Effects of feed in the dry period on fertility of dairy cows post partum

T.A.M. Kruip, G.A.L. Meijer, T. Rukkwamsuk, T. Wensing

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    Abstract

    It has been hypothesized that the decrease in fertility of dairy cows is related to the increase in milk yield and associated with fatty liver and increased vulnerability for both infection and metabolic diseases. To elucidate the mechanisms behind this complex of health and reproductive problems an Animal Model, based on overfeeding in the dry period, has been developed. In an experiment carried out in 1996 sixteen animals were fed 119 MJ/d net energy to lactation (NEL) (experimental group) and another sixteen just 49 MJ/d NEL (control group) in the last 8 weeks before parturition. During lactation the cows from both groups were given the lactation ration ad libitum. After parturition both groups differed significantly in level and duration of the NEB, in weight loss, increased concentrations of NEFAs and bHBB in the blood and TAG in the liver. Although the insulin level was lower in the experimental animals during the first week, the difference was not significant. The number of ovulations within the first 100 days pp was significant lower in the experimental group and was related to depth and duration of the NEB and the weight loss: more NEB leads to less ovulations. The interval partus-le ovulation was also significant different but related to the TAG level in the liver: more TAG leads to a longer interval. The experimental group with the fatty liver suffered more incidenses of metabolic diseases. It has been concluded that the Model leads to a severe NEB, to Fatty Liver and to more incidences of diseases. Both the NEB and the fatty liver influence the fertility of the cows pp and it can not be excluded that some diseases have an effect too. More studies are planned to unravel the factors that affect the fertility of high yielding cows.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)165-168
    JournalReproduction in Domestic Animals
    Volume33
    Issue number3-4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1998

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