Characterization of progesterone profiles in fall-calving Norwegian Red cows

Abstract

Progesterone profiles in Norwegian Red cows were categorized, and associations between the occurrence of irregularities in the profiles and the commencement of luteal activity were investigated. The cows were managed in 3 feeding trials from 1994 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2008 at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The cows were followed from calving, and the milk samples collected represented 502 lactations from 302 cows. Milk samples for progesterone analysis were taken 3 times weekly from 1994 throughout 1998 and from 2005 to 2008 and 2 times weekly from 1999 to 2001. Commencement of luteal activity was defined as the first day of 2 consecutive measurements of progesterone concentration >or=3 ng/mL not earlier than 10 d after calving. Delayed ovulation type I was defined as consistently low progesterone concentration, <3 ng/mL for >or=50 d postpartum. Delayed ovulation type II was defined as prolonged interluteal interval with milk progesterone measurements <3 ng/mL for >or=12 d between 2 luteal phases. Persistent corpus luteum (PCL) type I was defined as delayed luteolysis with milk progesterone >or=3 ng/mL for >or=19 d during the first estrous cycle postpartum. Persistent corpus luteum type II was defined as delayed luteolysis with milk progesterone >or=3 ng/mL for >or=19 d during subsequent estrous cycles before first artificial insemination. Delayed ovulation type I was present in 14.7%, delayed ovulation type II in 2.8%, PCL type I in 6.7%, and PCL type II in 3.3% of the profiles. Commencement of luteal activity was related to milk yield, parity, PCL type I, and the summated occurrence of PCL type I and II. The least squares means for the interval to commencement of luteal activity were 24.2 d when PCL type I and II were present and 29.5 d when PCL type I and II were absent. The likelihood of pregnancy to first service was not affected in cows with a history of PCL when artificial insemination was carried out at progesterone concentrations <3 ng/mL (i.e., during estrus); however, cows that had experienced PCL were more likely to be inseminated during a luteal phase. The occurrence of delayed ovulation and PCL in Norwegian Red cows was less than that reported in most other dairy populations.

Dairy cows’ reproductive response to feeding level differs according to the reproductive stage and the breed

“…This is explained by a much better underlying ovarian activity and a higher fertility, but not by an improved ovulation detection rate. Normande cows had 79% of normal progesterone profiles, as observed in other higher fertility breeds such as Norwegian Red or Swedish Red and White (,75%; Petersson et al, 2006;Garmo et al, 2009). Holstein cows had only 54% of normal profiles, consistent with recent literature in this breed (Royal et al, 2000;McCoy et al, 2006).…”

“…In our study, Normande cows resumed luteal activity 6 days earlier (geometric means) than Holstein cows; this breed difference is large compared to other studies in dairy cows (Horan et al, 2005;Petersson et al, 2006). PLP profiles were scarce in Normande cows (7%), as observed in Swedish Red and White (6%; Petersson et al, 2006), Norwegian Red (10%; Garmo et al, 2009), Swedish Holstein cows (11%; Petersson et al, 2006) and also Friesian cows three decades ago (13%; Royal et al, 2000). Conversely, 23% of Holstein cows had at least one PLP as classically observed nowadays (Royal et al, 2000;McCoy et al, 2006).…”

The relationship between fatty acid profiles in milk identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and onset of luteal activity in Norwegian dairy cattle

“…This was defined as the first day that milk progesterone concentrations were >3 ng/ mL for 2 successive measurements (Garmo et al, 2009). The median value was calculated for OLA and used to categorize lactations according to early (on or before median day of OLA) or late OLA (after the median day of OLA).…”

Effects of first postpartum progesterone rise, metabolites, milk yield, and body condition score on the subsequent ovarian activity and fertility in lactating Holstein dairy cows

“…Over the past few decades, the rapid progress in genetics and management has steadily resulted in increased milk production per cow, while there has been a corresponding decline in the reproductive efficiency of high producing dairy cows (Royal et al 2002;Gutierrez et al 2006;Mackey et al 2007;Patton, et al 2007;Garmo, et al 2009). Cows with the greatest milk production have the highest incidence of infertility under some circumstances; however, epidemiological studies indicate that, in addition to milk production, other factors such as calving disorders, postpartum negative energy balance, uterine infections, heat stress, and nutrition may contribute to decreasing reproductive efficiency in dairy herds (Lucy 2001, Leroy et al 2008.…”