Reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows in Iran

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to describe the current reproductive parameters of Holstein dairy cows in Iran and to determine factors which have a significant effect on reproductive performance with emphasis on high-producing dairy cows. Five large Holstein dairy herds from the major milk production areas of Iran were selected for this study. Reproduction data including parity of dam, calving date, days to first service, days open, number of services, dry period, and occurrence of diseases for cows that calved from 2004 to 2007 were collected from the herds' databases. To determine the effects of year and season of calving, disease status, level of milk production, and parity of dam on reproductive parameters, the proc-mixed procedure in SAS software was used. Overall, data about 8,204 lactation were collected for the study. Results showed that mean (+/-SD) days open, calving interval, and days to first service for study herds were 134 (+/-89), 403 (+/-86), and 67 (+/-38) days, respectively. Conception rates at the first service and the overall service-conception rate were 41.6% and 41%, respectively. The level of milk production and diseases had significant negative effects on days open and service per conception (P < 0.05); statistical analysis showed that for every 100-kg increase in milk yield, days open will increase by about 0.3 days. However, no significant effect of level of productivity was observed on days to first service. The results of this study indicate that high milk production is a risk factor for decreasing fertility in Iran, like many other parts of the world.

Productive and Reproductive Performance of Holstein-Friesian Cows under Farmer’s Management in Hossana Town, Ethiopia

“…The present result is in agreement with services per conception (1.81±1) reported by Tadesse et al (2010) for Friesian cattle in Ethiopia. The mean services per conception obtained in this study was lower than services per conception of 2.0 reported in Holstein Friesian dairy cattle in Nigeria by Ngodigha et al (2009) and 2.5 for Holstein Friesian in Iran Ansari-Lari et al (2010) and higher than the results reported by Lobago et al (2007), 1.6 for crossbred cows in the highlands of Ethiopia. The differences might be attributed to differences in management practices of the respective areas.…”

“…The mean calving interval observed in the present study was lower than the findings of previous studies reported by Fekadu et al (2011), 561.3±18.9 for crossbred cows in different regions of Ethiopia. However, longer than the results reported by Ansari-Lari et al (2010) of 403±86 days in Iran for Holstein dairy cows and 421 days obtained by Moges and Baars (1998) in Holstein Frisian breed in Ethiopia under research station. The calving interval in the present study is above the standard interval of 365 days expected in a well managed farm.…”

Evaluation of the reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian dairy cows in Alage ATVET college, Ethiopia

“…This finding was supported by previous findings in the study of Ansari-Lari et al (2010), , Suhail et al (2010) and Heyredin (2014).…”

Study on reproductive performance of Holstein–Friesian dairy cows at Alage Dairy Farm, Rift Valley of Ethiopia

“…On the other hand, the apparent decline of NSC over the latter part of the study period suggests an improvement in performance possibly due to the corresponding improvement of management conditions and removal of some repeat breeders and infertile cows from the farm. In dairy cows, the duration of Cal-Con is influenced by nutritional factors (Tillard et al 2007(Tillard et al , 2008 and the milk yield (Washburn et al 2002;Ansari-Lari et al 2010). The overall mean estimate of Cal-Con found was much higher than 190 days reported for Holstein-Friesian cows in the Ethiopian highlands (Asseged and Birhanu 2004) and 134 days reported for Holstein cows in Iran (Ansari-Lari et al 2010).…”

“…In dairy cows, the duration of Cal-Con is influenced by nutritional factors (Tillard et al 2007(Tillard et al , 2008 and the milk yield (Washburn et al 2002;Ansari-Lari et al 2010). The overall mean estimate of Cal-Con found was much higher than 190 days reported for Holstein-Friesian cows in the Ethiopian highlands (Asseged and Birhanu 2004) and 134 days reported for Holstein cows in Iran (Ansari-Lari et al 2010). Characteristically, the Cal-Con reflects the efficiency of estrus detection and has the advantage of allowing early detection of problem cows (Farin and Slenning 2001).…”