Body condition score to predict the postpartum fertility of crossbred beef cows

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira

José Carlos Ferrugem Moraes¹  Carlos Miguel Jaume¹  Carlos José Hoff De Souza¹ 

[1] ,Embrapa Pecuária SulBagé Rio Grande do Sul ,Brazil

关键词: Bos taurus;    artificial insemination;    breeding season;    pregnancy rates;    Bos taurus;    inseminação artificial;    estação reprodutiva;    taxa de prenhez;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-204X2007000500018

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The relationship between changes in body condition score (BCS) during the postpartum and fertility in beef cows suckling calves under extensive conditions were investigated. Cows were subjected to four BCS evaluations over the postpartum period, starting around one month after calving. In the second evaluation cows were treated with medroxy-progesterone acetate impregnated pessaries and received an injection of estradiol benzoate. At the third evaluation, pessaries were removed and calves were separated from the cows for 96 hours, during which time estrous was observed twice a day, and animals artificially inseminated 12 hours after detection. When calves returned to their dams, bulls were introduced until a 60-day mating period was reached. The distribution of BCS differed among calving groups and evaluations. Results indicated that only cows comprising a BCS 3 (1 to 5 scale) around the first month postpartum can be used in an artificial insemination program with possibilities of becoming pregnant. There was no statistical difference between the calving groups in pregnancy rate. The evolution of the BCS of the cows during postpartum can be used to adjust the start of the breeding season to coincide with the time of the year where herd pregnancy rates will be highest.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
 All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License