Effects of genetic selection for milk yield on energy balance, levels of hormones, and metabolites in lactating cattle, and possible links to reduced fertility

Veerkamp, R.F.; Beerda, B.; Lende, T. van der

doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(03)00108-8

Cited by 151 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 123 publications

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“…Concurrent with selection for increased milk yield, a decrease in dairy cow fertility has been observed during the last decades (for reviews see [59,75]). This decline in fertility is shown by e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

Bôer

Stötzel

Röblitz

et al. 2011

Journal of Theoretical Biology

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Bovine fertility is the subject of extensive research in animal sciences, especially because fertility of dairy cows has declined during the last decades. The regulation of estrus is controlled by the complex interplay of various organs and hormones. Mathematical modeling of the bovine estrous cycle could help in understanding the dynamics of this complex biological system. In this paper we present a mechanistic mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle that includes the processes of follicle and corpus luteum development and the key hormones that interact to control these processes. The model generates successive estrous cycles of 21 days, with three waves of follicle growth per cycle. The model contains 12 differential equations and 54 parameters. Focus in this paper is on development of the model, but also some simulation results are presented, showing that a set of equations and parameters is obtained that describes the system consistent with empirical knowledge. Even though the majority of the mechanisms that are included in the model are based on relations that in literature have only been described qualitatively (i.e. stimulation and inhibition), the output of the model is surprisingly well in line with empirical data. This model of the bovine estrous cycle could be used as a basis for more elaborate models with the ability to study effects of external manipulations and genetic differences. AMS MSC 2000: 92C42, 92C30, 90C31, 65L09

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

Bôer

Stötzel

Röblitz

et al. 2011

Journal of Theoretical Biology

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“…Focussing on increasing genetic merit primarily for yield reduces genetic merit for fertility (Veerkamp et al, 2003), but conjoint improvement for reproductive performance and milk yield, say maintaining 70% to 80% of the yearly increase in yield (Veerkamp et al, 2000), is possible (Andersen-Ranberg et al, 2005;Jamrozik et al, 2005). In line with this, most leading dairy cattle breeding programmes incorporate fertility, as derived from calving dates and insemination dates, in their selection indices (Miglior et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression profiles of genes regulating dairy cow fertility: recent findings, ongoing activities and future possibilities

Beerda

Wyszyńska-Koko

Pas

et al. 2008

Animal

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Subfertility has negative effects for dairy farm profitability, animal welfare and sustainability of animal production. Increasing herd sizes and economic pressures restrict the amount of time that farmers can spend on counteractive management. Genetic improvement will become increasingly important to restore reproductive performance. Complementary to traditional breeding value estimation procedures, genomic selection based on genome-wide information will become more widely applied. Functional genomics, including transcriptomics (gene expression profiling), produces the information to understand the consequences of selection as it helps to unravel physiological mechanisms underlying female fertility traits. Insight into the latter is needed to develop new effective management strategies to combat subfertility. Here, the importance of functional genomics for dairy cow reproduction so far and in the near future is evaluated. Recent gene profiling studies in the field of dairy cow fertility are reviewed and new data are presented on genes that are expressed in the brains of dairy cows and that are involved in dairy cow oestrus (behaviour). Fast-developing new research areas in the field of functional genomics, such as epigenetics, RNA interference, variable copy numbers and nutrigenomics, are discussed including their promising future value for dairy cow fertility.

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“…Altered energy metabolism in high milk yielding cows can cause decreased levels of E2 and inhibit estrous behavior (Lopez et al, 2004). Cows selected for high milk yield are genetically induced to a more negative energy balance (Veerkamp et al, 2003) as they spend a relatively large proportion of the available nutrients on milk production, which can cause fertility problems during a period of negative energy balance (Chagas et al, 2007). One possible route by which metabolic stress can inhibit estrous behavior is via insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).…”

Section: Metabolic Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dairy cattle selection for higher milk yield has coincided with a decline in fertility (for reviews see Royal et al, 2000;Veerkamp et al, 2003;Pryce et al, 2004). Subfertility in modern dairy cows is a multifactorial problem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It involves factors like genetic improvement for milk yield, nutritional issues, disease, season, climate, housing, management and herd environment (Lucy, 2001;Roche, 2006). The mechanisms by which selection for higher milk yield can result in poorer fertility are not totally elucidated, but one cause is likely to be metabolic stress (Veerkamp et al, 2003). As the reproductive and somatotropic axes interact at several levels in the hypothalamus (Chagas et al, 2007), it is not surprising to find relationships between energy balance and fertility parameters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estrous behavior in dairy cows: identification of underlying mechanisms and gene functions

Bôer

Veerkamp

Beerda

et al. 2010

Animal

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Selection in dairy cattle for a higher milk yield has coincided with declined fertility. One of the factors is reduced expression of estrous behavior. Changes in systems that regulate the estrous behavior could be manifested by altered gene expression. This literature review describes the current knowledge on mechanisms and genes involved in the regulation of estrous behavior. The endocrinological regulation of the estrous cycle in dairy cows is well described. Estradiol (E2) is assumed to be the key regulator that synchronizes endocrine and behavioral events. Other pivotal hormones are, for example, progesterone, gonadotropin releasing hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1. Interactions between the latter and E2 may play a role in the unfavorable effects of milk yield-related metabolic stress on fertility in high milk-producing dairy cows. However, a clear understanding of how endocrine mechanisms are tied to estrous behavior in cows is only starting to emerge. Recent studies on gene expression and signaling pathways in rodents and other animals contribute to our understanding of genes and mechanisms involved in estrous behavior. Studies in rodents, for example, show that estrogen-induced gene expression in specific brain areas such as the hypothalamus play an important role. Through these estrogen-induced gene expressions, E2 alters the functioning of neuronal networks that underlie estrous behavior, by affecting dendritic connections between cells, receptor populations and neurotransmitter releases. To improve the understanding of complex biological networks, like estrus regulation, and to deal with the increasing amount of genomic information that becomes available, mathematical models can be helpful. Systems biology combines physiological and genomic data with mathematical modeling. Possible applications of systems biology approaches in the field of female fertility and estrous behavior are discussed.

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Effects of genetic selection for milk yield on energy balance, levels of hormones, and metabolites in lactating cattle, and possible links to reduced fertility

Cited by 151 publications

References 123 publications

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

Expression profiles of genes regulating dairy cow fertility: recent findings, ongoing activities and future possibilities

Estrous behavior in dairy cows: identification of underlying mechanisms and gene functions

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