Most producers typically wait until cows are in heat at 60 to 70 days of age and then focus on getting cows pregnant by 90 days.
This method maintains a 13-month birth interval. Unfortunately, cystic ovaries are rampant in his 30% of all breeding cows, making it difficult. However, there is hope that adequate nutrition before and immediately after birth can prevent a significant number of cystic ovaries from developing in the first place.
Energy status in lactating dairy cows is the first limiting nutrient that has the greatest impact on the incidence of cystic ovaries.
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Brunch 1: Quiche
When Dave and I recently started planning a family gathering, we quickly realized that a daytime event was more likely…
The actual amount of energy required for successful follicular ovulation is very low at 3 megajoules (MJ) and is of very low priority when compared with the critical body requirement of 60 MJ and the maximum 250 MJ required for milk production in early lactation.
Early lactating dairy cows do not receive enough dietary energy to support such high levels of milk production and are therefore in a ‘negative energy balance’ (NEB) for approximately 6 weeks after calving, further increasing their energy problems. To do.
As a result, we can speculate that cows in the NEB may have a higher incidence of ovarian cysts.
Reproductive studies have shown that NEB in dairy cows can negatively impact the normal development of follicles by interfering with the production of essential tissue-specific and systematic hormones.
For example, low energy intake in cows has been shown to significantly reduce the levels of follicular and progesterone hormones that complete the normal estrous cycle after calving. Other similar studies have demonstrated that during NEB, body fat is broken down and large amounts of fatty acids are released, which are also toxic to fertilized egg cells, even if released during the ovulation process.
what will you do?
Over the years, several hormonal therapies using GnRH, progesterone, and prostaglandins have been implemented to treat chronic cystic ovaries in cattle. Subsequent studies have suggested that these therapies are highly effective at inducing ovulation but have low conception rates.
I know some dairy producers who are completely dependent on regular hormone treatments, but I don’t think they should give up on a good nutritional program that can help reduce ovarian cysts in early lactating cows. suggests. My meal suggestions:
Prenatal and postnatal meals
Implement appropriate transition/early lactation feeding (3 weeks pre-calving and 3 weeks post-calving). This should be done to promote good dry matter intake, optimal body condition (see below) and reduce her NEB during early lactation. Close-up dry cow diets should be matched with early 60-90 day lactation diets.
Either diet should provide adequate dietary energy as well as sufficient feed fiber to maintain good rumen health.Another goal is to increase feed intake to about 3.5 to 4 percent of the cow’s body weight by 9 to 10 weeks postcalving.
The best of BCS
Maintain a Body Condition Score (BCS) between 3 and 3.5. Existing research shows that overconditioned cows (1 = wasted, 5 = obese on the BCS scale) develop ovarian cysts during the first 60 days postpartum compared to lactating cows with optimal BCS. Proven to be 2.5 times more likely. 3-3.5.
Although a direct link to cystic ovaries has not yet been proven, there has been evidence that lean lactating dairy cows with a BCS below 2.5 have a higher incidence of silent heat and lower conception rates.
provide supplements
Feed the right amount of trace minerals and vitamins. Deficiencies of copper, manganese, zinc and selenium, as well as vitamins A, D and E, are known to cause anestrus in cows.
For example, animal scientists at Ohio State University found that in a split group of dairy cows injected with selenium, cystic ovaries were diagnosed in 19%, whereas in a control group that received no treatment, the incidence of cystic ovaries was lower. reported that it was 47%.
Avoid moldy feed
Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced in moldy corn, has estrogen-like properties and is responsible for many reproductive problems, including increased incidence of ovarian cysts in dairy cows. The toxicity threshold for zearalenone in the diet of lactating dairy cows is 200 ppb.
These are just a handful of good suggestions that I think can reduce the incidence of cystic ovaries in many dairy herds. Regimen such as proper nutrition during early lactation, which can influence the matrix of 30 to 40 reproductive hormones that contribute to successful egg release, should be seriously considered and implemented.
