This article was downloaded by: [Selcuk Universitesi] On: 18 January 2015, At: 06:13 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzv20
Some nutritional factors affecting the fertility of dairy cattle A.P. Hunter
a
a
Dept. of Agriculture , Box 393, Nowra, N.S.W., Australia Published online: 23 Feb 2011.
To cite this article: A.P. Hunter (1977) Some nutritional factors affecting the fertility of dairy cattle, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 25:11, 305-307, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1977.34438 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1977.34438
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
305
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
1977
Some nutritional factors affecting the fertility of dairy cattlet A. P. Hunter'" N.Z. I'el.l.2S:30S·7
INTRODUCTION
Over recent years we have become aware that cattle are sensitive to nutritional imbalances and may respond by exhibiting infertility. The effects on the reproductive performance of cattle caused by grazing pastures that do not provide sufficient nutrients to meet the requirements for maintenance, growth, pregnancy and lactation are considered.
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 06:13 18 January 2015
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A survey was conducted to examine the fertility of a sample of 40 dairy herds in the South Coast district of New South Wales. The survey commenced by examining the herd breeding records over a 4-month period for evidence of infertility. A herd infertility problem was considered to exist when the first service 90-day non-return rate fell below 50% over the observation period. The proportion of herd infertility caused by known non-nutritional factors was assessed in the initial investigation. A search was then made within the remaining herds for evidence of nutritional factors which were considered most likely to occur in the district. Copper, energy and phosphorus were the nutritional factors investigated. Five herds were selected for a copper treatment trial because blood samples collected from cattle on each of the properties indicated that a marginal copper deficiency was present. Every alternate cow to calve, on entering the milking board, received a single injection of Coprin (400 mg copper glycinate, GlaxoAllenburys). Thus order of calving determined random distribution into treatment and control groups. The cows in 29 herds were examined for evidence of hypogIycaemia and hypophosphataemia and for any relationship these might have with fertility. During the August-November period of 1973 (Spring Survey) 15 herds were examined. During the March-May period of 1974 (Autumn Survey) 22 herds were examined. Eight of the herds in the Autumn Survey were also included in the Spring Survey. On weekly visits to the properties, blood samples were collected from cows which either had been mated or had exhibited an oestrus prior to mating, during that week. Blood glucose and plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations were determined and the 90-day non-return rate was used as the measure of fertility. • Dept. of Agriculture. Box 393, Nowra, N.S.W., Australia. Presented to the NZVA Annual Conference, 1977. .
t
RESULTS
(1) Incidence of Herd Infertility Infertility problems were found in 12 of the 40 herds examined. The infertility experienced was attributed to vibriosis infection in 4 herds and to faulty artificial insemination technique in 2 herds; the cause of infertility in the 6 remaining herds could not be determined prior to performing the investigations into the nutritional causes of infertility. (2) Copper (Table I) There were 463 cows in the trial and the treated group showed a gain of 19% on the first service 90-day non-return rate. In all 5 herds treated cows required fewer services per conception than untreated cows. Low first service non-return rates were obtained in all 5 herds when artificial insemination was performed on cows which had not received copper treatment. (3) Glucose and Phosphorus Blood samples were collected from 971 cows which had been mated and from 254 cows which had exhibited an oestrus prior to mating, during the week of sampling. (a) General fertility The 90-day non-return rate of the 971 cows blood sampled within a week after mating was 66.1 %. The 399 cows mated by natural service 'had a 68.6% non-return rate and the 572 cows mated by artificial insemination had a 64.3% non-return rate. (b) Glucose (Fig 1.) ._ The 1,225 blood samples collected had a 44.85mg/looml mean blood glucose concentration. When blood samples within a week after mating, the 45.37mg/IOOml mean blood glucose concentration of the 642 cows which held to service was significantly higher than the 43.60mg/IOOml mean concentration of the 329 cows which did not hold to service. Cows with blood glucose concentrations of 25mg/looml or below had a lowered non-return rate of 46.2%. In general the herds with higher mean blood glucose concentrations had higher non-return rates. The noo-return rates of cows, sampled prior to mating and again after mating, were determined in relation to the changing blood glucose concentrations (Table II). Rising blood glucose concentrations in the time between the 2 blood samplings appeared to be associated with improved fertility. (c) Phosphorus
Owing to a laboratory error, plasma inorganic phosphate
Continued next page
VOL. 2S
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
concentrations were not available for 68 blood samples. The mean plasma inorganic phosphate concentration of 1,157 blood samples was 5.49mgjlOOml. When blood-sampled within a week after mating, the 5.59mgjlOOml mean plasma inorganic phosphate concentration of the 621 cows which held to service was significantly higher than the 5.34mgj 100m I mean concentration of the 321 cows which did not hold to service. Cows with plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations of 4.5mgjlOOml or below had a lowered non-return rate of 40.7%; 13.8% ofthe cows sampled had concentrations in the last range. The non-return rates of cows, sampled prior to mating and again after mating, were determined in relation to the changing plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations (Table III). Rising plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations in the time between the 2 blood samplings appeared to be associated with improved fertility.
Fig. 1. STUD
~C"
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 06:13 18 January 2015
(d) Glucose and phosphorus interaction
~
T()lalh(),s~requiremenrsDM
~
GflJwlhu\l(2ifubleDM (ifJO.avuilQbleJ
.... ./Ir.•
Julv.
As shown in Table IV, there appeared to be a compensatory effect between blood glucose and plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations in relation to fertility. When blood sampling was performed within a week after mating, provided that the cows with low blood glucose concentrations had plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations above 4.5mgjlOOml, the non-return rates were not depressed. DISCUSSION
After completion of the surveys and trials it was possible to determine the incidence of non-nutritional and nutritional factors which were associated with herd infertility problems. Twelve of the 40 herds examined were found to have infertility problems. However, nutritional factors were probably responsible for lowered fertility in all herds in the survey. Although low concentrations of plasma inorganic phosphate'and blood glucose at mating were associated with low non-return rates, the greatest effect on fertility appeared to be caused by changing plasma inorganic phosphate and blood glucose concentrations about mating. It appears possible to obtain approximately 85% nonreturn rate to first service if all cows in a herd have rising plasma inorganic phosphate and blood glucose concentrations at the time of mating and there are no other major causes of infertility present. Laing l ) postulated that through mediation of the anterior pituitary gland, various environmental influences depressed, first, ovarian activity and second, activity of other genitalia. McClure(2) postulated that the pathogenesis of "bovine functional ovarian activity" appears to involve the inhibition of
J ••
OJ"/.:
Sell.•
Fig. 1: MEAN BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRA TION AND HERD NON-RETURN RA TES TABLE I: TOTALS,S HERDS IN COPPER TRIAL Not copper treated
Copper treated
First Service Non-Return Rate
118
172 _=72.0% 239
_=52.7% 224
(A)
(B) 422 _=1.88 224
3~=1.48 Service required per "conception" ±SD
239
±1.149
±1.001 (D)
(C)
(A) v (B) x2 = 18.380 P < 0.001 (C) v (D) t = 3.980 P < 0.001
TABLE II: CHANGES IN BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS (MG/looML)ABOUT MATING AND NON-RETURN RATES (NRR) (228 COWS)
Survey Period
Spring
Autumn
Total
NRRofCows Which Dropped Over 5mg/Iooml Glucose 23 32 26 52 49 84
NRR of Cows Which Rose Over 5mljlooml Glucose
NRRofCows Which Rose or Fell Up to and Including 5mg/looml Glucose 24
71.8%
46 15
50.0%
29 39
58.3% (A)
(A) v (8) x2 = 0.643 P > 0.1
75
=
28
52.1%
75.7%
37 23
51.7%
32 51
52.0% (B)
(A) v (C) X2 = 4.160 P < 0.05
69
(8) v (C) x 2 = 7.363 P
71.8%
73.9% (C)
< 0.01
1977
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
307
TABLE III: CHANGES IN PLASMA INORGANIC PHOSPHATE CONCENTRATIONS (MG/looML) ABOUT MATING AND NON-RETURN RATES (NRR) (216 COWS) NRR for cows which rose or fell up to and including O.5mg P/looml
NRR for cows which dropped overO.5mg/ P/looml
Survey period
16
Spring
28
45.7%
II
24
=
27
Total
26
71.7%
30
45.8%
23
51.7%
58
49
59.7%
97
59
74.1%
31
58 45.8%
89.6%
29
39
35 Autumn
NRRforcows which rose overO.5mg P/looml
81.6%
60 (B)
(A)
(C)
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 06:13 18 January 2015
(A) v (B) x2 = 2.9\2 P < 0.1 > 0.05 (B)v(C)x2= 8.l7IP 0.1 (B)v(C)x2 = 0.053 P > 0.1
Blood glucose concentrations over 35mg/looml up to 4Omg/looml inclusive (NRR) 7
36.8% (B)
19 104
41
46.1% (C)
89 68.8% (E)
151
382
Totals (NRR)
53
40.7%
130 70.8% (F)
539
(A) v (C) X2 = 3.960 P < 0.05 (A) v (D) x2 = 15.424 P < 0.001
nervous activity. As glucose is the main source of energy for nervous tissue, anything that inhibits glucose supply, or glucose metabolism, must be considered a possible cause of infertility. The plane of nutrition, carbohydrate intake and type of carbohydrate ingested influence the supply of propionic acid, the important precursor of glucose in cattle. Phosphorus and copper are essential for various steps in the oxidation process as are
Blood glucose concentrations over 4Omg/looml blood (NRR)
568
69.9%
812
(B) v (E) x2 = 7,641 P < O.Q\ (C) v (F) X2 = 21.375 P < 0.001
phosphorus for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and copper for cytochrome oxidase in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. REFERENCES (I) Laing, J. A. (1955): Fertility and Infertility In Domestic Animals. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox,London. . (2) McClure, T. J. (1975): Nutritional and Metabolic [nfenility of Grazing Cattle. Univ. Syd. Postgrad Comm. Vet. Sci. Proc.; 26: 1-24.
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzv20
Some nutritional factors affecting the fertility of dairy cattle A.P. Hunter
a
a
Dept. of Agriculture , Box 393, Nowra, N.S.W., Australia Published online: 23 Feb 2011.
To cite this article: A.P. Hunter (1977) Some nutritional factors affecting the fertility of dairy cattle, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 25:11, 305-307, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1977.34438 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1977.34438
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
305
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
1977
Some nutritional factors affecting the fertility of dairy cattlet A. P. Hunter'" N.Z. I'el.l.2S:30S·7
INTRODUCTION
Over recent years we have become aware that cattle are sensitive to nutritional imbalances and may respond by exhibiting infertility. The effects on the reproductive performance of cattle caused by grazing pastures that do not provide sufficient nutrients to meet the requirements for maintenance, growth, pregnancy and lactation are considered.
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 06:13 18 January 2015
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A survey was conducted to examine the fertility of a sample of 40 dairy herds in the South Coast district of New South Wales. The survey commenced by examining the herd breeding records over a 4-month period for evidence of infertility. A herd infertility problem was considered to exist when the first service 90-day non-return rate fell below 50% over the observation period. The proportion of herd infertility caused by known non-nutritional factors was assessed in the initial investigation. A search was then made within the remaining herds for evidence of nutritional factors which were considered most likely to occur in the district. Copper, energy and phosphorus were the nutritional factors investigated. Five herds were selected for a copper treatment trial because blood samples collected from cattle on each of the properties indicated that a marginal copper deficiency was present. Every alternate cow to calve, on entering the milking board, received a single injection of Coprin (400 mg copper glycinate, GlaxoAllenburys). Thus order of calving determined random distribution into treatment and control groups. The cows in 29 herds were examined for evidence of hypogIycaemia and hypophosphataemia and for any relationship these might have with fertility. During the August-November period of 1973 (Spring Survey) 15 herds were examined. During the March-May period of 1974 (Autumn Survey) 22 herds were examined. Eight of the herds in the Autumn Survey were also included in the Spring Survey. On weekly visits to the properties, blood samples were collected from cows which either had been mated or had exhibited an oestrus prior to mating, during that week. Blood glucose and plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations were determined and the 90-day non-return rate was used as the measure of fertility. • Dept. of Agriculture. Box 393, Nowra, N.S.W., Australia. Presented to the NZVA Annual Conference, 1977. .
t
RESULTS
(1) Incidence of Herd Infertility Infertility problems were found in 12 of the 40 herds examined. The infertility experienced was attributed to vibriosis infection in 4 herds and to faulty artificial insemination technique in 2 herds; the cause of infertility in the 6 remaining herds could not be determined prior to performing the investigations into the nutritional causes of infertility. (2) Copper (Table I) There were 463 cows in the trial and the treated group showed a gain of 19% on the first service 90-day non-return rate. In all 5 herds treated cows required fewer services per conception than untreated cows. Low first service non-return rates were obtained in all 5 herds when artificial insemination was performed on cows which had not received copper treatment. (3) Glucose and Phosphorus Blood samples were collected from 971 cows which had been mated and from 254 cows which had exhibited an oestrus prior to mating, during the week of sampling. (a) General fertility The 90-day non-return rate of the 971 cows blood sampled within a week after mating was 66.1 %. The 399 cows mated by natural service 'had a 68.6% non-return rate and the 572 cows mated by artificial insemination had a 64.3% non-return rate. (b) Glucose (Fig 1.) ._ The 1,225 blood samples collected had a 44.85mg/looml mean blood glucose concentration. When blood samples within a week after mating, the 45.37mg/IOOml mean blood glucose concentration of the 642 cows which held to service was significantly higher than the 43.60mg/IOOml mean concentration of the 329 cows which did not hold to service. Cows with blood glucose concentrations of 25mg/looml or below had a lowered non-return rate of 46.2%. In general the herds with higher mean blood glucose concentrations had higher non-return rates. The noo-return rates of cows, sampled prior to mating and again after mating, were determined in relation to the changing blood glucose concentrations (Table II). Rising blood glucose concentrations in the time between the 2 blood samplings appeared to be associated with improved fertility. (c) Phosphorus
Owing to a laboratory error, plasma inorganic phosphate
Continued next page
VOL. 2S
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
concentrations were not available for 68 blood samples. The mean plasma inorganic phosphate concentration of 1,157 blood samples was 5.49mgjlOOml. When blood-sampled within a week after mating, the 5.59mgjlOOml mean plasma inorganic phosphate concentration of the 621 cows which held to service was significantly higher than the 5.34mgj 100m I mean concentration of the 321 cows which did not hold to service. Cows with plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations of 4.5mgjlOOml or below had a lowered non-return rate of 40.7%; 13.8% ofthe cows sampled had concentrations in the last range. The non-return rates of cows, sampled prior to mating and again after mating, were determined in relation to the changing plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations (Table III). Rising plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations in the time between the 2 blood samplings appeared to be associated with improved fertility.
Fig. 1. STUD
~C"
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 06:13 18 January 2015
(d) Glucose and phosphorus interaction
~
T()lalh(),s~requiremenrsDM
~
GflJwlhu\l(2ifubleDM (ifJO.avuilQbleJ
.... ./Ir.•
Julv.
As shown in Table IV, there appeared to be a compensatory effect between blood glucose and plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations in relation to fertility. When blood sampling was performed within a week after mating, provided that the cows with low blood glucose concentrations had plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations above 4.5mgjlOOml, the non-return rates were not depressed. DISCUSSION
After completion of the surveys and trials it was possible to determine the incidence of non-nutritional and nutritional factors which were associated with herd infertility problems. Twelve of the 40 herds examined were found to have infertility problems. However, nutritional factors were probably responsible for lowered fertility in all herds in the survey. Although low concentrations of plasma inorganic phosphate'and blood glucose at mating were associated with low non-return rates, the greatest effect on fertility appeared to be caused by changing plasma inorganic phosphate and blood glucose concentrations about mating. It appears possible to obtain approximately 85% nonreturn rate to first service if all cows in a herd have rising plasma inorganic phosphate and blood glucose concentrations at the time of mating and there are no other major causes of infertility present. Laing l ) postulated that through mediation of the anterior pituitary gland, various environmental influences depressed, first, ovarian activity and second, activity of other genitalia. McClure(2) postulated that the pathogenesis of "bovine functional ovarian activity" appears to involve the inhibition of
J ••
OJ"/.:
Sell.•
Fig. 1: MEAN BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRA TION AND HERD NON-RETURN RA TES TABLE I: TOTALS,S HERDS IN COPPER TRIAL Not copper treated
Copper treated
First Service Non-Return Rate
118
172 _=72.0% 239
_=52.7% 224
(A)
(B) 422 _=1.88 224
3~=1.48 Service required per "conception" ±SD
239
±1.149
±1.001 (D)
(C)
(A) v (B) x2 = 18.380 P < 0.001 (C) v (D) t = 3.980 P < 0.001
TABLE II: CHANGES IN BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS (MG/looML)ABOUT MATING AND NON-RETURN RATES (NRR) (228 COWS)
Survey Period
Spring
Autumn
Total
NRRofCows Which Dropped Over 5mg/Iooml Glucose 23 32 26 52 49 84
NRR of Cows Which Rose Over 5mljlooml Glucose
NRRofCows Which Rose or Fell Up to and Including 5mg/looml Glucose 24
71.8%
46 15
50.0%
29 39
58.3% (A)
(A) v (8) x2 = 0.643 P > 0.1
75
=
28
52.1%
75.7%
37 23
51.7%
32 51
52.0% (B)
(A) v (C) X2 = 4.160 P < 0.05
69
(8) v (C) x 2 = 7.363 P
71.8%
73.9% (C)
< 0.01
1977
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
307
TABLE III: CHANGES IN PLASMA INORGANIC PHOSPHATE CONCENTRATIONS (MG/looML) ABOUT MATING AND NON-RETURN RATES (NRR) (216 COWS) NRR for cows which rose or fell up to and including O.5mg P/looml
NRR for cows which dropped overO.5mg/ P/looml
Survey period
16
Spring
28
45.7%
II
24
=
27
Total
26
71.7%
30
45.8%
23
51.7%
58
49
59.7%
97
59
74.1%
31
58 45.8%
89.6%
29
39
35 Autumn
NRRforcows which rose overO.5mg P/looml
81.6%
60 (B)
(A)
(C)
Downloaded by [Selcuk Universitesi] at 06:13 18 January 2015
(A) v (B) x2 = 2.9\2 P < 0.1 > 0.05 (B)v(C)x2= 8.l7IP 0.1 (B)v(C)x2 = 0.053 P > 0.1
Blood glucose concentrations over 35mg/looml up to 4Omg/looml inclusive (NRR) 7
36.8% (B)
19 104
41
46.1% (C)
89 68.8% (E)
151
382
Totals (NRR)
53
40.7%
130 70.8% (F)
539
(A) v (C) X2 = 3.960 P < 0.05 (A) v (D) x2 = 15.424 P < 0.001
nervous activity. As glucose is the main source of energy for nervous tissue, anything that inhibits glucose supply, or glucose metabolism, must be considered a possible cause of infertility. The plane of nutrition, carbohydrate intake and type of carbohydrate ingested influence the supply of propionic acid, the important precursor of glucose in cattle. Phosphorus and copper are essential for various steps in the oxidation process as are
Blood glucose concentrations over 4Omg/looml blood (NRR)
568
69.9%
812
(B) v (E) x2 = 7,641 P < O.Q\ (C) v (F) X2 = 21.375 P < 0.001
phosphorus for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and copper for cytochrome oxidase in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. REFERENCES (I) Laing, J. A. (1955): Fertility and Infertility In Domestic Animals. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox,London. . (2) McClure, T. J. (1975): Nutritional and Metabolic [nfenility of Grazing Cattle. Univ. Syd. Postgrad Comm. Vet. Sci. Proc.; 26: 1-24.
