The effect of twinning on milk yield, dystocia, calf birth weight and open days in Holstein dairy cows of Iran

Abstract

Calving records of Iranian Holsteins from April 1998 to September 2006 comprising 16 herds with 104,572 calving events representing 4045 twin births were used to evaluate reported open days, calving difficulties and calf birth weight in single- and twin-births and the relationship exists between twinning and milk production. A logistic regression model was constructed to analyse dystocia for single- and twin-births. In addition, statistical analyses of 305-day milk yield, open days and calf birth weight were performed using the general linear models procedure. The odds of dystocia was greater after twin births [p < 0.0001; odds ratio (OR) = 2.32]. The odds of dystocia decreased from parity 1 to parity 2 and beyond (p < 0.0001; OR = 0.44). Open days were significantly different between single (129.28 days) and twin (144.88 days) births (p < 0.05). Calf birth weights were significantly greater for singletons than twins (43.33 kg vs. 34.36 kg; p < 0.05). In addition, twin-calved cows had greater 305-day milk production than single-calved cows (p < 0.05). In general, development of practical management strategies to cope with the negative effects associated with twinning on dairies is critical, especially if the trend towards increased twinning in the dairy cattle population continues.

Genetic relationship between milk urea nitrogen and reproductive performance in Holstein dairy cows

“…FSCR averaged 28.4% in services following first calving, 23.9% in services following second calving and 19.8% in services following third calving. The average of DO in this study was consistent with the result of the previous study (Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, 2010) which reported the average of DO as 137.08 in Iranian Holsteins. DCFS is highly affected by the length of the voluntary waiting period, which differs among herds and among management groups within a herd.…”

Effects of main reproductive and health problems on the performance of dairy cows: a review

“…For example, the risk of pregnancy loss during the first trimester of gestation for cows carrying twins is three to nine times higher than for cows carrying singletons (López-Gatius et al, 2002, 2009López-Gatius & García-Ispierto, 2010). Higher milk production related to twinning is controversial (Beerepoot et al, 1992;Bicalho et al, 2007;Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, 2010b), and this possible benefit will never outweigh the higher incidence of dystocia, stillbirths, and retained placenta (Beerepoot et al, 1992;Echternkamp & Gregory, 1999). Wiltbank et al (2000) proposed that high milk production increases steroid metabolism as a result of an increased blood flow to the digestive tract and the liver.…”

“…Adequate body condition score at calving for both primiparous and multiparous dams (BCS of 2.5 to 3, when assessed on a 5 point scale) ensures optimization of ease of delivery and subsequent performance. Primiparous cows are known to have greater risk of difficulty than multiparous cows (Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, 2010b;Gaafar et al, 2011), partly because of their smaller size and pelvic size. It is recommended that first calving takes place between 22 to 24 months of age to optimize subsequent performance and ease of delivery (Le Cozler et al, 2008;Berry & Cromie, 2009).…”

“…The real economic impacts of twinning are probably on the rise because twinning rates have increased considerably over the past 20 yr and estimates currently run at 9%, or even 12% in some herds (Silva del Río et al, 2007). Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh (2010b) birth weight for twin calves was probably because of the reduced gestation length among cows calving twins (Day et al, 1995;Echternkamp & Gregory, 1999).…”

“…The calf 's physical factors contributing to a size mismatch between the calf and the dam may include a calf of a big size or malpresentation. These morphological factors are themselves dependent upon different variables including the age, breed and parity of the dam, twinning, the sex and weight of the calf, the sire and breed of the calf as well as the nutrition of the dam during gestation (Meijering, 1984;Hickson et al, 2006;Mee, 2008a;Zaborski et al, 2009;Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, 2010b). Dams with low calving weight as well as abnormally low or high body condition score can result in difficulty at parturition as well (Philipsson, 1976b).…”