The influence of high level feeding on the duration of parturition and the incidence of dystocia in dairy cows.
Dairy cows on high and controlled feed levels were observed to determine the duration of the parturition process and the incidence of dystocia. Maternal and foetal mass ratio at calving were recorded. The duration of parturition in cows on high level feeding was significantly prolonged to 5.2 +/- 2.8 hours as compared to 1.34 +/- 0.89 hours in cows on controlled feeding. The incidence of dystocia was significantly higher in over-fed cows. While maternal mass on high level feeding increased by 27.3%, foetal mass increased by only 5.4%.
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003612:Dairying; D004420:Dystocia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors