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New insights into factors affecting reproduction

Published on: 05/29/2008

Source : University of Minnesota Dairy Extension

Which of the following factor(s) affect reproductive performance of dairy cows: a) milk production, b) bunk space, c) type of bedding used in the far off pen, or d) hoof trimming schedule? Stay tuned - you might be surprised at the answers.Troubleshooting reproductive performance in dairy herds can be very frustrating. It often appears that herds very similar in management styles have very differe...

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Prof. Dr. M. Subhan Qureshi

Peshawar, North-West Frontier, Pakistan

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Livestock Management Department

North-West Frontier, Pakistan

Re: News: New insights into factors affecting reproduction

05/29/2008 | This study showed reproductive performance of dairy animals" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-family:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;">dairy animals with the changing managemeng environment. I am quoting our work from Pakistan.

In Pakistan where peri-urban dairy buffaloes are used as the primary source of milk for the urban pupulation. Indo-Pakistan sub-continent, buffalo farming is practiced on non-scientific lines and there is no tradition of consulting animal health, reproduction or nutritional experts in identifying or addressing the relevant problems. The socio-economic status of the peri-urban dairy farmers is usually low, getting negligible inputs from livestock, financial or marketing institutions or experts. The major causes associated with the under-developed buffalo farms have been identified as: i) calf losses, irregular breeding, imbalanced feeding ii) ungainly loans and iii) a hostile marketing system. The three causes at commercial buffalo herds throughout Pakistan, lead to annual losses to the tune of Rs.1043.67 billions (US$ 1=Rs.60) (Qureshi, 2000).

The normal breeding season in the NWFP begins in August and coincides with the feeding of non-leguminous fodders, such as sorghum and maize. Food proteins arehydrolyzed to peptides and amino acids by rumen microorganisms but some amino acids are degraded to organic acids, ammonia and carbon dioxide. Rumen degradable proteins are either converted by ruminal microflora, to microbial protein and digested in the small intestine or they are hydrolyzed to ammonia and excreted as urea.

Our group concluded that excess intake of crude protein, associated with increasing serum urea levels, may lead to delayed postpartum ovarian activity in Nili-Ravi buffaloes under field conditions. Low energy intake associated with poor body condition of buffaloes (BCS2.75), may be a key factor for low reproductive efficiency in the animals. Improving the pre- and postpartum nutrition of such animals is likely to overcome the problem.

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Tushar Kumar Mohanty

Karnal, Haryana, India

Agricultural Engineer

Re: News: New insights into factors affecting reproduction

10/26/2008 | I have same findings in our Murrah Buffalo Herd at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India, where the supply of fodder is seasonally influenced and animals get plenty of Berseem with high crude protein level in Dec to April. Buffaloes calving in winter have longer calving interval and hifh service per conception in comparison to animals calving in other season.

This problem of high blood urea nitrogen is also encountered in our study which is reported by Dr. Qureshi in Nili Ravi Buffaloes. However, in farmers house fresh chaffed Berseem is mixied with wheat Bhusa and concentrate and are generally supplied three to four times a day and had less problem unlike in our farm where Berseem is supplied without chaffing and wheat busa and concentrate supplied at different times without mixing.

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