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Effects of body condition at calving, post-partum nutrition and calf access on the interval from calving to first ovulation in beef cows: Cow performance and metabolism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

K. D. Sinclair
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen, UK AB21 9YA
G. Molle
Affiliation:
Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna, Olmedo, Sardinia, Italy
R. Revilla
Affiliation:
Servicio de Investigacion Agraria, Unidad de Produccion Animal, Apdo. 727.50080, Zaragoza, Spain
J. F. Roche
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
G. Quintans
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen, UK AB21 9YA
L. San Juan
Affiliation:
Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna, Olmedo, Sardinia, Italy
A. Sanz
Affiliation:
Servicio de Investigacion Agraria, Unidad de Produccion Animal, Apdo. 727.50080, Zaragoza, Spain
D. R. Mackey
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
M. G. Diskin
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
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Extract

The prolonged interval from calving to first ovulation in beef cows is primarily due to the suckling-mediated inhibition of pulsatile LH release. Undernutrition both before and after calving also suppresses LH release, reduces ovarian follicular growth and delays ovulation. The interactive effects of these factors on the interval from calving to first ovulation in beef cows were quantified by studying the incidence of ovulation, following acute calf isolation and once-a-day suckling (restricted access), after emergence of the fourth follicular wave post partum in cows in differing body condition at calving and offered low or high planes of nutrition after calving.

The experiment was a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design, in which the factors were body condition score at calving (Low v. Moderate), feeding level after calving (0.6 v. 1.0 MJ ME/d/kg M0.75), and restricted (once-a-day) v. ad libitum access and suckling. The experiment, duplicated at each of the four participating sites, involved 16 Simmental, 16 Sarda, 16 Brown Swiss and 16 Hereford x Friesian multi-parous cows. Follicle growth was monitored daily from day 21 post partum until the earlier of second ovulation or Day 90 post partum using transrectal ovarian ultrasonography.

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Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1999

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