Abstract #M305
Section: Production, Management and the Environment
Session: Production, Management and the Environment I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
Session: Production, Management and the Environment I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
# M305
Association among body condition score change, milk yield, and reproductive performance of Holstein cows.
Ricardo C. Chebel*1, Pablo J. Pinedo2, Jose E. P. Santos1, Gustavo Schuenemann3, Guilherme J. M. Rosa4, Robert Gilbert5, Rodrigo C. Bicalho5, Klibs N. Galvao1, Christopher Seabury6, John Fetrow7, William W. Thatcher1, Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas8, 1University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo, TX, 3Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 4University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 5Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 6Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 7University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 8University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
Key Words: Holstein cow, body condition score, reproductive performance
Association among body condition score change, milk yield, and reproductive performance of Holstein cows.
Ricardo C. Chebel*1, Pablo J. Pinedo2, Jose E. P. Santos1, Gustavo Schuenemann3, Guilherme J. M. Rosa4, Robert Gilbert5, Rodrigo C. Bicalho5, Klibs N. Galvao1, Christopher Seabury6, John Fetrow7, William W. Thatcher1, Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas8, 1University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo, TX, 3Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 4University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 5Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 6Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 7University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 8University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
Objectives were to determine the association among body condition score change from calving to 35 DIM, resumption of cyclicity by 50 DIM and both productive and reproductive performance. Holstein cows (n = 5,175) from 9 dairy herds from the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest of the USA were used in this experiment. Cows were BCS at 3 ± 3 and 35 ± 3 DIM. Cows were classified according to BCS change [Gained(G), No change(NC), Moderate loss(ML) = −0.25 to −0.75, and Extreme loss(EL) < −0.75]. Study personnel examined cows for retained placenta and metritis. Blood sampled at 7 DIM was used to diagnose ketosis (BHB >1.0 mmol/L). Calf gender, occurrence of calving problems (twins, stillbirth, and dystocia), and occurrence of mastitis, displacement of abomasum, and respiratory illness within the first 60 DIM were recorded. Cows were milk thrice daily and average milk yield in the first 90 DIM recorded. Continuous data were analyzed by ANOVA, dichotomous data were analyzed by logistic regression, and pregnancy hazard ratio was analyzed by Cox Proportional Hazard Ratio. The interaction between BCS at 3 DIM and BCS change was associated with milk yield (P < 0.01). Among cows calving with BCS < 3.25, milk yield was lowest for cows gaining BCS and cows with extreme BCS loss from 3 to 35 DIM (G = 34.4 ± 0.3,NC = 37.1 ± 0.3,ML = 38.2 ± 0.3,XL = 34.4 ± 4.4kg/d). Among cows calving with BCS = 3.25 to 3.5 (G = 35.4 ± 0.5, NC = 36.3 ± 0.3,ML = 37.9 ± 0.2, XL = 39.1 ± 1.0kg/d) and cows calving with BCS >3.5 (G = 26.0 ± 2.3,NC = 35.0 ± 1.0,ML = 37.5 ± 0.4, XL = 38.5 ± 0.9kg/d) milk yield was greatest when cows had extreme BCS loss from 3 to 35 DIM. Change in BCS from 3 to 35 DIM was associated (P < 0.01) with likelihood of cows resuming cyclicity by 50 DIM (G = 78.8%, NC = 76.4%,ML = 74.8%, XL = 75.9%). Although BCS change was not associated (P < 0.02) with the probability of pregnancy after first postpartum AI, pregnancy hazard ratio was associated with BCS change from 3 to 35 DIM [G = 1.2 (0.99, 1.56), NC = 1.21 (0.98,1.51),ML = 1.10 (0.90,1.36), EL = referent]. In conclusion, excessive loss of BCS from 3 to 35 DIM was associated with greater milk yield and reduced cyclicity and reproductive performance.
Key Words: Holstein cow, body condition score, reproductive performance
