Differences between primiparous and multiparous dairy cows in the inter-relationships between metabolic traits, milk yield and body condition score in the periparturient period

During the early postpartum period dairy cows mobilize fat and muscle to support lactation. This is associated with alterations in blood metabolite and hormone profiles which in turn influence milk yield and fertility. This study developed models to determine how metabolic traits, milk yield and body condition score were inter-related at different times in the periparturient period and to compare these relationships in primiparous (PP, n=188) and multiparous (MP, n=312) cows. Data from four previous studies which included information on blood metabolic parameters, parity, milk yield, body condition score and diet were collated into a single dataset. Coefficients of polynomial equations were calculated for each trait between -1 week pre-calving and week +7 postpartum using residual maximum likelihood modelling. The completed dataset was used in a multiple correlation model to determine how the best fit curves were related to each other over time. PP cows had higher concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and lower beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations throughout, higher leptin concentrations pre-partum and both the peak in non-esterified fatty acids and the nadir in urea concentration occurred earlier after calving. These differences were associated with significantly lower milk production. Leptin concentrations fell at calving and were related to body condition score. Insulin was negatively correlated with yield in MP cows only. In MP cows the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-I and yield switched from negative to positive between weeks +4 and +7. Both beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea were positively related to yield in PP cows. In contrast, in MP cows beta-hydroxybutyrate was negatively correlated with yield and urea was strongly related to body condition score but not yield. These results suggest that there are differences in the control of tissue mobilization between PP and MP cows which may promote nutrient partitioning into growth as well as milk during the first lactation.     

Postpartum Variations of Plasma IGF and IGFBPs,Oocyte Production and Quality in Dairy Cows: Relationships With Parity and Subsequent Fertility

The aim of this study was to determine whether postpartum variations of plasma IGF‐1 and IGFBP concentrations, oocyte production and quality were related to parity and subsequent conception rate in Holstein dairy cows. Holstein dairy cows [10 primiparous (PP) and 22 multiparous (MP)] were allotted in six batches and sampled once weekly between calving and oestrous synchronization treatment started at 71.2 ± 2.0 days postpartum. During the 3 weeks before treatment, ovum pick‐up (OPU) was performed twice weekly. Oocytes were scored on a 4‐point scale, and oocytes from OPU1, 3 and 5 were fertilized in vitro. Seventeen cows became pregnant after first and second AI and were considered as fertile (F), while the others were considered to be subfertile (SF). Logistic regression was carried out to investigate the relationships between repeated measurements and fertility including parity and batch effects in the models. Likelihood of fertility significantly increased when plasma urea and IGFBP‐3 concentrations decreased and was higher in PP compared with MP cows. There was a trend for fertility to increase when plasma IGF‐1 concentrations increased (p = 0.07). In vitro cleavage and development rates were similar between SF and F cows (46.4% and 28.3% in SF vs 55.0% and 22.1% in F). Parity had an effect on plasma IGF‐1 concentrations (PP: 61.65 ± 2.67 vs MP: 41.63 ± 5.81 ng/ml, p < 0.001), mean number of follicles aspirated per session (PP: 5.7 ± 1.3 vs MP: 9.5 ± 0.8, p < 0.05) and fertility (PP: 8/10 = 80% vs MP: 9/22 = 41%, p < 0.05) but not on the number of oocytes recovered per session nor their quality. In conclusion, postpartum plasma urea and IGFBP‐3 concentrations, but not oocyte production and quality before breeding, were related to subsequent conception rate in our experimental design. Parity had a significant effect on energy status, follicular growth and fertility and needs to be considered when investigating relationships between nutrition and reproduction.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone improves reproductive performance of dairy cows with slow involution of the reproductive tract

Eighty multiparous Holstein cows were assigned randomly at calving to receive either 100 microg of GnRH or saline 13 or 14 d postpartum (PP). From 4 to 28 d PP the cows' reproductive organs were palpated weekly per rectum, and cows were subclassified within each group as undergoing slow (delayed) cervical and uterine involution (abnormal) or as normal cows. Last milk obtained after removing the milking machine was assayed for progesterone 3 times a week for 120 d PP. Fourteen of the 80 cows were removed from the experiment because of culling or various veterinary treatments of pathologic conditions that could confound analysis of the GnRH treatment effects. As expected, the treatment of normal cows with GnRH had no significant effects on the first estrus or the first estrous cycle PP, on services per conception, days open, or any other reproductive trait measured. However, in the abnormal group of cows receiving saline, first rebreeding after calving was delayed (81 vs. 67 d), fewer were pregnant by 105 d PP (23 vs. 64%), and number of days open was greater (121 vs. 87 d) compared with those receiving GnRH; all were significant (P<.05). Treated abnormal cows were equivalent to the control normal cows. Thus, GnRH given 13 to 14 d PP to cows characterized as undergoing slow involution of the reproductive system, but with no other clinical problems, seems to assist in promoting rapid normal reproductive function. Subsequent losses due to culling were greatly reduced.     

Genetic aspects of productive and reproductive traits in a Murrah buffalo herd in São Paulo,Brazil

This study investigated genetic trends of some productive and reproductive traits in a herd of Murrah buffalo raised in São Paulo, Brazil. Variance components for milk production (MP), length of lactation (LL), calving interval (CI) and age of first calving (AFC) were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood method, using an animal model. Estimated heritability values were 0.38; 0.01; 0.10 and 0.20 for MP, LL, CI and AFC, respectively. Estimated repeatability values were 0.50, 0.13 and 0.20 for MP, LL and CI, respectively. Means of predicted breeding values for cows, dams and sires according to calving year and the genetic correlations were presented.     

Genetic analysis of days open in beef cattle

The aim of this work was to analyse the genetic parameters affecting days open (DO) in beef cattle to evaluate its potential as criterion of selection. The present study characterises DO as a trait with considerable genetic variability, relative to that usually found for reproduction traits, especially for heifers and second calving cows. The estimates of heritability for the trait ranged from 0.091 for cows with 10 or more calvings to 0.197 for second calving cows. The genetic correlations estimated for DO in different parities are situated between 0.9 and 1, showing that the genes affecting the trait are substantially the same across parities of the dam. A substantial permanent environment (around 9%) seems to affect DO performance. Permanent environmental factors seem to be especially important in younger cows. Genetic correlation between DO and calving interval was positive and very high (1.0), while those between DO and gestation length and calving date were negative from low to moderate (−0.089 and −0.308, respectively). DO can be used in improvement programs of beef cattle as an early indicator of reproductive performance of the cow.     

Effect of pre‐ and post‐partum supplementation with lipid‐encapsulated conjugated linoleic acid on milk yield and metabolic status in multiparous high‐producing dairy cows

We evaluated the lactation performance, liver lipid content and plasma metabolites indicating the energy balance of dairy cows supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) pre‐ and post‐partum (PP) vs. only PP. A total of 60 cows were divided into three groups (n = 20). Daily diet of cows was supplemented with 14 g of CLA (7 g cis‐9, trans‐11 and 7 g trans‐10, cis‐12 isomers) from week 3 before the expected date of calving (group CLA1), or from the day of calving (group CLA2) until 77–91 days PP. Control cows were fed an isocaloric, isonitrogenous and isolipidic diet without CLA. Between week 3 and week 6 PP, the milk yield of cows in both CLA‐treated groups was approximately 4.5 kg higher (p < 0.05) than in control. Milk fat concentrations decreased from week 3 and were lower in both CLA groups than in control (p < 0.01). Body condition score loss was lower (p < 0.05) in the CLA1 than in the control group on week 5 PP. By week 11 PP, the body condition of both CLA1 and CLA2 groups exceeded that of control. Plasma non‐esterified fatty acid was lower in CLA1 compared to CLA2 and control during the early PP period (p < 0.05), while this difference faded away by the late PP period. Beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) increased rapidly in all groups following calving. In CLA1 group, it began to decrease sooner than in CLA2 and control. The prevalence of subclinical ketosis (BHBA > 1.2 mm ) was lower in CLA1 group than in CLA2 and control (p < 0.05). Liver biopsy analyses showed that CLA1 treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the total lipid content of liver compared to control at week 5 after calving. Our results show that CLA supplementation is more efficient in alleviating body mass mobilization and decreasing the incidence of subclinical ketosis when applied as early as 3 weeks before calving than started feeding after calving.     

Days to calving in artificially inseminated beef cows: Comparison of potential traits

Four fertility traits were compared for artificially inseminated (AI) beef cows: A) for cows that calved to the AI sire (from either the initial or follow-up inseminations that season), the number days from initial AI to calving; B) for cows calving either by AI or to a backup bull, the number days from initial AI to calving; C) As trait B for cows that calved, otherwise the maximum of trait B for the contemporary group plus a penalty of 21 days; D) Define the ‘start date’ for a contemporary group as the date the first cow in the group was AI'd. For cows that calved, trait D was the number of days from the ‘start date’ to calving, otherwise the maximum of trait D for cows in the group that calved plus a penalty of 21 days.The vast majority of cows received only one insemination in a season, so trait A resembled gestation length and had estimated heritability of 12%. Traits B, C and D had estimated heritabilities of 3.2%, 3.5% and 5.2% respectively; estimated genetic correlations of traits A–D with naturally mated days to calving were 0.48, 0.60, 0.80 and 0.74 respectively. Trait D is therefore the recommended female fertility trait for AI cows. It has a similar frequency distribution to days to calving from natural mating and should be included in a joint analysis with days to calving of naturally mated cows.     

Genetic relationships among calving ease, calving interval, birth weight, and weaning weight in the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed

The aim of this paper was to estimate direct and maternal genetic parameters for calving ease (CE), birth weight (BrW), weaning weight (WW), and calving interval (CI) to assess the possibility of including this information in beef cattle improvement programs. Field data, including a total of 59,813 animals (1,390 sires and 1,147 maternal grand sires) from the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed, were analyzed with a multivariate linear model. Estimates of heritability for direct genetic effects (CED, CID, BrWD, and WWD) were 0.191 +/- 0.019, 0.121 +/- 0.013, 0.390 +/- 0.030, and 0.453 +/- 0.035, respectively, whereas those for maternal genetic effects (CEM, BrWM, and WWM) were 0.140 +/- 0.015, 0.208 +/- 0.020, and 0.138 +/- 0.022, respectively. Genetic correlations between direct or maternal genetic effects across traits were, in general, positive and moderate to low. However, genetic correlation for the pair CED-BrWD was positive and high (0.604 +/- 0.064). Genetic correlations between the direct and maternal genetic effects within a trait were negative and moderate (-0.219 +/- 0.097 for CE, -0.337 +/- 0.080 for BrW, and -0.440 +/- 0.102 for WW). Genetic correlations for CED-BrWM and CED-WWM were -0.121 +/- 0.090 and -0.097 +/- 0.113, respectively. The genetic correlation for CEM-CID was unfavorable (0.485 +/- 0.078), and those for CEM-BrWD (-0.094 +/- 0.079) and CEM-WWD (-0.125 +/- 0.082) were low and negative. The genetic correlation between CID and WWM was favorable (-0.148 +/- 0.106). Overall, the data presented here support the hypothesis that maternal effects for CE and BrW are not the same and that the genetic relationships between CI and maternal effects for WW in beef cattle follow a similar pattern to that reported between CI and milk yield in dairy cattle. Moreover, the need to include direct and maternal breeding values in beef cattle selection programs is suggested.     

Variations of Neospora caninum antibody levels in milk during lactation in dairy cows

A longitudinal study was performed to investigate the variations of Neospora caninum antibody levels in individual milk during lactation as well as the association between antibody levels in serum and milk. Serum and milk samples of 15 milking cows were collected between February 2003 and September 2004 in three smallholder dairy farms in Khon Kaen province in northeast Thailand. All samples were analyzed for presence of antibodies by an N. caninum iscom ELISA test kit and the results were given as percent positivity (PP). The effects of time between calving and sampling, lactation number, and season on milk and serum PP were studied using Generalized Estimation Equations methods. All cows were antibody positive in either milk or serum at the first two consecutive samplings. Although serum and milk PP varied considerably, milk PP was consistently positive throughout the study. Cows of all lactation groups had a higher adjusted mean of milk PP at calving compared to later months after calving although the only significant difference was in first lactation. Serum and milk PP were always lower in first lactation than in second and later lactations. An adjusted mean of milk PP for cows classified as having serum PP> or =55 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of cows classified as having lower serum PP. Our results indicate that individual milk can be an alternative material to demonstrate presence of N. caninum antibodies in lactating cows.     

Supplementation to meet metabolizable protein requirements of primiparous beef heifers: II. Pregnancy and economics

Metabolizable protein (MP) requirements of spring calving heifers increase over the winter due to advancing gestation. The MP content of grazed winter forage is low, which may result in an MP deficiency. The objective was to compare the response of supplementing pregnant yearling heifers to meet MP requirements versus conventional CP supplementation. In 1997-98 and in 1998-99, pregnant, March-calving heifers (2,120 animals; 358 kg) at two locations of a commercial ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills, were used following breeding through calving as 2-yr-olds (cows). Heifers were randomly allotted to one of two supplementation treatments (about 265 heifers/treatment) each year at each of two locations (Ashby and Whitman, NE). Treatments were 1) supplementation to meet MP requirements (MPR) or 2) supplementation to meet CP requirements (CPR). Heifers grazed upland range and meadow and were offered supplements three times weekly from mid-September to mid- or late-February. Increasing amounts of meadow hay were fed from mid-December through calving. After supplementation ended in February, heifers were managed in one group at each location until the following October. Body weights and body condition scores were taken in September, February, and October. Two-yr-old pregnancy rates were determined via rectal palpation in October. Capital budgeting techniques were used to determine the economic return of supplementation strategies. There were no differences in BW (P = 0.41) or body condition score (P = 0.99) change during the winter among treatment groups across years and locations, but MPR cows were heavier (425 kg) than CPR cows (421 kg) at the time of 2-yr-old pregnancy testing (P = 0.07). Pregnancy rate was higher (P = 0.001) in the MPR (91%) compared to the CPR treatment (86%). Regression analysis showed that the response of the MPR treatment on pregancy rates tended to be negatively correlated with precalving body condition score (P = 0.11), body condition score loss over the winter (P = 0.07), and body condition score at weaning of the first calf (P = 0.08). The improvement in 2-yr-old pregnancy by supplementing to meet MP requirements improved the value of each bred heifer by 13.64 dollars. We conclude that balancing MP requirements during gestation may result in a subsequent increase in 2-yr-old pregnancy and increase the value of young females.     

Fertility traits in spring-calving Aberdeen Angus cattle. 1. Model development and genetic parameters

Calving records (n = 6,763) obtained from first, second, and third parities of 3,442 spring-calving, Uruguayan Aberdeen Angus cows were used to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for the linear trait calving day (CD) and the binary trait calving success (CS), using models that considered CD and CS at 3 calving opportunities as separate traits. Three approaches were defined to handle the CD observations on animals that failed to calve: 1) the cows were assigned a penalty value of 21 d beyond the last observed CD record within contemporary group (PEN); 2) the censored CD values were randomly obtained from a truncated normal distribution (CEN); and 3) the CD records were treated as missing, and the parameters were estimated in a joint threshold-linear analysis including CS traits (TLMISS). The models included the effects of contemporary group (herd x year of calving x mating management), age at calving (3 levels), physiological status at mating (nonlactating or lactating), animal additive genetic effects, and residual. Estimates of heritability for CD traits in the PEN and CEN data sets ranged from 0.20 to 0.31, with greater values in the first calving opportunity. Genetic correlations were positive and medium to high in magnitude, 0.57 to 0.59 in the PEN data set and 0.38 to 0.91 in the CEN data set. In the TLMISS data set, heritabilities ranged from 0.19 to 0.23 for CD and 0.37 to 0.42 for CS. Genetic correlations between CD traits varied between 0.82 and 0.88; between CS traits, genetic correlations varied between 0.56 and 0.80. Negative (genetically favorable), medium to high genetic correlations (-0.54 to -0.91) were estimated between CD and CS traits, suggesting that CD could be used as an indicator trait for CS. Data recording must improve in quality for practical applications in genetic evaluation for fertility traits.     

Energy balance,leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma concentrations and resumption of post partum ovarian activity in swedish red and white breed cows

In the purpose to provide further information in respect of the relationship between metabolism and post partum (PP) ovarian activity resumption in dairy cows, the aim of the present study was to characterize the energy balance (EB) and leptin, NEFA and IGF-I plasma levels in Swedish Red and White (SRW) cows with and without ovarian activity re-initiation within 7 weeks PP. The study was conducted on 12 primiparous SRW cows fed the same diet as total mixed ration for ad libitum intake. The EB was calculated weekly from parturition until seven weeks PP. Blood samples were collected weekly from one week before until 7 weeks after calving for leptin, NEFA and IGF-I analysis. For progesterone (P4) analysis, blood samples were collected two times per week from parturition until the end of the study. P4 profile was used in addition to the clinical examination to detect cows with and without ovarian activity resumption. The clinical and ultrasonographic examination, coupled with P4 profile analysis showed the resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks after calving in 8 (group A) and no ovarian resumption in 4 cows (group B). No significant differences were detected in the whole period of observation in the amount of milk production between the two groups, while the mean milk protein content was significantly lower in group B at the third week PP. The calculated EB was negative in both groups in the first three weeks after calving, but more marked in group B. NEFA and Leptin plasma levels did not show significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that, when low milk producing primiparous cows are concerned, no significant differences in BW loss, milk yield, EB and leptin and NEFA plasma levels between the cows with and without resumption of ovarian activity within 7 weeks post partum were seen. However, significantly higher IGF-I levels in the first two weeks after calving were found in cows with post partum ovarian activity resumption, highlighting the important role of IGF-I as sensitive signal between metabolism and reproduction.     

Quantitative trait loci for milk production and functional traits in two Danish Cattle breeds

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) in Danish Jersey and Danish Red cattle were independently mapped by least squares regression analysis. For Jersey breed, five grandsire families were genotyped for 186 markers on 16 chromosomes (BTAs). Eight traits analysed were milk yield (MY), fat percentage (FP), protein percentage (PP), clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell score (SCS), maternal stillbirth, maternal calf size (MCS) and maternal calving difficulty. For Red breed, nine grandsire families were genotyped for 166 markers on 18 BTAs. Six traits analysed were MY, FP, PP, CM, SCS and female fertility. Nine and five QTL were detected in Jersey and Red breed, respectively, in across family tests. In Jersey breed, the results indicate QTL for CM and MCS on BTA 3. Additionally, there is an indication of QTL for MCS and FP on BTA 1 and a tentative evidence for a QTL for MY on BTA 26. There is a high risk of detected QTL being false positives. The detected QTL in Jersey breed indicate interesting results from a breeding perspective, but a practical application should await genome-wide association studies.     

三河牛繁殖性状遗传参数的评估

本研究以1986年中国自主培育兼用牛新品种--三河牛,在内蒙古海拉尔谢尔塔拉种牛场核心群5 257头1998-2012年20 949条繁殖记录为研究材料,以青年牛首次妊娠日龄、青年牛首次产犊日龄、成母牛妊娠期、成母牛空怀期、产犊间隔为研究对象,用SAS 9.13、DMU软件对数据进行处理,采用AI-REML结合EM算法并配合多性状动物模型对各性状影响因素方差组分进行估计,估算出各性状遗传力,并利用各性状育种值分析其遗传趋势.结果显示,青年牛首次妊娠日龄、青年牛首次产犊日龄、成母牛妊娠期、成母牛空怀期、产犊间隔遗传力分别为0.0552、0.0638、0.0527、0.1096、0.0844,繁殖性状除成母牛空怀期遗传力为0.1096外,其余均小于0.1,属于低遗传力性状.青年牛首次妊娠日龄、青年牛首次产犊日龄、成母牛妊娠期、成母牛空怀期、产犊间隔育种值遗传趋势总体上无明显下降趋势,三河牛繁殖性能保持良好.该试验结果为三河牛优化育种方案、提高选种准确性提供重要理论依据.     

Genetic Evaluation of Reproductive Traits in Sanhe Cattle

This study was conducted on 20 949 reproductive records from 1998 to 2012 of 5 257 Sanhe cattle in Xiertala cattle farm,Inner Mongolia,which was a synthetic breed formed in China in 1986.Age at first pregnancy in heifer (AFPH),age at first calving in heifer (AFCH),gestation length in cow (GLC),days open in cow (DOC),and calving interval in cow (CIC) were considered for genetic evaluation.SAS 9.13 and DMU software were used for data processing,and AI-REML combined EM algorithm based on multiple traits animal model was employed for estimating variance components.The heritability for each trait were then calculated,and breeding value was used to analyze the genetic trends.The results showed that the estimated heritabilities of age at first pregnancy in heifer,age at first calving in heifer,gestation length in cow,days open in cow,calving interval in cow were 0.0552,0.0638,0.0527,0.1096 and 0.0844,respectively.The heritabilities were all less than 0.1 except days open (0.1096),indicating these were low inheritable traits.In general,trends of EBVs for each trait didn't show any defined progresses and indicating good reproductive performance maintained in Sanhe cattle.These results lay a theoretical foundation for optimizing breeding programs and improving the accuracy of selection in Sanhe cattle.     

中国荷斯坦牛青年初产年龄和成年母牛产犊间隔遗传参数估计

本研究旨在估计河南省青年牛初次产犊年龄与成年母牛产犊间隔遗传参数。收集河南省17个牧场2008—2017年14406头青年牛的初次产犊年龄记录与8912头成年母牛的产犊间隔记录,使用DMU软件DMU_AI模块采用AI-REML结合EM算法的动物模型估计性状遗传参数。动物模型中的固定效应包括出生年季、产犊年季和牧场效应,产犊间隔性状动物模型还包括胎次效应;随机效应包括加性效应和残差效应。结果表明:青年牛初次产犊年龄的遗传力为0.21、成年母牛产犊间隔性状遗传力为0.05,与相似研究结果相近,为制定区域性、精细化的育种目标提供理论参考。     

Genetic evaluation of length of productive life in the Spanish Holstein-Friesian population. Model validation and genetic parameters estimation

Functional longevity (FL), measured as length of productive life (LPL) adjusted by production level, has been regarded as an important trait to measure the global functional aptitude of a cow, particularly when direct measures of the functional traits (health and reproductive performance) are not available. The objective of this study was to analyze the trait FL making use of survival analysis techniques in order to propose a model for the genetic evaluation of this trait in the Spanish Holstein Friesian population. The data set consisted of 133,629 registered cows of three regions; Andalusia, Basque Country and Catalonia. The hazard function was described as the product of a baseline hazard function and the time-independent effects of age at first calving, lactation number-stage of lactation, annual change in herd size, milk, fat and protein yield. Sire and maternal grandsire and herd-year-season of calving were considered as random effects. Percentage of right-censored data ranged from 41.9% to 52.7% for the analysed data sets. All the effects analyzed were significant (P < 0.0001) and had a great influence on the risk of culling of a cow, except for the age at first calving which showed a relatively small effect. Higher risk for factors such as age at first calving, change in herd size and relative level of milk production was associated with the more extreme classes. The consistency of the results among regional samples which represent diverse production systems in the population indicated that the proposed model could be applied at the national level. The relatively low heritability (0.048 to 0.074) suggests that genetic improvement of LPL could be effective if the direct evaluation is combined with indirect measures of LPL.     

Whole sunflower seeds as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids for grazing dairy cows: Effects on metabolic profiles and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity

Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could modify follicular dynamics and reduce the length of the interval from calving to first ovulation (ICOV) in dairy cows, associated with changes in metabolites (i.e. cholesterol) or hormones (i.e. IGF-I). To test this hypothesis, 48 cows were stratified in two groups (primiparous or multiparous) and within each group were randomly assigned to three treatments to begin at calving: 0 kg (SS0), 0.7 kg (SS0.7) and 1.4 kg (SS1.4) of whole sunflower seeds (WSS) per cow per day. The experimental period lasted for 60 days after calving and the diets, which consisted of direct grazing of improved pastures, whole-plant wheat silage and concentrates, were designed to be isocaloric and isoproteic (1.6 Mcal NEL/kg DM, 16.7% CP). Ovaries were examined by ultrasound three times per week from day 8 postpartum (PP) until first PP ovulation. Body condition score (BCS) was determined and blood samples were collected weekly from calving to characterize the metabolic profiles. In treatments SS0.7 and SS1.4, 7/8 and 6/8 primiparous cows ovulated the first follicular wave PP, compared with only 1/8 primiparous cow in treatment SS0, while there were no treatment differences in multiparous cows. The ICOV was 44, 21 and 19 days for the primiparous, and 22, 21 and 25 days for the multiparous cows, in treatments SS0, SS0.7 and SS1.4, respectively. Treatments had no effect on BCS, plasma IGF-I and metabolic profiles except that NEFA and urea were increased by WSS supplementation. Intake of PUFA (WSS up to 1.4 kg/day or 6.7% of the diet) during early lactation reduced the ICOV in primiparous grazing dairy cows in early lactation but not in multiparous cows, and while the precise mechanism for these results is unclear, it was not related to changes in the plasma concentrations of IGF-I or cholesterol.     

Genetic, phenotypic, and environmental parameter estimates of calving difficulty, weight, and measures of pelvic size in beef heifers.

The heritabilities for and the genetic, phenotypic, and environmental correlations among calving difficulty scores (CDS) and measures of size of the pelvic inlet were estimated using 547 records of 2-yr-old heifers from three synthetic breed groups. Calving difficulty score was treated first as a trait of the dam and then as a trait of the calf and was analyzed on three scales: raw scores from 0 to 3 (0 = normal birth, 3 = most difficult delivery requiring a hard pull, veterinary assistance, or surgical intervention), Snell-transformed scores, and a binary (0, 1) scale. Estimates of heritability for CDS as a trait of the dam were similar to those when it was considered a trait of the calf. Heritability estimates for CDS on the raw and transformed scales were similar and moderate in magnitude (.36 +/- .15 to .47 +/- .18) but were higher than most reported estimates. However, on the binary scale the estimates were lower (.26 +/- .17, .28 +/- .14). Estimates of heritability for the horizontal and vertical pelvic diameters and the pelvic area were high, implying that pelvic size in heifers might be readily modified by selection. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between CDS as a dam trait and pelvic dimensions were low, whereas the correlations between CDS and dam weight at calving were moderate. As a calf trait, CDS was highly correlated genetically with calf birth weight, but the phenotypic correlations were moderate.