Effects of body condition score and daily milk yield on reproduction traits of Czech Fleckvieh cows

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Stadnik L., Atasever S., Duchacek J.

ANIMAL REPRODUCTION, vol.14, pp.1264-1269, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 14
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Doi Number: 10.21451/1984-3143-ar944
  • Journal Name: ANIMAL REPRODUCTION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1264-1269
  • Keywords: correlation, dairy cow, days open, milk yield, ovarian cyst, POSTPARTUM DAIRY-COWS, HOLSTEIN COWS, OVARIAN CYSTS, FERTILITY, PERFORMANCE, CATTLE, NUTRITION, DISEASE, SYSTEM, HEALTH
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of body condition score (BCS) and daily milk yield (DMY) on reproductive characteristics of dairy cows. A total of 1249 records of Czech Fleckvieh cows raised at a private farm in Prague were enrolled. Dairy cows were grouped according to BCS (1 = <= 3.75, 2 = 4-4.25 and 3 = >= 4.50) and DMY groups (<20kg, 20-30 kg and >30kg). Number of inseminations per pregnancy (NI), days open (DO), service period (SP) and ovarian cyst (OC) cases were evaluated as reproduction characteristics. While the group with BCS = 4.50 presented higher DO, the group with BCS <= 3.75 had lower OC cases when compared with other BCS groups. The group with DMY<20 kg had higher DO but lower OC cases than other DMY groups. Significant correlations were estimated between SP and NI (r = 0.843) or DO (r = 0.256), and between OC and DO (r = 0.546). The results revealed the effects of BCS and DMY on DO and OC and associations of reproduction traits each other. Therefore, close tracking production and reproduction data is suggested as a major process to prevent fertility problems and to obtain high productivity in dairy cows.