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Rojas Canadas E, Herlihy MM, Kenneally J, Kearney F, Lonergan P, Butler ST. Postpartum vaginal discharge score is associated with genetic traits, postpartum fertility phenotypes, metabolic status, and overall reproductive performance in seasonal-calving pasture-based dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:9778-9792. [PMID: 37641334 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate potential associations between genetic traits, postpartum phenotypes, cow factors, and postpartum vaginal discharge score (VDS); and (2) to investigate possible associations between postpartum VDS, plasma progesterone (P4) after first service, and reproductive performance. First- and second-parity (n = 2,842) spring-calving lactating dairy cows from 35 dairy herds were enrolled. Farm visits were performed every 2 wk during the postpartum period and weekly during the breeding period. Cows that were at wk 3 and wk 7 postpartum and between 7 and 13 d after first artificial insemination (AI) were examined. Body condition score (BCS) was measured on all farm visits using a 1-to-5 scale (low ≤2.5; target ≥2.75). Transrectal ultrasound examinations were conducted to determine the presence or absence of a corpus luteum (CL). Vaginal discharge score was determined at wk 3 and wk 7 using a Metricheck device (Simcro) and a 1-to-4 scale (1 = clear mucus; 4 = mucopurulent with >50% purulent material ± odor). At wk 3, cows having a VDS ≤2 were considered to have normal reproductive tract health status (RTHS). At wk 7, cows having VDS = 1 were considered to have normal RTHS. Blood samples were collected at each visit, and plasma concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, fatty acids, and progesterone (only during breeding visit) were analyzed. Animals with target BCS at wk 3 and wk 7 had greater odds of having normal RTHS at wk 3 and wk 7, respectively, than cows with low BCS. Cows with a CL at wk 3 and wk 7 had greater prevalence of normal RTHS at wk 3 and wk 7, respectively, compared with cows without a CL. Cows with normal RTHS had a lesser plasma concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate at wk 3 and wk 7 and greater plasma concentration of glucose at wk 3 compared with animals with abnormal RTHS. More cows in the greatest quartiles for the fertility subindex of the Economic Breeding Index and genetic merit for milk production traits (milk kg and milk protein [%]) had normal RTHS at wk 3 and wk 7 compared with the other quartiles. Cows with VDS = 4 at wk 7 postpartum had lesser plasma P4 concentration after first AI (-1.2, -1.1, and -1.0 ng/mL compared with cows with VDS = 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Similarly, cows with VDS = 4 at both wk 3 and wk 7 had lesser pregnancy at first service, lesser cumulative pregnancy rates at wk 3, 6, and 12 during the breeding period, and longer interval from mating start date to conception (+3 d if VDS = 4 at wk 3; +5 d if VDS = 4 at wk 7), compared with cows having other VDS. In conclusion, cows with superior genetic merit for fertility traits and milk production traits, and favorable fertility phenotypes at wk 3 and wk 7, were all associated with greater likelihood of having normal RTHS. In turn, abnormal postpartum RTHS and greater postpartum VDS (score = 4) were associated with lesser odds of successful pregnancy establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rojas Canadas
- Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland P61C996; Agrotecnio Center, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain 25198
| | - M M Herlihy
- Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland P61C996
| | - J Kenneally
- Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland P61C996
| | - F Kearney
- Irish Cattle Breeding Association, Highfield House, Shinagh, Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland P72 X050
| | - P Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland D04V1W8
| | - S T Butler
- Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland P61C996.
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Reed CB, Meier S, Murray LA, Burke CR, Pitman JL. The microenvironment of ovarian follicles in fertile dairy cows is associated with high oocyte quality. Theriogenology 2022; 177:195-205. [PMID: 34757242 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesised that heifers and cows with positive genetic merit for fertility would have a follicular microenvironment that resulted in better quality oocytes. To test this, we compared cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COC) and follicular fluid from preovulatory follicles of 36 Holstein-Friesian nulliparous heifers and 50 primiparous lactating cows with either positive (POS, +5%) or negative (NEG, -5%) fertility breeding values (FertBV). Established gene markers of oocyte quality were measured in individual cumulus cell masses and oocytes, and concentrations of amino acids, steroids, and metabolites were quantified in corresponding follicular fluid and plasma. The timing of visually detectable oestrus in NEG FertBV heifers was inconsistent with their stage of COC maturation. Retrospective analyses of oestrous activity data indicated that NEG FertBV heifers were sampled earlier. Their recovered COC were morphologically less mature and exhibited differential expression of genes that are associated with follicular maturation (lower levels of BMPR2) and protein processing (higher levels of HSP90B1). Despite consistent sampling times being achieved in the lactating cows, lower concentrations of serine, proline, methionine, isoleucine, and non-esterified fatty acids were present in follicular fluid from POS FertBV cows. This was associated with higher expression of gene biomarkers of good oocyte quality (VCAN, PDE8A) in COC recovered from POS FertBV cows. This study supports our hypothesis that the follicular microenvironment in lactating dairy cows with high genetic merit leads to COC with higher metabolic rates and oocytes of superior quality. Moreover, an additional stressor such as lactation is required for this difference to be pronounced.
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Affiliation(s)
- C B Reed
- DairyNZ Ltd., Private Bag, 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand.
| | - S Meier
- DairyNZ Ltd., Private Bag, 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - L A Murray
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand
| | - C R Burke
- DairyNZ Ltd., Private Bag, 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - J L Pitman
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand
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Chebel RC, Veronese A. Associations between genomic merit for daughter pregnancy rate of Holstein cows and metabolites postpartum and estrus characteristics. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:10754-10768. [PMID: 32921462 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Genetic selection of Holstein cattle in the past 2 decades has seen an increased attention to fertility traits. Our hypotheses were that genomic merit for daughter pregnancy rate (GDPR) is positively associated with metabolic responses, hazard of estrus, and estrus characteristics. Pregnant heifers (n = 821) from one herd that were genotyped within 2 mo of birth (Clarifide, Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) were fitted with automated monitoring devices (SCR Inc., Netanya, Israel) -21 ± 14 d relative to calving. Estrus characteristics recorded from calving to 62 d postpartum were evaluated. Blood samples were collected weekly from a subsample (n = 499) of cows, from 7 to 28 d postpartum, for determination of insulin-like growth factor-1, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acids. Cows received artificial insemination or embryo transfer following detected estrus and those not detected in estrus were submitted to an ovulation synchronization protocol starting at 75 d in milk. Linear and quadratic associations between GDPR and outcomes were analyzed, but when appropriate, results are presented according to GDPR quartile (Q1 = -1.8 to 0.8; Q2 = 0.9 to 1.7; Q3 = 1.8 to 2.5; Q4 = 2.6 to 5.9) based on the parameter estimates of the multivariable models. Genomic merit for daughter pregnancy rate was positively associated with insulin-like growth factor-1 (Q1 = 24.3 ± 0.2; Q2 = 26.8 ± 0.2; Q3 = 28.2 ± 0.2; Q4 = 30.6 ± 0.3 ng/mL) and glucose (Q1 = 67.0 ± 0.1; Q2 = 69.1 ± 0.2; Q3 = 69.6 ± 0.2; Q4 = 70.8 ± 0.2 mg/dL) concentrations, but GDPR was negatively associated with nonesterified fatty acid concentration (Q1 = 281.2 ± 4.9; Q2 = 262.0 ± 5.9; Q3 = 239.3 ± 5.0; Q4 = 221.6 ± 4.7 μmol/L). A positive association was observed between GDPR and hazard of estrus [adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval = 1.16 (1.06, 1.28)] and number of estrus events (Q1 = 0.50 ± 0.03; Q2 = 0.62 ± 0.04; Q3 = 0.74 ± 0.05; Q4 = 0.86 ± 0.06) within 62 d postpartum, duration of estrus (Q1 = 14.10 ± 0.04; Q2 = 14.48 ± 0.04; Q3 = 14.67 ± 0.04; Q4 = 14.98 ± 0.04 h), probability of activity peak (0 = no estrus, 100 = maximum activity) ≥86 (Q1 = 0.80 ± 0.03; Q2 = 0.83 ± 0.02; Q3 = 0.83 ± 0.03; Q4 = 0.85 ± 0.2), and probability of heat index ≥86 (Q1 = 0.77 ± 0.04; Q2 = 0.81 ± 0.05; Q3 = 0.83 ± 0.03; Q4 = 0.86 ± 0.03). Conversely, GDPR was negatively associated with rumination nadir at estrus (Q1 = -35.5 ± 0.1; Q2 = -37.0 ± 0.1; Q3 = -38.0 ± 0.1; Q4 = -39.6 ± 0.1 min). We detected a positive association between GDPR and hazard of pregnancy (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% confidence interval = 1.03, 1.19). Selection for GDPR may improve the hormonal and metabolic status of cows postpartum, leading to earlier resumption of cyclicity, and may improve detection of estrus in commercial herds because it was positively associated with estrus characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo C Chebel
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608.
| | - Anderson Veronese
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610
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Pozovnikova MV, Rotar LN, Kudinov AA, Dementieva NV. The Linkage of Polymorphic Variants of Genes Gh, Prl, and Pit-1 and Milk Productivity of Cows with Morphology of Cumulus-Oocyte Complex Sampled Post Mortem. CYTOL GENET+ 2020. [DOI: 10.3103/s0095452720030111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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