title: Ovarian activity in Fleckvieh, Brown Swiss and two strains of Holstein-Friesian cows in pasture-based, seasonal calving dairy systems.
abstract: The objectives of the study were to compare the ovarian activity of Holstein-Friesian (CH HF), Fleckvieh (CH FV) and Brown Swiss (CH BS) dairy cows of Swiss origin with that of Holstein-Friesian (NZ HF) dairy cows of New Zealand origin, the latter being used as a reference for reproductive performance in pasture-based seasonal calving systems. Fifty, second-lactation NZ HF cows were each paired with a second-lactation Swiss cow (17, 15 and 18 CH HF, CH FV and CH BS respectively) in 13 pasture-based, seasonal-calving commercial dairy farms in Switzerland. Ovarian activity was monitored by progesterone profiling from calving to first breeding service. CH BS cows produced less energy-corrected milk (mean 22·8 kg/d) than the other breeds (26·0-26·5 kg/d) during the first 100 d of lactation. CH HF cows had the lowest body condition score (BCS) at calving and the greatest BCS loss from calving to 30 d post partum. Commencement of luteal activity (CLA) was later for NZ HF than for CH FV (51·5 v. 29·2 d; P <0·01), with CH HF and CH BS intermediate (43 d). On average, NZ HF and CH HF cows had one oestrous cycle before the onset of the seasonal breeding period; this was less (P<0·01) than either CH FV (1·7) or CH BS (1·6). There was a low prevalence of luteal persistency (3%) among the studied cows. First and second oestrous cycle inter-ovulatory intervals did not differ between breeds (20·5-22·6 d). The luteal phase length of CH BS during the second cycle was shorter (10·6 d) than that of the other breeds (13·8-16·0 d), but the inter-luteal interval was longer (9·8 d v. 7·0-8·0 d). The results suggest that the Swiss breeds investigated have a shorter interval from calving to CLA than NZ HF cows.
authors.affiliation: Swiss College of Agriculture, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland. valerie.piccand@bfh.ch
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piccand
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cutullic
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weilenmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomet
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schori
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Kunz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009520:New Zealand; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone