Two hundred and twelve Holstein and Jersey cows were in a study to determine factors that affected reproductive traits. First ovulation occurred about 3 wk postpartum, and interval to first ovulation was greater in cows that had clinical abnormalities postpartum than in normal cows. Jerseys producing more milk ovulated sooner postpartum than lower producing herdmates. Involution of cervix and uterus occurred later postpartum in cows that had clinical problems postpartum. Involution of genital tract occurred later postpartum in older cows and sooner postpartum in cows that had higher milk yields. Duration of first postpartum estrous cycle was 4 days less than for second postpartum cycle. Percentages of estrous cycles detected by standing estrus were 43 and 73% for Holsteins and Jerseys. Estrous detection rates were highest for cows that produced slightly above the mean milk yield and did not differ between cows in highest and lowest milk production quartiles. First detected estrus and days to first insemination occurred later postpartum in Holsteins as milk yield deviation from herdmates increased, regardless of sign. In Jerseys, days to first insemination and days open increased linearly as milk yield increased. Days to first insemination and conception were greater in cows with postpartum clinical problems. Conception rate at first insemination postpartum increased in proportion to concentration of progesterone in blood samples collected during 12 days before first insemination. Overall, clinical problems at parturition and postpartum lowered reproductive performance in both breeds. There was a slight antagonism between milk yield and reproductive performance (days open) in Jerseys but not in Holsteins.

The world's population will reach 10.4 billion in 2067, with 81% residing in Africa or Asia. Arable land available for food production will decrease to 0.15 ha per person. Temperature will increase in tropical and temperate zones, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, and this will push growing seasons and dairy farming away from arid areas and into more northern latitudes. Dairy consumption will increase because it provides essential nutrients more efficiently than many other agricultural systems. Dairy farming will become modernized in developing countries and milk production per cow will increase, doubling in countries with advanced dairying systems. Profitability of dairy farms will be the key to their sustainability. Genetic improvements will include emphasis on the coding genome and associated noncoding epigenome of cattle, and on microbiomes of dairy cattle and farmsteads. Farm sizes will increase and there will be greater lateral integration of housing and management of dairy cattle of different ages and production stages. Integrated sensors, robotics, and automation will replace much of the manual labor on farms. Managing the epigenome and microbiome will become part of routine herd management. Innovations in dairy facilities will improve the health of cows and permit expression of natural behaviors. Herds will be viewed as superorganisms, and studies of herds as observational units will lead to improvements in productivity, health, and well-being of dairy cattle, and improve the agroecology and sustainability of dairy farms. Dairy farmers in 2067 will meet the world's needs for essential nutrients by adopting technologies and practices that provide improved cow health and longevity, profitable dairy farms, and sustainable agriculture.

No abstract

No abstract

The objective was to determine factors that affect the expression of estrus. Thirteen lactating Holstein cows were ovariectomized about 4 to 6 wk postpartum and then challenged repeatedly with progesterone and estradiol benzoate to induce estrus six times during the postpartum period. Each challenge included 5 d when the cow was primed with progesterone through insertion of a progesterone-impregnated, foam rubber pessary. Estradiol benzoate (1 mg) was injected intramuscularly 36 h after removal of the pessary. Groups of two to three cows each began the experiment at 3-mo intervals to avoid confounding treated simultaneously. Observations for estrous behavior were at 8-h intervals following each challenge. A minimum of three sexually active cows were always observed together to avoid differences in estrous behavior caused by having too few sexually active animals in the group. Observations for estrous behavior were at 8-h intervals following each challenge. During each observation, cows were observed for 30 min on dirt and for 30 min on concrete. Standing behavior was not influenced by postpartum interval, season of year, or milk yield. Mounting behavior increased from the first to the sixth postpartum challenge, but it was not affected by season of year or milk yield. Duration of estrus, mounting activity, and standing activity were greater on dirt than on concrete. These results indicate that the surface on which cows were observed had a profound effect on sexual behavior; however, postpartum interval, season of year, and milk yield were of minor importance.

We hypothesized that the ovulatory response of one ovary to FSH would be related positively to the size of the primordial and growing pools of follicles in the other ovary. Nonlactating cows (n = 26) were unilaterally ovariectomized and 2 days later were superovulated. The superovulatory response was classified as Low (< 5 corpora lutea [CL]), Medium (5-14 CL), or High (> 14 CL). Surface follicles on the ovary removed before superovulation were classified as small (1-3 mm), medium (3-7 mm), or large ( > 7 mm), and the ovary was then fixed and serially sectioned. Follicles 250 follicles

Corpora lutea (CL) of mature, nonlactating Holstein cows (n = 12) each received surgical implants of a microdialysis system between Days 12 and 16 of an estrous cycle (estrus = Day 0). Fractions from dialyzed CL were collected every 30 min for 12 h each day for 7-9 days after surgery. Concurrent sampling of jugular venous blood allowed comparison between luteal dialysate and peripheral serum hormone concentrations. Six cows received no treatment, while 4 cows received prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF; 25 mg, i.m.) and 2 cows received hCG (5000 IU, i.m.) within 48 h after surgery. Serum progesterone (P4) declined to < 1 ng/ml by Day 20 +/- 0.5 in 4 of 6 nontreated cows and by Day 15 +/- 0.6 in all 4 PGF-treated cows. Both of the hCG-treated cows had increased serum and dialysate P4 after treatment and did not show evidence of luteolysis by the end of their sampling period (Days 22 and 18), and 2 of 6 nontreated cows did not show evidence of luteolysis by the end of their sampling period (Days 22 and 24). All 8 cows undergoing spontaneous or induced luteolysis showed a significant rise (p < 0.01) in dialysate (but not serum) tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) after P4 began to decline. From the start of the decline in dialysate P4, intervals to first detectable TNF and to peak TNF, and duration of TNF in the dialysate were 25.8 +/- 8 h, 38.3 +/- 8 h, and 42.3 +/- 7 h, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Follicular growth rates were determined by histological examination of ovaries of five prepubertal gilts following treatment with the stathmokinetic agent colchicine. One ovary from each of five gilts was removed surgically and then colchicine (n = 3) or saline (n = 2) was infused i.v. Precisely 2 h after treatment with colchicine, the remaining ovary was removed. Ovaries were processed for histological analyses and sectioned at 10 microns; every twentieth section was stained with hematoxylin and periodic acid-Schiffe's. Sections were viewed with a projection microscope and individual follicles were measured. Eight classes of follicles were established such that the number of granulosa cells per cross section doubled in each class. Diameters of follicles for each class were as follows: 1) less than 106 microns, 2) 106-148 microns, 3) 148-206 microns, 4) 206-287 microns, 5) 287-400 microns, 6) 400-657 microns, 7) 657-1480 microns, and 8) 1480-3130 microns. A layer of thecal cells was first seen in class 2 follicles, and 76% of class 3 follicles had a thecal layer. Oocyte diameter increased through the first four classes and reached a maximum diameter of approximately 110 microns. Almost all follicles greater than 400 microns had an antrum. Preantral follicles had a lower mitotic index and a higher mitotic time and class time than antral follicles. Growth rate increased with increasing size of follicles. Preantral follicles grew at a rate of 5.2 microns/day whereas antral follicles grew at 313 microns/day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)