Postpartum anoestrous interval in first-lactation beef and dairy-beef crossbred cows
R. E. Hickson A , R. L. Laven A , N. Lopez-Villalobos A , P. R. Kenyon A and S. T. Morris A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: S.T.Morris@massey.ac.nz
Animal Production Science 52(7) 478-482 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11288
Submitted: 11 November 2011 Accepted: 6 March 2012 Published: 24 April 2012
Abstract
In New Zealand, beef-breeding cows are required to wean a calf every year, and the weight of calf at weaning is a major driver of the efficiency of the breeding cow. Weaning weight can be increased by increasing milk yield of the cow such as by incorporating dairy breed genetics into the breeding cows, and by having early born calves which are, therefore, older at weaning. This experiment examined postpartum anoestrous interval and pregnancy rate to rebreeding in 109 beef-breed and beef-cross-dairy breed first-lactation cows suckling their own calves. Cows with a Jersey component had a shorter postpartum anoestrous interval than cows without (90 versus 97–101 days; P < 0.05). Pregnancy rates after 42 days of joining with bulls were 83–97% for straight-bred Angus, Angus-cross-Friesian, Angus-cross-Jersey and Angus-cross-Kiwicross (Friesian-cross-Jersey) cows, but only 41% for straight-bred Friesian cows (P < 0.05). For every day younger heifers reached puberty, postpartum anoestrous interval was reduced by 0.07 ± 0.02 days (P < 0.01) indicating that age at puberty could be used as a predictor of subsequent fertility. The Jersey-component cows offered advantages in fertility traits and may be worthwhile incorporating into beef-breeding cow herds.
References
Arthur PF, Hearnshaw H, Barlow R, Williamson PJ, Stephenson PD, Dibley K (1997) Evaluation of Hereford and first-cross cows on three pasture systems. 3. Milk yield and its influence on calf performance. The Journal of Agricultural Science 129, 91–98.| Evaluation of Hereford and first-cross cows on three pasture systems. 3. Milk yield and its influence on calf performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barton RA (1970) The yield and composition of milk of suckled beef cows and their relation to calf liveweight gains. In ‘New Zealand beef production, processing and marketing’. (Ed. AG Campbell) pp. 130–140. (New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, Inc.: Petone, New Zealand)
Burke CR, McDougall S, Macmillan KL (1995) Effects of breed and calving liveweight on postpartum ovarian activity in pasture-fed dairy heifers. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 55, 76–78.
De Nava Silva GT, Burnham DL, McDonald MF, Morris ST (1994) The effects of restricted suckling and prepartum nutritional level on reproductive performance of primiparous crossbred beef cows. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 54, 307–310.
Deland MP, Newman S (1991) Lifetime productivity of crossbred cows. 1. Experimental design, growth and carcass characteristics of progeny. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 31, 285–292.
| Lifetime productivity of crossbred cows. 1. Experimental design, growth and carcass characteristics of progeny.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grosshans T, Xu ZZ, Burton LJ, Johnson DL, Macmillan KL (1997) Performance and genetic parameters for fertility of seasonal dairy cows in New Zealand. Livestock Production Science 51, 41–51.
| Performance and genetic parameters for fertility of seasonal dairy cows in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hickson RE, Anderson WJ, Kenyon PR, Lopez-Villalobos N, Morris ST (2008a) A survey of beef cattle farmers in New Zealand, examining management practices of primiparous breeding heifers. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56, 176–183.
| A survey of beef cattle farmers in New Zealand, examining management practices of primiparous breeding heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1crgvV2qsQ%3D%3D&md5=9b90770f83fac87ee87121afea3a363eCAS |
Hickson RE, Kenyon PR, Lopez-Villalobos N, Morris ST (2008b) Effects of liveweight gain during pregnancy of 15-month-old Angus heifers on dystocia and birth weight, body dimensions, estimated milk intake and weaning weight of the calves. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 171–180.
| Effects of liveweight gain during pregnancy of 15-month-old Angus heifers on dystocia and birth weight, body dimensions, estimated milk intake and weaning weight of the calves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hickson RE, Balcomb CC, Fraser KR, Lopez-Villalobos, Kenyon PR, Morris ST (2011) The effect of breed on the onset of puberty in heifers. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 19, 51–54.
Hochman Z, Hearnshaw H, Barlow R, Ayres JF, Pearson CJ (1995) X-breed – a multiple-domain knowledge-based system integrated through a blackboard architecture. Agricultural Systems 48, 243–270.
| X-breed – a multiple-domain knowledge-based system integrated through a blackboard architecture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Knight TW, Nicoll GB (1978) Factors influencing the interval from calving to first oestrus in beef cattle on North Island hill country. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 38, 175–180.
Lucy MC, Staples CR, Thatcher WW, Erickson PS, Cleale RM, Firkins JL, Clark JH, Murphy MR, Brodie BO (1992) Influence of diet composition, dry-matter intake, milk production and energy-balance on time of postpartum ovulation and fertility in dairy cows. Animal Production 54, 323–331.
| Influence of diet composition, dry-matter intake, milk production and energy-balance on time of postpartum ovulation and fertility in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Macdonald K, Roche J (2008) ‘Body condition scoring made easy.’ (DairyNZ Ltd: Hamilton, New Zealand)
McDougall S (2006) Reproductive performance and management of dairy cattle. The Journal of Reproduction and Development 52, 185–194.
| Reproductive performance and management of dairy cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McFadden AM, Heuer C, Jackson R, West DM, Parkinson TJ (2005) Reproductive performance of beef cow herds in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 53, 39–44.
| Reproductive performance of beef cow herds in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M7gtFSitw%3D%3D&md5=ea6ddfa7375c9867045c7b867ad94be8CAS |
McNaughton LR, Sanders KM, Pryce JE, Bracefield GE, Harcourt SJ, Spelman RJ (2007) Phenotypic relationships between the interval from calving to first luteal activity and fertility in a seasonal dairy production system. Animal Reproduction Science 102, 98–110.
| Phenotypic relationships between the interval from calving to first luteal activity and fertility in a seasonal dairy production system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2snitFKkug%3D%3D&md5=2381dc1f6225ceb8eed322af2feba18cCAS |
Morris ST, Pleasants AB, Barton RA (1978) Postpartum estrous interval of single-suckled Angus beef-cows. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 21, 577–582.
| Postpartum estrous interval of single-suckled Angus beef-cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morris CA, Wilson JA, Bennett GL, Cullen NG, Hickey SM, Hunter JC (2000) Genetic parameters for growth, puberty, and beef cow reproductive traits in a puberty selection experiment. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 83–91.
| Genetic parameters for growth, puberty, and beef cow reproductive traits in a puberty selection experiment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morris ST, Morel PCH, Kenyon PR (2006) The effect of individual liveweight and condition of beef cows on their reproductive performance and birth and weaning weights of calves. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 54, 96–100.
| The effect of individual liveweight and condition of beef cows on their reproductive performance and birth and weaning weights of calves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD287ptVymtQ%3D%3D&md5=7c3f7267631b033da82799278b3ec477CAS |
Purchas RW, Morris ST (2007) A comparison of carcass characteristics and meat quality for Angus, Hereford × Friesian, and Jersey × Friesian steers. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 67, 18–22.
Roche JR, Dillon PG, Stockdale CR, Baumgard LH, VanBaale MJ (2004) Relationships among international body condition scoring systems. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 3076–3079.
| Relationships among international body condition scoring systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXntlGjtrc%3D&md5=ba6bc1f4449b884319740b142dd1a31eCAS |
Smeaton DC, McCall DG, Clayton JB, Dow BW (1986) Calving date effects on beef cow productivity. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 46, 149–152.
Tervit HR, Smith JF, Goold PG, Jones KR, Vandien JJD (1982) Reproductive performance of beef cows following temporary removal of calves. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 42, 83–86.
