Mustafa SÖNMEZ, Eşref DEMİRCİ, Gaffari TÜRK, Seyfettin GÜR

Effect of Season on Some Fertility Parameters of Dairy and Beef Cows in Elazığ Province

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seasons on some fertility parameters of dairy and beef cows in Elazığ province. A total of 511 multiparous dairy and beef cows in four commercial herds were used as material in the study. Climatic data were obtained from reports prepared at the Department of Meteorology in Elazığ. Daily maximum, minimum and average ambient temperatures and relative humidity were recorded throughout the year. Estruses were detected by observation twice a day. The expression of overt estrus was evaluated observing the degrees of signs of estrus. Cows were inseminated artificially after about 12 h from beginning estrus. First-service conception rates were determined by rectal palpation on the 75th day after insemination. Intensity of estrus signs were significantly affected by the seasons, especially in dairy cows. While the expression of overt estrus decreased in the cows inseminated during the hot months of the year, it increased in spring compared to the other seasons. The cows inseminated in summer had significantly lower conception rates than cows inseminated in other seasons. Moreover, this decrease in conception rate in dairy cows appeared to be carried into autumn. In conclusion, heat stress during summer resulted in a decrease in the exhibition of estrus behavior and conception rates of dairy and beef cows. Therefore, additional reproductive strategies are needed to counteract the adverse effect of heat stress on fertility during summer.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Cow, heat stress, season, conception rate, fertility.

Effect of Season on Some Fertility Parameters of Dairy and Beef Cows in Elazığ Province

Keywords:

Cow, heat stress, season, conception rate, fertility.,

PDF

___

White, F.J., Wettemann, R.P., Looper, M.L., Prado, T.M., Morgan, G.L.: Seasonal effects on estrous behavior and time of ovulation in nonlactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci., 2002; 80: 3053-3059.
Cartmill, J.A., El-Zarkouny, S.Z., Hensley, B.A., Rozell, T.G., Smith, J.F., Stevenson, J.S.: An alternative AI breeding protocol for dairy cows exposed to elevated ambient temperature before or after calving or both. J. Dairy Sci., 2001; 84: 799-806.
Wolfenson, D., Lew, B.J., Thatcher, W.W., Graber, Y., Meidan, R.: Seasonal and acute heat stress effects on steroid production by dominant in cows. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 1997; 47: 9-19.
Wolfenson, D., Flamenbaum, I., Berman, A.: Hyperthermia and body energy store effects on estrous behavior, conception rate and corpus luteum function in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 1988; 71: 3497-3504.
Wolff, L.K., Monty, D.E.: Physiologic response to intense summer heat and its effect on the estrous cycle of nonlactating and lactating Holstein-Friesian cows in Arizona. Am. J. Vet. Res., 1974; 35: 187-192.
Nebel, R.L., Jobst, S.M., Dransfield, M.B.G., Pandolfi, S.M., Balley, T.L.: Use of radio frequency data communication system, HeatWatch, to describe behavioral estrus in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 1997; 80 (Suppl, 1): 179.
Pennington, J.A., Albright, J.L., Diekman, M.A., Callahan, C.J.: Sexual activity of Holstein cows: seasonal effects. J. Dairy Sci., 1985; 68: 3023-3030.
Walker, W.L., Nebel, R.L., McGilliand, M.L.: Time of ovulation relative to mounting activity in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 1996; 79: 1555- 1561.
Badinga, L., Thatcher, W.W., Wilcox, C.J., Morris, G., Entwistle, K., Wolfenson, D.: Effect of environmental heat stress on follicular dynamics and plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17β, progesterone and luteinizing hormone in lactating Holstein cows. Theriogenology, 1994; 42: 1263-1274.
Wise, M.E., Armstrong, D.V., Huber, J.T., Hunter, R., Wiersma, F.: Hormonal alterations in the lactating dairy cow in response to thermal stress. J. Dairy Sci., 1988; 71: 2480-2485.
Wilson, S.J., Marion, R.S., Spain, J.N., Spiers, D.E., Keisler, D.H., Lucy, M.C.: Effects of controlled heat stress on ovarian function of dairy cattle. 1. Lactating cows. J. Dairy Sci., 1998; 81: 2124- 2131.
Ray, D.E., Halbach, T.J., Armstrong, D.V.: Season and lactation number effects on milk production and reproduction in dairy cattle in Arizona. J. Dairy Sci., 1992; 75: 2976-2983.
Jonsson, N.N., McGowan, M.R., McGuigan, K., Davison, T.M., Hussain, A.M., Kafi, M.: Relationship among calving season, heat load, energy balance and postpartum ovulation of dairy cows in a subtropical environment. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 1997; 47: 315- 326.
Drost, M., Ambrose, J.D., Thatcher, M.J., Cantrell, C.K., Wolfsdorf, K.E., Hasler, J.F., Thatcher, W.W.: Conception rates after artificial insemination or embryo transfer in lactating dairy cows during summer in Florida. Theriogenology, 1999; 52: 1161-1167.
Thompson, J.A., Magee, D.D., Tomaszewski, M.A., Wilks, D.L., Fourdraine, R.H.: Management of summer infertility in Texas Holstein dairy cattle. Theriogenology, 1996; 46: 547-558.
Monty, D.E., Wolff, L.K.: Summer heat stress and reduced fertility in Holstein-Friesian cows in Arizona. Am. J. Vet. Res., 1974; 35: 1495-1500.
Sartori, R., Bergfelt, R.S., Mertens, S.A., Guenther, J.N., Parrish, J.J., Wiltbank, M.C.: Fertilization and early embryonic development in heifers and lactating cows in summer and lactating and dry cows in winter. J. Dairy Sci., 2002; 85: 2803- 2812.
Al-Katanani, Y.M., Paula-Lopez, F.F., Hansen, P.J.: Effect of season and exposure to heat stress on oocyte competence in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci., 2002; 35: 390-396.
Roman-Ponce, H., Thatcher, W.W., Canton, D., Barron, D.H., Wilcox, C.J.: Thermal stress effects on uterine blood flow in dairy cows. J. Anim. Sci., 1978; 46: 175-180.
Roth, Z., Arav, A., Bor, A., Zeron, Y., Braw-Tal, R., Wolfenson, D.: Improvement of quality of oocytes collected in the autumn by enhanced removal of impaired follicles from preovulatory heat- stressed cows. Reproduction, 2001; 122: 737-744.