Fertility and profitability in dairyfarms

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Fertility and profitability in dairy-farms
Prof. Arie Brand D.V.M. Ph.D.
Parma, 15th June 2001 GREAT HALL OF THE FACULTY
OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
with the support of the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine of the University of Parma
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Factors which influence reproductive
"performance" in the dairy cow
Prof. Arie Brand D.V.M. Ph.D.
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THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM OF THE MODERN DAIRY FARM IS

• REDUCED REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY

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REDUCED PRIMARY REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

• CALVING TO FIRST OVULATION INTERVAL (Lucy et al.,
  1992 De Vries and Veerkamp, 2000)
• 60s . 29 3 days
• 90's . 43 5 days

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REDUCED SECONDARY REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

• The percentage of cows in anestrus at the start
  of lactation is increasing (Opsomer et al., 1998)
  
• pregnancy at first service
• 1951 from 55 to 65
• 1996 from 35 to 45

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COW
FERTILITY
MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENT
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DRY MATTER INTAKE (DMI) CLOSE TO CALVING
(Bertice et to the. 1992)
calving
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FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE REPRODUCTIVE
"PERFORMANCE" IN THE DAIRY COW (1).

• General factors
• dry matter intake
• negative energy balance
• fatty degeneration of the liver
• pre-calving
• post-calving

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Estimate of the NEl and raw protein balances of a
cow in transition which has undergone a severe
deficiency of dry matter intake prior to calving
and of a cow (802) which has not undergone a
reduction in intake
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CONSEQUENCES OF A REDUCED DRY MATTER INTAKE PRIOR
TO CALVING (1)

• NEGATIVE ENERGY BALANCE
• MOBILISATION OF BODY FAT
• INCREASE IN THE PLASMA CONCENTRATION OF "NEFA"
• ACCUMULATION OF TRIGLYCERIDES IN THE LIVER
• HEPATIC COMPROMISE

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CONSEQUENCES OF A REDUCED DRY MATTER INTAKE PRIOR
TO CALVING (2)

• DETERIORATION IN THE STATE OF NUTRITION
• REDUCED HEALTH AND (RE)PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE
  AFTER CALVING

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NEGATIVE ENERGY BALANCE COURSE IN COWS AFTER
CALVING
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Course of the plasma NEFA concentrations prior to
calving (Emery and Dyk, 1996)
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NEFA CONCENTRATIONS AROUND CALVING
NEFA
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DAY IN RELATION TO CALVING
(A) Changes in the level of hepatic triglycerides
(TG) (percentage dry matter) in relation to
calving. (Vazquez-Anon et al., 1994)
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HEPATIC STEATOSIS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES (1)

• ALMOST ALL COWS SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE CONTENT
  OF TRIGLYCERIDES IN THE LIVER THE DAY AFTER
  CALVING, BUT THE GREATEST ACCUMULATION OF FAT IN
  THE LIVER OCCURS BETWEEN 2 WEEKS BEFORE AND ONE
  DAY AFTER CALVING
• AFTER CALVING, HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS USUALLY SHOWS A
  SLIGHT INCREASE, BUT IT IS MINIMAL IF COMPARED
  WITH THAT OBSERVED BEFORE AND DURING CALVING

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HEPATIC STEATOSIS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES (2)

• IN FAT COWS, IN THOSE TO WHICH A LOW ENERGY
  DENSITY DIET IS ADMINISTERED AND IN THOSE
  SUFFERING FROM PUERPERAL DISORDERS, ACCUMULATION
  OF FAT IN THE LIVER MAY CONTINUE FOR A PERIOD
  AFTER CALVING.
• DURING LACTATION, THE MAMMARY GLAND BECOMES A
  DEPOSIT FOR FAT, WHICH MUST BE SYNTHESISED IN
  MILK AND PROTECTS THE LIVER FROM STEATOSIS.

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GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION
THE THIRD STAGE OF THE DRY PERIOD (CLOSE UP
PERIOD)

• TO MINIMISE THE NEGATIVE ENERGY BALANCE AND
  MAXIMISE RUMENAL FUNCTION
• Administration of a high energy density diet
  containing degradable carbohydrates (the quantity
  of feed administered should be gradually
  increased up to 3.5 Kg., three weeks prior to
  calving)
• A diet containing 12 of total proteins
• Making available a self-feeding station
• Ensuring ample availability of clean fresh water

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GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION
THE THIRD STAGE OF THE DRY PERIOD (CLOSE UP
PERIOD)

• Weekly measurement of the pH of the urine
• Prevention of hypocalcemia with anionic salts if
  necessary
• Prevention of stress (overcrowding, difficult
  access to food)
• Maximum attention to comfort
• Access to an external fenced-off area for
  physical excercise
• Administration of propylene glycol if necessary
• as a glucogenic precursor
• to induce release of insulin
• Milking of problem cows prior to calving
• Recording of events

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PHYSICAL EXCERCISE
GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION

• Physical excercise prior to calving stimulates
• metabolism of the NEFA
• metabolism of muscle glycogen
• blood circulation (edema)
• and prevents
• laminitis due to mechanical causes

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GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION
AT CALVING

• Avoid moving the cows just prior to calving
• Pay attention to hygienic conditions and the
  availability of space in the "calving barn"
• Be careful of hygiene in any assistence at
  calving
• Remove the calf immediately after birth
• Milk the cow completely immediately after calving.

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GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION
AT CALVING (2)

• Ensure the availability of palatable food and
  clean fresh water
• Verify the BCS
• Measure the quantity of colostrum produced on the
  first day of lactation
• Move the cow into the primipara group

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GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION
START OF LACTATION (1)

• MILK THE COWS THREE TIMES A DAY IN THE INITIAL
  PERIOD
• PUT INTO EFFECT AGGRESSIVE FEEDER MANAGEMENT TO
  MAXIMISE INTAKE
• DAILY MEASUREMENT OF THE DRY MATTER INTAKE
• GRADUAL INCREASE THE PROTEIN CONTENT OF THE
  RATION UP TO 15 IN THE FIRST MONTH OF LACTATION

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GUIDELINES FOR AN OPTIMAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION
START OF LACTATION (2)

• MEASURE MILK PRODUCTION AT LEAST WEEKLY
• TAKE THE TEMPERATURES OF THE COWS DAILY FOR THE
  FIRST 10 DAYS
• CONTROL THE COWS WEEKLY FOR THE PRESENCE OF
  KETOSIS
• MEASURE THE BCS EVERY TWO WEEKS
• KEEP RECORDS AND EVALUATE PERFORMANCE

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FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE PERFORMANCE (2)

• Factors related to the cow
• dystocia
• factors not connected with pathology
• increase in milk production
• increase in size of the herd
• anagraphic composition of the herd
• body condition (BCS)

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FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE PERFORMANCE (2)

• Factors related to the cow
• factors connected with pathologies
• diseases of the reproductive sphere
• Retained placenta
• Endometritis / metritis
• Cystic ovarian disease
• Anestrus

• metabolic disorders
• lameness (laminitis)
• infectious diseases

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Relationship between milk production and
reproduction
The relationship between milk production and
conception rate (CR) in Holstein cows in the
state of New York (Beam and Butler, 1999)
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Reproductive performance subdivided by production
of milk for primipara Holstein cows in
experimental herds of Nord Carolina
(Taken from Faust et al., 1988)
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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY CONDITION, LOSS OF BODY
CONDITION AND SUBSEQUENT REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE
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Number of days between calving and first
ovulation in dairy cows with different BCS losses
in the first month after (Beam and Butler, 1997
1998)
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Mean BCS at specific moments of the dry period
and lactation in pluripara and primipara cows
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EFFECT OF BODY CONDITION ON THE PREGNANCY RATES
IN THE OVSINC PROGRAMME
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Effect on conception rate of the change in BCS in
531 cows between calving and insemination
Ferguson et al., 1996
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CONCEPTION
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FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE REPRODUCTIVE
"PERFORMANCE" IN THE DAIRY COW (3)

• Management factors
• length of the voluntary waiting period
• dietary management (intake proportion of CHO and
  No in the ration)
• Accuracy and efficiency of detection of heat
• Handling of semen, time and technique of
  insemination
• Stress
• Use of Somatotropin
• consanguinity
• Seasonal insemination
• Economic reasons
• ..

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Relationship between ingestion of dry substance
at day 1 pre-calving and at 28 days post-calving
(Grummer, 1995)
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MANAGEMENT OF HEAT DETECTION

• FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE DETECTION OR
  MANIFESTATION OF HEAT
• Frequency of observation / time of day
• Skill of the breeder and/or personnel in
  recognising estrus
• Days of lactation and number of cycles
• Length of estrus
• Number of cows in the group and number of those
  in the sexually-active group
• Space available and possibility of interaction
  for the active cows
• Conditions of flooring
• Climatic conditions and other "stress" factors
• body condition)
• Handling of the animals (diet, separation,
  capture... )

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DETECTION OF HEAT

• Inefficient and imprecise detection of heat is
  very often cited as the commonest and most
  expensive cause of failure of AI
  programmes/reproductive performance
• Failure to detect heats delays the first service
  lengthens the interval between heats and the
  calving - conception period and also increases
  replacement.
• It contributes to increasing the interpartum
  period more than failure to conceive.

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Frequency of distribution of onset of estral
manifestations at different times of day
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MANAGEMENT OF HEAT DETECTION
Fonseca et al. 1983
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MANAGEMENT OF HEAT DETECTION
Mean length of the stage of estrus in high-yeild
cows
Nebel et al. 1997
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MANAGEMENT OF HEAT DETECTION
Effect of the number of sexually-active cows in
the group
Beggs et al. 1999
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MANAGEMENT OF HEAT DETECTION
Effect of the type of flooring and estral
manifestations in Friesian breed cows
Britt et al. 1986
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AIDS TO DETECTION OF HEAT

• Colouring or paint on the base of of the
  tail/rump
• Pressure-activated heat detectors
• Kamar heat detectors
• Electronic devices
• pedometers
• pressure-sensitive "Heat" watch
• Androgenised cows
• Bulls with surgical deviation of the penis?

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Frequency and purpose of hormonal injections for
synchronisation of heat in lactating cows
(Ovsynch) (Fricke, 1999)
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HERD PREGNANCY RATE (PR)

• The reproductive performance of a herd is best
  measured by the Herd pregnancy rate (PR) which is
  the product of the percentage of heat detection
  and the conception rate.
• The PR indicates the proportions of cows which
  become pregnant each 21 days after the start of
  insemination

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EXAMPLE

• If the mean detection of heats is 45, the PR is
  (45 x 45) 20, which means a mating period of 126
  days is required for 75 of the cows to become
  pregnant.

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Example of how the PR aids improvement of the
capacity to detect heat
RC Conception Rate Heat Detection Rate
PR Pregnancy Rate
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MANAGEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

• Handling of semen
• Time of insemination
• Technique of insemination

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Percentage of pregnancy obtained from
inseminations performed at intervals of 4 hours
after the start of acceptance of the stud as
measured by Heat Watch (system of electronic
detection of heat) in 17 herds (2661 AI.). (Taken
from Faust et al., 1998).
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The time of artificial insemination is the fruit
of a compromise (calculated pregnancy indices,
based on classification of embryos as excellent,
good, fair and degenerated), taken from Dalton et
al., 1998.
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Variations in the temperatures in the neck of a
container of liquid nitrogen with a neck 15 cm
(6 inches) long (Saacke, 1974)
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Variations in the temperatures after removal of
a 0.5 ml dose from the thawing bath in the
loading time (Saacke, 1977)
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The conception rates are greater for the first
two doses used.
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FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE REPRODUCTIVE
"PERFORMANCE" IN THE DAIRY COW (4)

• ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
• Housing conditions
• Climatic conditions

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CONCLUSIONS

• Reproduction is a part of the global management
  of the herd and cannot be managed or monitored in
  isolation
• Reproductive performance starts prior to
  calving
• The period of transition is the most critical
  period in the production cycle of the dairy cow

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CONCLUSIONS (2)

• Reproduction is closely related to diet
• An optimal reproductive performance can be
  obtained only with a good understanding of
  nutrition
• Detection of heat and management of insemination
  are key factors for good reproductive
  performance.

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FATRO thanks Prof. A. Brand, Dr. A. Brizzi and
Prof. E. Parmigiani for their invaluable
collaboration