Effect of Early Postpartum Ovulation on Fertility in Dairy Cows

Our objectives were to determine the effects of early ovulation on fertility and uterine health of dairy cows. Four hundred and forty‐five Holstein cows (185 primiparous and 260 multiparous) from five herds were used. Blood samples were collected at 21, 35 and 49 days in milk (DIM) and cows were considered to be cyclic at 21 DIM (Cyc21) if serum progesterone (P4) concentration was above 1 ng/ml, cyclic by 49 DIM (Cyc49) if P4 concentration was above 1 ng/ml at 35 or 49 DIM, or not cyclic (NotCyc) if P4 concentration was below 1 ng/ml at all sample times. Endometrial cytology for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis was examined at 49 DIM in a subset of 414 cows. Cows in the group Cyc21 had increased hazard of insemination, for the first service, compared with cows in Cyc49 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.10–1.79; p = 0.006] and NotCyc (HR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.52–2.82; p < 0.001). Cows in the Cyc49 group also had increased hazard of insemination compared with cows in the NotCyc group (HR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.13–1.93; p = 0.005). Median days to insemination were, respectively, 71, 76 and 96 for cows in Cyc21, Cyc49 and NotCyc groups. Cows in Cyc21 had greater first service pregnancy per AI than Cyc49 [38.6 vs 28.1%; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.01–2.75; p = 0.04] and NotCyc (38.6 vs 23.6%; AOR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.08–4.00; p = 0.03). Pregnancy per AI was similar in Cyc49 and NotCyc cows (28.1 vs 23.6%; AOR = 1.25; 95% CI = 0.70–2.24; p = 0.45). Cows in Cyc21 had increased hazard of pregnancy up to 300 DIM compared with Cyc49 (HR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.17–1.96; p = 0.002) and NotCyc (HR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.41–2.78; p < 0.001). Cows in Cyc49 tended to have increased hazard of pregnancy compared with NotCyc (HR = 1.31; 95% CI = 0.96–1.77; p = 0.09). Median days to pregnancy were, respectively, 103, 147 and 173 for cows in Cyc21, Cyc49 and NotCyc groups. Cows in the Cyc21 group had decreased prevalence of subclinical endometritis compared with cows in the NotCyc group (29.9 vs 43.7%; AOR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.29–0.97; p = 0.04); however, the prevalence did not differ from the Cyc49 group (29.9 vs 39.1%; AOR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.41–1.14; p = 0.15). Cyc49 cows had similar prevalence of subclinical endometritis compared with NotCyc cows (AOR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.46–1.29; p = 0.32). Early postpartum ovulation was associated with improved uterine health and fertility.     

Quantifying patch distribution at multiple spatial scales: Applications to wildlife-habitat models

Multiscale analyses are widely employed for wildlife-habitat studies. In most cases, however, each scale is considered discrete and little emphasis is placed on incorporating or measuring the responses of wildlife to resources across multiple scales. We modeled the responses of three Arctic wildlife species to vegetative resources distributed at two spatial scales: patches and collections of patches aggregated across a regional area. We defined a patch as a single or homogeneous collection of pixels representing 1 of 10 unique vegetation types. We employed a spatial pattern technique, three-term local quadrat variance, to quantify the distribution of patches at a larger regional scale. We used the distance at which the variance for each of 10 vegetation types peaked to define a moving window for calculating the density of patches. When measures of vegetation patch and density were applied to resource selection functions, the most parsimonious models for wolves and grizzly bears included covariates recorded at both scales. Seasonal resource selection by caribou was best described using a model consisting of only regional scale covariates. Our results suggest that for some species and environments simple patch-scale models may not capture the full range of spatial variation in resources to which wildlife may respond. For mobile animals that range across heterogeneous areas we recommend selection models that integrate resources occurring at a number of spatial scales. Patch density is a simple technique for representing such higher-order spatial patterns.     

Protein requirements of growing pups fed practical dry-type diets containing mixed-protein sources

The protein requirement of Pointer pups fed practical diets was assessed in 3 experiments. Eight-week-old pups required 25.2% protein when fed a combination of corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and meat and bone meal for 2 weeks. However, when a poor-quality poultry by-product meal was substituted for some of the corn gluten meal and meat and bone meal, the requirement increased to 27.5%. This increased requirement was explained by decreased digestibility of the poultry by-product meal diet. Pups fed each of the diets required 18% digestible protein to maximize growth rate. Sixteen-week-old pups were more efficient at utilizing the experimental diets, requiring only 23% crude protein (17.2% digestible protein) to maximize growth rate.     

Long‐term Effects of Pyrethrin and Cyfluthrin,a Type II Synthetic Pyrethroid,Insecticide Applications on Bull Reproductive Parameters

The objectives of this study were to determine effects of cyfluthrin and pyrethrin spray products, used in combination with cyfluthrin topical and ear tag applications, on bull reproductive parameters over 18 weeks. Angus or Angus x Simmental bulls were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (i) no exposure to pyrethrins/cyfluthrin (CONT; n = 10), (ii) cyfluthrin ear tag and topical applications (ET; n = 10), or (iii) cyfluthrin ear tag, topical, premise spray and pyrethrin fog spray applications (ET+S; n = 8). Bull body weight was measured every 3 week, and body condition score and scrotal circumference were recorded on weeks 0, 9 and 18. Semen and serum were collected every 3 weeks for sperm evaluation and testosterone measurement, respectively. There was a treatment × week interaction (p < 0.01) for sperm with primary defects; bulls in CONT group had a greater (p = 0.01) percentage of sperm with primary defects than bulls treated with insecticides at week 18. Overall and progressive sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, secondary sperm defects and serum testosterone concentrations changed (p < 0.01) over time in all bulls; however, treatment did not affect (p ≥ 0.13) any of these parameters. There were also no treatment effects (p ≥ 0.08) on bull body weight, body condition score or scrotal circumference. The use of pyrethrin‐ and cyfluthrin‐based insecticides, regardless of application, did not negatively affect reproductive parameters in beef bulls when administered over 18 weeks.     

Decomposition of cattle dung on grazed signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) pastures in monoculture or intercropped with tree legumes

Livestock excreta is one of the major nutrient sources in natural grasslands. Understanding how livestock diet and season affects the decomposition dynamics is critical to nutrient cycling models. We hypothesised that livestock diet and season of the year affect dung decomposition. This study evaluated the decomposition and release of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na from faeces of cattle collected in dry and wet seasons. Treatments were signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) in monoculture or mixed with sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) or gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.). Excreta samples were incubated in nylon bags for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 d. The single negative exponential mathematical model was adequate (P < 0.0001) to explain the decomposition. The relative rate of dung decomposition (k) was greater for samples that originated from cattle grazed on signalgrass (k = 0.00284 g g^?1 d^?1), followed by sabiá (k = 0.00233 g g^?1 d^?1), and gliricidia (k = 0.00200 g g^?1 d^?1) pastures. The rate of nutrient release showed a time effect for all variables and interaction between time and season for Ca (P = 0.0042) and Mg (P = 0.0013). Faeces collected from cattle grazing/browsing intercropped pastures tended to have lower decomposition rates.