Effect of Parity, Body Condition Score at Calving, and Milk Yield on the Metabolic Profile of Gyr Cows in the Transition Period.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of parity, body condition score (BCS) at calving, and milk yield on the metabolic profile of Gyr (Zebu) cows. Healthy cows in late pregnancy were grouped according to parity (primiparous, biparous, and multiparous); to BCS scale at calving (high-HBCS and normal-NBCS); and to milk yield (high-HP and moderate-MP production). BCS was assessed, and blood samples were collected on -21, -7, 0, 7, 21, and 42 days relative to parturition. The concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), cholesterol, glucose, total protein (TP), albumin, total calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg); and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase were measured. Data were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA. The frequencies of high lipomobilization, subclinical ketosis, subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH), and the occurrence of diseases during early lactation were established. Regardless of grouping, NEFA, BHB, and cholesterol increased during early lactation; glucose showed higher values at calving; TP and albumin were higher at 21 and 42 DIM; and Ca, P, and Mg were lower at calving. Parity had little effect on the metabolic profile, HBCS did not differ from NBCS cows, and HP did not differ from MP cows in most metabolites. High lipomobilization in early lactation and SCH at calving were the most common imbalances but were not related to postpartum diseases. High-yielding Gyr cows have a balanced metabolic profile during the transition period, with few biologically relevant effects of parity, BCS at parturition, or milk yielded.

Estrus synchronization and Fixed Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) in dairy buffaloes during seasonal anestrus

The aim of this work was to study estrus synchronization and fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI) in dairy buffaloes during season anestrus. One hundred thirty-nine dairy buffaloes in seasonal anestrus were divided in two groups as G1(n=66) and G2(n=73). The protocols for both the groups were the same until day (D)14:D0 administration of 2.0 mg estradiol benzoate and implantation of progesterone device (P4) for 14 days; D14 removal of P4 plus 150 mg of cloprostenol and 400 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin. On D16, G1 received 10 mg of buserelin and G2 100 mg deslorelin acetate. On D17, both the groups were submitted to FTAI. Ultrasonographic examinations of ovaries were performed on D0, D14, D16 and D17. Results showed that pregnancy rates in G1 and G2 were 20 and 41% (p<0.05) and the ovulation rates were 16.6 and 37%, respectively (p<0.05). The dominant follicle (DF) diameter on D16 was 7.9 mm in G1 and 8.9 mm in G2 (p>0.05). Thirty-five percent of the animals in G1 and 54.1% in G2 showed a diameter DF greater than 8.0 mm on D16 (p>0.05). Thus, it could be concluded that the protocols synchronized the estrus, leading the concentration of the parturitions in the period of low milk production. Deslorelin was more efficient than buserelin due the higher percentage of DF ovulation and higher pregnancy rates.

Correlation between weight of placenta, time of placental delivery and rate of dead-born in piglets / Correlação entre o peso de placenta, o tempo de expulsão placentária e a taxa de nati-mortalidade em leitões / Correlación entre el peso de la placenta, tiempo de expulsión de la placenta y la tasa de muerte fetaç en lechones

In order to investigate the correlation between the placenta weight and other piglet intra-delivery parameters, a study of 90 newly-parturient primiparous sows was carried out in a swine farm near Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. The animals were artificially inseminated with cooled semen produced in the farm. All the animals were readily assisted in the parturition as the obstetric aid was given for the placenta separation, placenta weighing, counting the piglet number and the classification of live, dead-born and mummified piglets. A total of 1,088 piglets and their placentas were studied. The gestation lasted on average 114 days. It was concluded that the weight of pig placenta did not show a correlation with the number of dead-born or the placenta expulsion time.

O presente experimento objetivou pesquisar a correlação entre o peso da placenta e outros parâmetros reprodutivos em 90 porcas primiparas recém paridas, em uma granja suinícola próxima à Curitiba, Paraná. Os animais eram inseminados artificialmente com sêmen resfriado, produzido na própria granja. Todos os animais eram prontamente assistidos na parturição, executando-se o auxílio obstétrico relativo à separação e às pesagens das placentas, a contagem do número de leitões e a classificação de vivos, natimortos e mumificados. Ao todo foram estudados 1088 leitões e as respectivas placentas. A gestação teve a duração media de 114 dias. Concluiu-se que o peso de placenta de marrãs, não demonstrou correlação com o número de natimortos, bem como com o tempo de expulsão da placenta.

Este experimento buscó investigar la correlación entre el peso de la placenta y otros parámetros reproductivos en 90 cerdas primíparas recién paridas en una granja de porcicultura cerca a Curitiba, Paraná. Los animales eran inseminados artificialmente con semen refrigerado, producido en la propia granja. Todos los animales eran prontamente asistidos en el parto, ejecutándose el auxilio obstétrico relativo a la separación y peso de las placentas, recuento del número de lechones y clasificación de los vivos, nacidos muertos y momificados. En su conjunto fueron estudiados 1088 lechones y sus respectivas placentas. El embarazo tuvo la duración media de 114 días. Se concluyó que el peso de la placenta de las cerdas jóvenes no ha demostrado correlación con el número de nacidos muertos, así como con el tiempo de expulsión de la placenta.

Comparison between deep intracornual artificial insemination (dIAI) and conventional artificial insemination (AI) using low concentration of spermatozoa in beef cattle

This study aimed to compare the pregnancy rate using the conventional artificial insemination (AI) or deep intracornual artificial insemination (DIAI), with low number of spermatozoa (4.0 million sperm) in 270 Nelore cows. The animals were divided in two groups (G: G1 (135 cows) conventional AI was performed (=semen deposition in the uterine body) and in G2 (135 cows) to DIAI, in ipsilateral horn where the dominant follicle in the ovary had previously been detected, by ultrasound examinations. For both the methods, a single artificial insemination was carried out after visual estrus observation, checked three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening). The pregnancy diagnosis after 45 days was conducted by ultrasound. Results showed a better pregnancy rate in the DIAI group (67.4% - p<0.01), when compared to conventional AI (48.8%) with low spermatozoa concentration.