturition and decreased immediately after parturition. The plasma estradiol-17$\beta$ levels were slightly higher on days 12 and then decreased gradually after parturition. The concentraitons of estradiol-17$\beta$ in the ovaries of postpartum goats were increased at day 36 after treatments with GnRH. The total hydroxyproline contents in the uterus was slightly higher prior to parturition and decreased gradually with the postpartum intervals after parturition. Hydroxyproline concentraitons in the uterus were decreased at days 24 and 36 postpartum after treatments with GnRH. The norepinephrine concentrations in myometrium from the pregnant and postpartum goats were correspondingly low both immediately before and after partuition. Norepinephrine concentrations in the pregnant horn of the uterus were increased from days 12 to 36 of postpartum and those levels of the non-pregnant horn were also increased from days 24 to 36 postpartum. Slightly higher concentrations were present in the non-pregnant horn in comparison to the pregnant horn but these differences were not significant. Postpartum, the uterine norepinephrine concentration was slightly increased at day 36 after treatments with GnRH. Dopamine concentrations were greater than those of norepinephrine. The concentrations of dopamine in the uterus of pregnant goats was not significantly different from that in the postpartum animals. Dopamine concentraitons of pregnant horn in postpartum goats were increased at day 24 after treatments with GnRH.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the Preventive and treatment effects of mixed compound of vitamin E and selenium, and ursodeoxycholic acid on the pre-parturient and post-parturient fatty liver of high. yielding dairy cows. Thirty pregnant dairy cows(2 weeks preparturition) were divided into clinical(13cows) and subclinical(17 cows) groups based upon blood chemical values, blood serum protein levels and clinical symptoms. The clinical group was subdivided into treated clinical group(6 cows) and non-treated clinical group(7 cows). The cows(treated clinical group) with fatty liver diagnosed before parturition were dosed with mixed compound of vitamin I(1head) and selenium(10mg/head) intramuscularly once before and after parturition, respectively. These cows(treated clinical group) were also given ursodeoxycholic acid(50g/head) intramuscularly 3 times before parturition. The cows(treated clinical group) with fatty liver diagnosed after parturition were also given the same compounds as dosed to the above cows at same dose rate once or 3 times, respectively after parturition. Blood samples were collected from the cows on 4th, 7th and 2nd day of preparturition and on 1st, 7th, 14th and 20th day of postparturition. Blood chemical values(non-esterified fatty acid : NEFA) concentration, serum aspartate aminotransferase activity, serum ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, bilirubin concentration, glucose level) were checked and clinical symptoms of the cows were also observed. 1. The cows in non-treated clinical group showed severe depression, anorexia and diarrhea from prepartum period, and retained palcenta, endometritis, ketosis, abomasal displacement and mastitis after parturition. Cows in treated clinical group showed moderate depression, anorexia, diarrhea during preparturient period, but they were relieved within a week from parturition. Cows in subclinical group showed mild depression, anorexia and diarrhea after parturition, but these symptoms were not observed in prepartum period. 2. NEFA concentration, serum aspartate aminotransferase activity, serum ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and bilirubin concentration observed In the cows of treated clinical group were significantly lower than those of the cows non-treated clinical group. The blood glucose concentration of the cows in treated clinical group were higher than those of the cows in non-treated clinical group. These results indicate that the preparturient and postparturient fatty liver of high-yielding dairy cows could be reduced by dosing the animals with appropriate amounts of mixed compound of vitamin I and selenium, and ursodeoxycholic acid at proper times of the preparturition and postparturition of the dairy cows.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.29-34
• /
• 1998

Jugular plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol-17\ulcorner and 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin-F2봬(PGFM) were meausred prepartum during the last 12 days of pregnancy, at parturition, then 1 day after parturition in 16 goats. Plasma samples were analyzed for luteinizing hormone(LH), estradiol-17\ulcorner(E2), prolactin(PRL) and prostagladin F2봬(PGF2봬) concentrations by radioimmunoassay. 1. The concentrations of plasma luteinizing hormone in Korean native goats remained fairly constant(0.20 0.02\ulcorner0.38 0.04 mlu/ml) from 12 days prepartum to 1 postpartum but the concentrations of plasma prolactin rose slightly from 1 day prepartum. 2. The estradiol-17\ulcorner concentrations increased rapidly after day 1 before partum, reaching a peak at parturition(74.8 77.5 pg/ml), and falling to 63.8 2.8 pg/ml at day 1 postpartum. 3. Starting at 323.2 69.6 twelve days before parturition, the concentrations of plasma prostaglandin F2봬 rose during the 1 day preceeding parturition(650.7봬57.8 pg/ml) and peaked at 1081.4 164.9 on the day of parturition. At day 1 postpartum, the concentrations of PGF2봬 decreased to 425.3 60.4 pg/ml. Finally, these results show that changes in prostaglandin F2봬 concentrations before parturition were closely related to changes in estradiol-17\ulcorner concnetrations, but after parturition they remained elevated whereas estradiol-17\ulcorner concentrations fell abruptly.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2021

In recent years, various methods of measuring body temperature have been developed using wireless biosensors to facilitate an early detection of pregnancy and parturition in cows. However, there are no studies on real-time monitoring of cattle body temperature throughout pregnancy. Therefore, we investigated the daily mean ruminal temperature in pregnant cows throughout pregnancy using a ruminal bio-capsule sensor and then evaluated the temperature variation between pregnant and non-pregnant cows. In pregnant cows, the mean and standard deviation of ruminal temperature was 38.86 ± 0.17℃. Ruminal temperature in pregnant cows slowly decreased until 180 to 190 days after artificial insemination and after that, the temperature increased dramatically until just before parturition. Furthermore, the means ruminal temperature was significantly different between pregnant and nonpregnant cows. The mean and standard deviation of ruminal temperature were as follows: 38.68 ± 0.01℃ from days 80 to 100, 38.78 ± 0.02℃ from days 145 to 165, 38.99 ± 0.45℃ from days 200 to 220, 39.14 ± 0.38℃ from days 250 to 270 before parturition. Therefore, our results could provide useful data for early detection of pregnancy and parturition in Korean cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.117-126
• /
• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the immunogenicity of autogenous E coli vaccines and their preventive effects on diarrhea in suckling piglets. Autogenous E coli live and killed vaccines were made from the E coli strains isolated from piglets showing diarrhea in field. In group I, pregnant sows were administered with live and killed vaccines at 4 and 2 weeks before parturition, respectively, Killed vaccines were administered twice to pregnant sows at 4 and 2 weeks before parturition in group II, and saline instead of autogenous E coli vaccines was administered to pregnant sows in group III for the control. After parturition, antibody titers in colostrum and milk from sows, incidence of diarrhea in suckling piglets, and immunoreactivity in the ileum of piglets from each treatment group were examined. The results were as follows ; 1. Sixty-two strains of E coli were isolated from suckling piglets with diarrhea. Of the strains, K88 pilus and K99 pilus antigens were identified in 6(9.8%) and 4(6.5%), respectively. Molecular weights of K88 and K99 pilus were 27,500 and 18,500 daltons, respectively. 2. Antibody titers in colostrum from sows after parturition were 1 : 512 to 1 : 1,024 in group I, 1.256 to 1.512 in group II, and 1 : 4 to 1 : 16 in group III. 3. The incidences of diarrhea In suckling piglets of group I, II and III were 3.3%, 9.4% and 21.4%, respectively. 4. When the immunoreactivity in the ileum of piglets from each group was examined, the proportion of IgG-immunoreactivity cells in group I or II was higher than that in group III. In conclusion, administration of autogenous E coli vaccines to pregnant sows before parturition can be an effective way to prevent diarrhea in suckling piglets.