Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
P. Maentysaari, J. Juga, M. H. Lidauer, J. Haeggman, T. Mehtioe, J. M. Christensen, E. A. Maentysaari
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between energy status indicators and fertility traits in dairy cows during different stages of lactation. The findings showed a higher correlation between energy status and fertility traits, especially in multiparous cows.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. L. Rhoads
Summary: Heat stress has severe consequences for agricultural production, and its impact is exacerbated by global warming. Climate change is predicted to lead to reproductive problems, decreased milk production, and overall productivity losses. Development of technologies and management strategies to improve animal production capacity and efficiency during heat stress is urgently needed.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ryotaro Miura, Takuma Inoue, Yuka Kunugi, Miya Yasukawa, Saku Koyama, Rena Sato, Tomochika Matsumura, Tsuyoshi Tajima, Itaru Yoshimura, Tadaharu Ajito
Summary: This study evaluated the estrus prediction method focusing on >= 10 mm follicle numbers with functional corpus luteum in lactating Holstein dairy cows. It was found that more than 75% of estrus occurred 10 days after the ovarian examination in cows with one large follicle, while more than 75% of estrus occurred within 9 days of the ovarian examination in cows with two or more large follicles. Therefore, evaluating >= 10 mm follicle numbers could be useful for predicting the estrus expression period in these cows.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalie Turner, Pevindu Abeysinghe, Pawel Sadowski, Murray D. Mitchell
Summary: This review explores the role of exosomes in dairy cow reproduction and introduces recent advancements in mass-spectrometry based proteomics, which have the potential to advance the quantitative profiling of exosomal protein cargo in search for early biomarkers of cattle fertility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Eleni Dovolou, Themistoklis Giannoulis, Ioannis Nanas, Georgios S. Amiridis
Summary: Global warming poses a significant threat to the dairy sector, affecting both tropical and temperate regions. High temperatures compromise the welfare and fertility of dairy cows, leading to economic losses for farmers. Dairy cows employ various adaptive mechanisms to cope with heat stress, but the disruption of hormone secretion has long-lasting effects on fertility. Mitigation measures can restore milk production, but summer fertility records remain low due to the multifaceted nature of sustaining high fertility and proper reproductive processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yingkun Zhu, Dengpan Bu, Lu Ma
Summary: Due to their unique multi-gastric digestion system, dairy livestock have complex physiology that differs from monogastric animals. The application of omics and multi-omics in dairy sciences has greatly contributed to understanding the physiology, pathology, and management of dairy animals. The rumen microbiome and organs such as the liver and mammary gland play important roles in the energy metabolism, production performance, and health of dairy animals. Multi-omics approaches provide a broad scope of information to study the traits of dairy animals.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
P. M. Fricke, M. C. Wiltbank
Summary: The Ovsynch protocol has been proven to increase pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows, compared to cows inseminated after a detected estrus. Implementing timed artificial insemination (TAI) programs has been an important factor in the significant improvement of reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows in the United States over the past 20 years.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
E. M. Cabrera, M. R. Lauber, T. Valdes-Arciniega, M. S. El Azzi, J. P. N. Martins, T. R. Bilby, P. M. Fricke
Summary: The study aimed to compare the effects of GnRH and hCG treatments on pregnancies per artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows. The results showed that cows treated with GnRH had higher pregnancy rates and there were no significant differences in ovulation time and luteolysis completeness between GnRH and hCG treatments.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Abdul Sammad, Hailiang Zhang, Rui Shi, Yixin Dong, Hanpeng Luo, Ziwei Chen, Lin Liu, Gang Guo, Aoxing Liu, Yachun Wang
Summary: In this study, the associations and expression levels of three genes, CACNB2, SLC39A12, and ZEB1, with reproduction in dairy cattle were investigated. The results demonstrated the importance of these genes in reproductive traits and provided valuable genetic markers for genomic selection in this area.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Laurin Schwarzmann, Arlene Marchand, Barbara Knutti, Rupert Bruckmaier, Heinrich Bollwein, Dragos Scarlet
Summary: This study assessed the effects of postpartum diseases on AFC and AMH concentration in dairy cows, as well as the influence of parity and breed. The results showed no effect of postpartum diseases or breed on AFC or AMH groups. There was a strong interaction between parity and AFC, with primiparous cows having fewer follicles. Pluriparous cows with high AMH concentration had shorter calving to first service and calving to conception intervals, but lower milk yield.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gabriela H. Pedroza, Lawrence F. Lanzon, Maria B. Rabaglino, Wendy L. Walker, Payam Vahmani, Anna C. Denicol
Summary: Negative energy balance in the postpartum period can lead to reduced fertility in dairy cows. This study found that elevated non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels during negative energy balance can cause accumulation of fatty acids in the ovarian tissue and preantral follicles, resulting in changes in ovarian gene expression and a response to injury. These findings provide further understanding of the potential links between metabolic imbalance and infertility.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. O. Giordano, E. M. Sitko, C. Rial, M. M. Perez, G. E. Granados
Summary: As dairy cattle reproductive efficiency improves, targeted reproductive management approaches are being explored to enhance herd performance and profitability. These approaches involve identifying subgroups of cows based on various biological and performance data, and implementing tailored reproductive management strategies. Despite the need for further work before widespread implementation, there is promising research evidence supporting the development of these strategies.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Emma J. Horn, Casey C. Read, J. Lannett Edwards, F. Neal Schrick, Justin D. Rhinehart, Rebecca R. Payton, Shawn R. Campagna, Jessica L. Klabnik, Hannah M. Clark, Phillip R. Myer, Kyle J. McLean, Sarah E. Moorey
Summary: Extremes in body condition affect fertility and overall productivity in beef cattle herds, and are related to alterations in the metabolome of follicular fluid and serum.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Joaquin Barca, Ana Meikle, Mette Bouman, Ynte H. Schukken
Summary: This study found that the impact of PEG treatment on fertility and culling interacts with pre-NEFA levels. In high pre-NEFA cows, PEG treatment increased the rate of first insemination, countered the negative effects of early-lactation CM and UD on pregnancy rates, and decreased the hazard of culling.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Murat Onur Yazlik, Hatice Esra Colakoglu, Mert Pekcan, Ufuk Kaya, Sukru Kuplulu, Cihan Kacar, Mert Polat, Mehmet Rifat Vural
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of injectable trace element and vitamin combinations on immune function and reproductive outcomes in dairy cows. Results showed that cows supplemented with trace elements and/or vitamins had higher pregnancy rates, with higher phagocytic activity observed in the ITES+VIT group before calving.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
E. Rojas Canadas, M. M. Herlihy, J. Kenneally, F. Kearney, J. Furlong, P. Lonergan, S. T. Butler
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between plasma progesterone concentrations after first AI in post-partum dairy cows and their phenotypes, cow factors, and genetic traits. The research found that cows with superior genetic merit for fertility traits, favorable postpartum fertility phenotypes, and better metabolic status at AI were more likely to have greater plasma progesterone concentrations and higher odds of successful pregnancy establishment.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Williams, R. D. Sleator, C. P. Murphy, J. McCarthy, D. P. Berry
Summary: The inclusion of reproductive performance in dairy cow breeding schemes has improved genetic merit, but the average length of productive life in dairy cows hasn't changed in most populations. Risk factors for culling, especially in older cows, may be more associated with lower yield or high somatic cell score (SCS) than compromised reproductive performance.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Williams, C. P. Murphy, R. D. Sleator, S. C. Ring, D. P. Berry
Summary: Measuring dry matter intake in grazing dairy cows using current techniques is invasive and costly. This study aimed to find an alternative way to predict dry matter intake by estimating the genetic correlations between body-related linear type traits and dry matter intake. The results showed moderate heritability for all linear type traits and significant genetic correlations between these traits and dry matter intake. However, the predicted dry matter intake based on the genetic evaluation of linear type traits did not strongly correlate with actual dry matter intake in validation animals, especially when body weight data was available.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Giulio Visentin, Donagh P. Berry, Angela Costa, Audrey McDermott, Massimo De Marchi, Sinead McParland
Summary: This study estimated genetic parameters for protein fractions and FAA composition using MIRS predictions routinely recorded from milk samples. The results highlighted exploitable genetic variation for both protein fractions and FAA in dairy cow milk, with favorable improvement in casein and whey fractions observed in breeding programs directly selecting for greater milk protein concentration.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Williams, R. D. Sleator, C. P. Murphy, J. McCarthy, D. P. Berry
Summary: This study found genetic correlations between linear type traits and survival in dairy cows, which may change with advancing parity. Rear udder height, teat length, and udder depth showed stronger correlations with survival as cows aged. These linear type traits may be suitable early predictors of survival in dairy cows.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Stacey M. Fairhurst, Gail E. Jackson, Andy Evans, Lorna J. Cole
Summary: Pollination plays a crucial role in oilseed rape yield and resource allocation. Wind and insect pollination can increase and stabilize yield by affecting growth and reproduction. Plants without supplementary pollination allocate more resources to growth, while pollinated plants allocate more resources to seed production.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Donagh P. Berry, Emily K. Herman, Tara R. Carthy, Rebecca Jennings, Nahid Bandi-Kenari, Rebecca E. O'Connor, John F. Mee, Jim O'Donovan, Daragh Mathews, Paul Stothard
Summary: Swyer syndrome refers to individuals who have the typical male chromosome but exhibit female characteristics. The absence of a functional SRY gene on the Y chromosome is associated with some cases of Swyer syndrome, although individuals with a fully functional SRY gene have also been found. This study analyzed the whole genome sequence of eight cattle with suspected Swyer syndrome and confirmed that all of them had the 60,XY sex reversal Swyer syndrome.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Frizzarin, I. C. Gormley, D. P. Berry, S. McParland
Summary: The study aims to estimate the change in body condition score (BCS) using mid-infrared spectra of milk. The results show that estimating ABCS with spectral data reduces the RMSEV, especially for cows losing BCS quickly. This approach can be used to generate routine estimates of ABCS for farm decisions.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. P. Berry, M. L. Spangler
Summary: Access to high-dimensional genomic information in livestock species is accelerating, which has significant implications for various applications and research.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Stephen T. Butler, Alan D. Crowe, Stephen G. Moore, Pat Lonergan
Summary: A unique aspect of seasonal-calving pasture-based systems of dairy production is the intense focus on achieving a concentrated herd-calving period in late winter and early spring. The concentration of calving period results in a large number of male dairy calves being born at the same time, which is a potential welfare concern. Sex-sorted semen can be used to address this issue, but it may have poorer pregnancy per artificial insemination.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
F. Mossa, A. C. O. Evans
Summary: Ruminants are born with a finite number of healthy ovarian follicles and oocytes (ovarian reserve), which can be influenced by prenatal conditions and genetic factors. The correlation between ovarian reserve and fertility in cattle is still controversial and requires further research. Improving management and genetic selection of dams can enhance the size of the ovarian reserve in offspring, but the reliability of AFC/AMH as predictors of fertility is yet to be established.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. G. Moore, C. Feehily, R. C. Doyle, F. Buckley, P. Lonergan, P. D. Cotter, S. T. Butler
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the differences in microbial composition and functional potential of the vaginal and uterine microbiota between dairy cows diagnosed with or without purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) at 3 weeks postpartum. The results showed that the differences in microbial composition and functional potential between PVD- and PVD+ cows were dependent on parity and breed.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
A. Pakrashi, C. Ryan, C. Gueret, D. P. Berry, M. Corcoran, M. T. Keane, B. Mac Namee
Summary: Subclinical mastitis in cows has negative effects on their health, well-being, longevity, and performance, leading to reduced productivity and profit. Predictive models built using machine learning techniques can accurately detect subclinical mastitis up to 7 days before its occurrence, allowing dairy farmers to take interventions to mitigate its effect.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Noof Abdulrahman Alrabiah, Constantine A. Simintiras, Alexander C. O. Evans, Patrick Lonergan, Trudee Fair
Summary: Follicular fluid (FF) is a liquid environment composed of vascular transudate and secretions from granulosa and thecal cells, which supports the growth and maturation of oocytes and plays a crucial role in determining oocyte quality. However, the composition of bovine FF is not well-studied. In this study, the metabolomic constitution of bovine FF during oocyte maturation was comprehensively characterized. A total of 634 metabolites were identified, with various compositions and concentrations affected by the stage of follicle development. This analysis provides new insights into the environment supporting oocyte maturation and has the potential to improve oocyte quality. Rating: 7/10
REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Stephen T. Butler, Alan D. Crowe, Stephen G. Moore, Pat Lonergan
Summary: A unique aspect of seasonal-calving pasture-based systems of dairy production is the need to achieve a concentrated herd-calving period, which results in a large number of male dairy calves being born at the same time. The use of sex-sorted semen and in vitro embryo production can address this issue and contribute to genetic progress and the development of the beef-on-dairy market.