title: Influence of body condition and bovine somatotropin on estrous behavior, reproductive performance, and concentrations of serum somatotropin and plasma fatty acids in postpartum Brahman-influenced cows.
abstract: Ninety-nine multiparous Brahman-influenced (1/4 to 3/8 Brahman) cows were managed to achieve low (BCS = 4.3 +/- 0.1; n = 50) or moderate (BCS = 6.1 +/- 0.1; n = 49) body condition (BC) to determine the influence of bovine somatotropin (bST) on estrous characteristics, reproductive performance, and concentrations of serum GH and plasma NEFA. Beginning 32 d postpartum, cows within each BC were assigned randomly to treatment with or without bST. Non-bST-treated cows received no treatment, and treated cows were administered bST (Posilac, 500 mg s.c.) on d -35, -21, and -7 before initiation of the breeding season. On d -7, all cows received an intravaginal, controlled internal drug-releasing (CIDR) device. On d 0 (initiation of the 70-d breeding season), the CIDR were removed and cows received prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). Blood samples were collected from the median caudal vein of the cows at each bST treatment and at d -28 and 0. Estrous behavior was monitored by radiotelemetry during the first 30 d of the breeding season. Growth hormone was increased (P < 0.05) in low and moderate BC cows treated with bST. The percentage of cows detected in estrus during the first 30 d of the breeding season was decreased (P = 0.05) for low BC (64%) compared with moderate BC (82%) cows. The interval to first estrus tended (P = 0.07) to be shorter in low BC-bST-treated cows (3.7 +/- 1.9 d) than in moderate BC-bST-treated cows (9.6 +/- 1.8 d). During the first 30 d of the breeding season, cows in low BC had a decreased (P = 0.02) number of mounts received and increased (P = 0.001) quiescence between mounts compared with cows in moderate BC. The number of mounts received was reduced (P = 0.04) in bST-treated cows. More (P = 0.02) cows treated with bST became pregnant during the first 3 d of the breeding season compared with non-bST-treated cows. The cumulative first-service conception rate tended (P = 0.07) to be greater for bST-low BC cows than non-bST-treated cows in low or moderate BC. On d 0, NEFA were greater (P < 0.05) in bST-treated vs. non-bST-treated cows. Low BC and bST reduced the intensity of behavioral estrus in postpartum Brahman-influenced cows. However, bST increased the first-service conception rate during the first 30 d of breeding and pregnancy rates during the first 3 d of breeding in postpartum Brahman-influenced cows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Looper
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Rorie
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hallford
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kreider
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Rosenkrans
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D013006:Growth Hormone