title: Effect of restricted suckling on the onset of follicular dynamics and body condition score in Brahman cattle raised under tropical conditions.
abstract: With the aim of evaluating the effect of restricted suckling on the onset of follicular dynamics and body condition, multiparous Bos indicus cows were distributed in two groups. One group (RS=36) was subjected to a scheme of restricted suckling starting at 21 days postpartum. Calves were allowed to suckle once per day for a period of two h whilst the control group (C=18) remained with their dams at all times. At calving, body condition score, back fat thickness and body weight had similar values (p>0.05) for both groups. By day 85 postpartum both groups had recorded losses in body weight. The cows in the continuous group formed a greater (p<0.05) number of follicles of class size <6mm in both periods before and after synchronization. The proportion of cows showing estrus and ovulation before 45 days, was not different (p>0.05). The number of cows that exhibited estrus after 45 days, was greater (p<0.05) in RS than C group, 72.2% and 55.5%, respectively. Same situation (p<0.05) occurred in cows that ovulated, 88.8 and 66.7%, for groups RS and C, respectively. The subset in the intensive observations showed that the size of the bigger follicle was larger (p<0.05) for RS cows than C cows from 36 h after CIDR withdrawal. At 57 h, the size of the biggest follicle recorded was not different between groups (p>0.05). A regime of restricted suckling favors the earlier growth of follicles and the prompt restoration of ovarian activity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mondragón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Galina
authors.affiliation: Centro de Enseñanza Investigación y Extensión en Ganadería Tropical, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlapacoyan, Veracruz 93650, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ivette
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.affiliation: Centro de Enseñanza Investigación y Extensión en Ganadería Tropical, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlapacoyan, Veracruz 93650, Mexico. Electronic address: macorro@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salmerón
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D014329:Tropical Climate
keywords: Body condition score; Follicles; Restricted suckling; Zebu cattle