Relationship Between Ovarian Activity and Energy Status During the Early Postpartum Period of High Producing Dairy Cows

Abstract

The effect of energy status upon ovarian activity during early lactation was assessed in 54 multiparous Holstein cows. Dry matter intake and milk yield were measured daily from parturition through 9 wk of lactation. Milk composition and body weight were measured weekly during this time. Energy balance corrected for body weight loss was calculated weekly. Blood was collected via tail vein three times weekly and plasma analyzed for progesterone and nonesterified fatty acids. Fifteen cows were anestrus for the 9 wk based on their plasma progesterone (less than 1 ng/ml). These cows were compared with two cycling groups, one group of 25 cows showing corpus luteum activity within 40 d after parturition and a second group of 14 cows showing corpus luteum activity between 40 and 60 d postpartum. Anestrus cows ate less feed, produced less milk, and lost more body weight, resulting in a more negative energy status than cycling cows. Differences in energy balance among cow groups were greatest the first 3 wk postpartum. Anestrus cows and cows showing corpus luteum activity between d 40 and 60 obtained more energy from body reserves for milk production the first 2 wk of lactation, than cows cycling prior to d 40.

Nutritional sub-fertility in the dairy cow: towards improved reproductive management through a better biological understanding

“…Although delayed first ovulation is clearly related to body condition score at calving and energy balance of early lactation, it is not as clearly related to milk production. Depending on the experiment but not on herd yield, greater Review: nutritional sub-fertility in the dairy cow milk yield increased the delay to first ovulation and/or to the day of commencement of luteal activity (C-LA) (Petersson et al, 2006), decreased it (Fonseca et al, 1983;Garbarino et al, 2004) or had no effect (Staples et al, 1990;Darwash et al, 1997;Gumen et al, 2005;Lopez et al, 2005;Pedernera et al, 2008). The effect of milk yield may also be approached by breed differences.…”

Gluconeogenic supplements do not affect production, reproductive traits and blood metabolite of holstein cows during the transition period

“…Vasquez-Añon et al (1994) found 300 mmol L -1 on day -10 from calving, and 1014, 700, 445, 320, and 300 mmol L -1 on days zero, five, 10, 20, and 25 postpartum, respectively. Staples et al (1990) did not find interaction effect between time and treatment, and observed a decrease in NEFA concentrations from the first week in relation to the ninth, with values of 612 mmol L -1 and 237 mmol L -1 , respectively. In the same experiment, those authors related the effect of NEFA concentrations on ovarian activity and observed that NEFA concentrations were not a good indicator of energy status.…”

Pre-breeding blood urea nitrogen concentration and reproductive performance of Bonsmara heifers within different management systems

“…It is thought that in dairy cattle, the negative effect of high BUN concentration might be exerted through the exacerbation of an underlying negative energy balance (NEB) and the energy costs of detoxifying large quantities of ammonia in post-partal cattle (Staples et al, 1990;Garcia-Bojalil et al, 1998;Overton et al, 1999). However, it can be assumed that beef heifers will not suffer from NEB as is the case in lactating dairy cattle.…”

“…It has been suggested, however, that the negative association between high BUN concentration and reproductive outcome might be confounded by a concurrent energy deficit (Staples et al, 1990). Blood urea nitrogen concentrations below 7 mg/dL at breeding have been reported to also be associated with reduced reproductive performance due to protein deficiency (Carlsson and Pehrson, 1993).…”