Influence of Interval From Calving and Season on Follicular Development, Onset of Oestrus, Conception and Embryonic Mortality During Early Post Partum Period of Cross Bred Cows Under Humid Tropical Climate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijar.2025.46.02.8Keywords:
Conception, Dairy Cow, Embryonic Loss, Ovarian Follicle, Thermal StressAbstract
Dairy cows suffer extreme physiological stress during the early stages of lactation depending on the milk yield and climatic adversities, delaying post-partum (PP) fertility. The present study intended to assess the influence of interval from calving and seasons on the resumption of PP fertility. Reproductive ultrasonography of eight early PP cows each was performed every week and continued year-round replacing four cows every month. Details of ovarian structures, oestrus detected, AI done, conception, and embryonic loss were analyzed for variations between weeks of early PP and across seasons. A total of 381 ultrasonography (USG) checks revealed functionally active ovaries throughout the period of study having tiny follicles, prominent antral follicles, and evidence of recent ovulation in 99.23%, 94.17%, and 64.56% respectively. Functionally active follicles were highest during summer and lowest in post-summer (P<0.05) attributable respectively to the direct and delayed effect of thermal stress (TS). Oestrus and conceptions were almost uniform across the weekly intervals, while AI done and conception were lowest (28.57%) during summer. Overall conception of AI and embryonic loss were 48.71 % and 21.05 % respectively and all the embryonic losses occurred before 35 days PP. In spite of the highest conception rate (75.00 %), the embryonic loss was maximum (40.00 %) during post-sum mer, being the delayed impact of TS. To conclude, even though ovaries are functionally active throughout the early PP period, seasons of direct and delayed effect of TS seriously affect the fertility of cross-bred dairy cows under the humid tropical climate.
References
Abdalla, H., Elghafghuf, A., Elsohaby, I., and Nasr, M. A. F. (2017). Maternal and non-maternal factors associated with late embryonic and early fetal losses in dairy cows. Theriogenology, 100: 16–23.
Butler, W. R. (2000). Nutritional interactions with reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 61: 449-457.
Choudhary, K. K., Bharadwaj, A., Sharma, R. K., Jerome, A., Khanna, S., and Kumar, R. (2023). Influence of parity and calving season on resumption of ovarian cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes. Indian J. Anim. Reprod., 44: 1-15.
Das, R., Sailo, L., Verma, N., Bharti, P., Saikia, J., Imtiwati, S., and Kumar, R. (2016). Impact of heat stress on health and performance of dairy animals: A review. Vet. World, 9: 260-268.
De-Rensis, F., Marconi, P., Capelli, T., Gatti, F., Facciolongo, F., and Franzini, S. (2002). Fertility in postpartum dairy cows in winter or summer following estrus synchronization and fixed time AI after the induction of an LH surge with GnRH or hCG. Theriogenology, 58: 1675-1687.
El-Tarabany, M. S., and El-Tarabany, A. A. (2015). Impact of maternal heat stress at insemination on the subsequent reproductive performance of Holstein, Brown Swiss, and their crosses. Theriogenology, 84: 1523-1529.
Ginther, O. J. (2016). Theory of follicle selection in cattle. Dom. Anim. Endocrinol., 57: 85-99.
Gomez, N. A., Conley, A. J., and Robinson, P. H. (2018). Effects of long-term, near-term, and real-time energy balance and blood progesterone concentrations on the pregnancy rate of contemporary dairy cows. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 189: 136-145.
Hansen, P. J. (2009). Effects of heat stress on mammalian reproduction. Philosophical Transactions Royal Soc. Bio. Sci., 364(1534): 3341-3350.
ICAR-NIANP. (2013). Nutrient requirements of animals—Cattle and Buffalo. Technical Bulletin, 58 p.
Krishnan, G., Bagath, M., Pragna, P., Vidya, M. K., Aleena, J., Archana, R., and Bhatta, R. (2017). Mitigation of the heat stress impact in livestock reproduction. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69091 pp. 63-86.
Kutty, C. I. (2021). Uniqueness of seasons in Kerala–Implications on thermal stress and productivity of animals in Kerala. J. Vet. Anim. Sci., 52: 48-54.
Kutty, C. I., Pramod, S., Abdul Azeez, C. P., Bibin Becha, B., Pramod, K., and Ventakatachalapathy, R. T. (2019). Seasonal variations in reproductive performance of crossbred cows in Kerala and the influence of climatic stress factors over a period of six years. Theriogenology Insight, 9: 93-100.
Lopez-Gatius, F. (2003). Is fertility declining in dairy cattle? A retrospective study in north-eastern Spain. Theriogenology, 60: 89-99.
Macias-Cruz, U., Gastelum, M. A., Alvarez, F. D., Correa, A., Diaz, R., Meza-Herrera, C. A., and Avendano-Reyes, L. (2016). Effects of summer heat stress on physiological variables, ovulation and progesterone secretion in Pelibuey ewes under natural outdoor conditions in an arid region. Anim. Sci. J., 87: 354-360.
Morris, M. J., Kaneko, K., Walker, S. L., Jones, D. N., Routly, J. E., Smith, R. F., and Dobson, H. (2011). Influence of lameness on follicular growth, ovulation, reproductive hormone concentrations and estrus behaviour in dairy cows. Theriogenology, 76: 658-668.
Pavani, K., Carvalhais, I., Faheem, M., Chaveiro, A., Reis, F. V., and Da-Silva, F. M. (2015). Reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows grazing in dry-summer subtropical climatic conditions: Effect of heat stress and heat shock on meiotic competence and in vitro fertilization. Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci., 28: 334-342.
Roth, Z., Meidan, R., Braw-Tal, R., and Wolfenson, D. (2000). Immediate and delayed effects of heat stress on follicular development and its association with plasma FSH and inhibin concentration in cows. J. Reprod. Infertil., 120: 83-90.
Saacke, R. G., Dalton, J. C., Nadir, S., Nebel, R. L., and Bame, J. H. (2000). Relationship of seminal traits and insemination time to fertilization rate and embryo quality. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 60: 663-677.
Sachin, S. A. K., Ahuja, A., Thakur, D., Kumar, P., Sharma, A., and Sood, P. (2024). Incidence of transitional period reproductive disorders in crossbred cows. Indian J. Anim. Reprod., 45: 35–38.
Santos, J. E. P., Cerri, R. L. A., Ballou, M. A., Higginbotham, G. E., and Kirk, J. H. (2004). Effect of timing of first clinical mastitis occurrence on lactational and reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 80: 13-18.
Sartorelli, E. S., Carvalho, L. M., Bergfelt, D. R., Ginther, O. J., and Barros, C. M. (2005). Morphological characterization of follicle deviation in Nellore (Bos indicus) heifers and cows. Theriogenology, 63: 2382-2394.
Silke, V., Diskin, M. G., Kenny, D. A., Boland, M. P., Dillon, P., and Mee, J. F. (2002). Extent, pattern and factors associated with late embryonic losses in dairy cows. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 71: 1-12.
Stevenson, J. S. (2018). Dominance of right ovary structures in lactating dairy cows. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Research Reports, 4: 10.
Torres-Junior, J. R. D. S., Pires, M. D. F., De-Sa, W. F., Ferreira, A. D. M., Viana, J. H. M., Camargo, L. S. A., and Baruselli, P. S. (2008). Effect of maternal heat stress on follicular growth and oocyte competence in Bos indicus cattle. Theriogenology, 69(2): 155-166.
