1
|
Chen Y, Steeneveld W, Frankena K, Leemans I, Aardema H, Vos PLAM, Nielen M, Hostens M. Association between days post conception and lactation persistency in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)00639-8. [PMID: 38580151 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Determining the optimal insemination moment for individual cows is complex, particularly when considering the impact of pregnancy on milk production. The effect of pregnancy on the absolute milk yield has already been reported in several studies. Currently, there is limited quantitative knowledge about the association between days post conception (DPC) and lactation persistency, based on a lactation curve model, and, specifically, how persistency changes during pregnancy and relates to the days in milk at conception (DIMc). Understanding this association might provide valuable insights to determine the optimal insemination moment. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the association between DPC and lactation persistency, with an additional focus on the influence of DIMc. Available milk production data from 2005 to 2022 were available for 23,908 cows from 87 herds located throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. Persistency was measured by a lactation curve characteristic decay, representing the time taken to halve milk production after peak yield. Decay was calculated for 8 DPC (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 d after DIMc) and served as the dependent variable. Independent variables included DPC, DIMc (< = 60, 61-90, 91-120, 121-150, 151-180, 181-210, > 210), parity group, DPC × parity group, DPC × DIMc and variables from 30 d before DIMc as covariates. The results showed an increase in decay, i.e., a decrease in persistency, during pregnancy for both parity groups, albeit in different ways. Specifically, from DPC 150 to DPC 210, multiparous cows showed a higher decline in persistency compared with primiparous cows. Furthermore, a later DIMc (cows conceiving later) was associated with higher persistency. Except for the early DIMc groups (DIMc < 90), DIMc does not impact the change in persistency by gestation. The findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of how DPC and DIMc during lactation influence lactation persistency, enabling more informed decision-making by farmers who wish to take persistency into account in their reproduction management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Chen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - W Steeneveld
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - K Frankena
- Department of Animal Science, Adaptation Physiology group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - I Leemans
- Department of Animal Science, Adaptation Physiology group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - H Aardema
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - P L A M Vos
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Nielen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Hostens
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen Y, Steeneveld W, Nielen M, Hostens M. Prediction of persistency for day 305 of lactation at the moment of the insemination decision. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1264048. [PMID: 38033631 PMCID: PMC10687408 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1264048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
When deciding on the voluntary waiting period of an individual cow, it might be useful to have insight into the persistency for the remainder of that lactation at the moment of the insemination decision, especially for farmers who consider persistency in their reproduction management. Currently, breeding values for persistency are calculated for dairy cows but, to our knowledge, prediction models to accurately predict persistency at different moments of insemination are lacking. This study aimed to predict lactation persistency for DIM 305 at different insemination moments (DIM 50, 75, 100, and 125). Available cow and herd level data from 2005 to 2022 were collected for a total of 20,508 cows from 85 herds located in the Netherlands and Belgium. Lactation curve characteristics were estimated for every daily record using the data up to and including that day. Persistency was defined as the number of days it takes for the milk production to decrease by half during the declining stage of lactation, and calculated from the estimated lactation curve characteristic 'decay'. Four linear regression models for each of the selected insemination moment were built separately to predict decay at DIM 305 (decay-305). Independent variables included the lactation curve characteristics at the selected insemination moment, daily milk yield, age, calving season, parity group and other herd variables. The average decay-305 of primiparous cows was lower than that of multiparous cows (1.55 *10-3 vs. 2.41*10-3, equivalent to a persistency of 447 vs. 288 days, respectively). Results showed that our models had limitations in accurately predicting persistency, although predictions improved slightly at later insemination moments, with R2 values ranging between 0.27 and 0.41. It can thus be concluded that, based only on cow and herd milk production information, accurate prediction of persistency for DIM 305 is not feasible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongyan Chen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zamorano-Algandar R, Medrano JF, Thomas MG, Enns RM, Speidel SE, Sánchez-Castro MA, Luna-Nevárez G, Leyva-Corona JC, Luna-Nevárez P. Effect of calving season on the parameters and components of the lactation curve in Holstein dairy cows managed in a semi-desert climate. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022; 54:88. [DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03098-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|