Relationship Between Body Condition Scores and Conception at First Artificial Insemination in a Large Dairy Herd of High Yielding Holstein Cows

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between changes in body condition during the dry period and early lactation and conception to first postpartum AI. Holstein cows (n = 720) on a commercial dairy farm were scored weekly for body condition beginning at dry-off and continuing until first AI. Occurrence of postpartum diseases was recorded. A multiple logistic regression model was a significant predictor of the success or failure of conception for multiparous cows, but not for primiparous cows. Principal component analysis reduced collinearity among independent variables and allowed the variables to be ranked based on their contribution to the interval from first AI to conception. The top three ranking variables were lactation number, milk yield at 120 d of lactation, and change in body condition score between parturition and wk 4 of lactation. Increased milk yield at 120 d of lactation was associated with an increased likelihood of conception, and decreased body condition during the 1st mo of lactation was associated with a decreased likelihood of conception. Health problems were less associated with conception than were body condition or milk yield in this herd. Body condition during the dry period and during the first 30 d of lactation is an important tool to identify cows at risk for failure to conceive at first AI.

Metabolic changes in early lactation and impaired reproductive performance in dairy cows

“…In one of these studies an association between the extent of the calculated NEB and the time between parturition and first ovulation was found [15]. In other studies, the amounts of triacylglycerol in the liver were associated with the time to first heat and the time to conception [55,58,77,80] and larger losses in body condition score (BCS) in the first month post partum was associated with decreased likelihood for conception [27]. No clear evidence exists for the suggestion that the higher milk production as such has an important effect on conception [34,38].…”

“…Impaired fertility has a multifactorial background. Factors that are related with impaired fertility are for example the imperfection of management leading to a diminished estrus detection [27,67,72,103] further hampered by an inadequate cow identification system and record keeping [11], the diminished amount of time spent per animal due to intensification [76], the use of semen from sub-fertile bulls [74], the insemination of cows too early after parturition leading to fewer cycles preceding the first insemination of the cow [22], the absence of an estrus enhancing sexually active group (SAG) [2], the age composition of the herd [51], the health of the cow in general [5,6,56], and the housing conditions of the cows [11,30].…”

Leptin secretion and hypothalamic neuropeptide and receptor gene expression in sheep

“…In some species such as the rat, the degree of negative energy balance is usually slight, with animals mobilizing ϳ1 g fat/day (7). Domestic ruminants, however, usually exhibit a greater degree of negative energy balance during early lactation (7,11), which can impact on their welfare and productivity (28), yet the regulatory mechanisms have not been elucidated.…”

Assessment of the problems associated with artificial insemination practices in Essera Woreda, Dawuro zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…On the other hand, no conceivability and delivery in poor management condition of dairy cows, might be due to extensive management accompanied with insufficient feeding without supplementary, and since insufficient feed and feeds without concentrate feed staff in extensively grazed dairy cows affect their reproductive performance as described by Domecq et al (1997) and Obese et al (1999).…”