Reproductive management of postpartum cows

Abstract High reproductive efficiency in the dairy cow requires a disease-free transition period, high submission rates to AI and high pregnancy rates per service. A key risk factor that causes increased incidence of metabolic disease is low negative energy balance (NEB) in the periparturient and early postpartum periods. Low NEB decreases LH pulse frequency, growth rate and diameter of dominant follicle (DF), IGF-I, glucose, insulin concentrations and increases GH and certain blood metabolites; these effects result in greater loss of body condition score (BCS) and a higher percent of anoestrous cows in the herd. It is important to decrease the incidence of metabolic disease by achieving high dry matter intake (DMI) and minimising the period of NEB after calving. Thus, nutritional management of the cow in the transition period has a crucial role to play in improving reproductive efficiency, because acute nutritional deprivation of heifers has immediate deleterious effects on follicular growth and ovulation. To obtain high submission rates, it is necessary to decrease the incidence of anoestrus and to have good oestrous detection rates. Pregnancy rates per service are affected by a variety of factors. NEB can have deleterious effects on the follicle or the corpus luteum (CL) by decreasing IGF-I concentrations and steroidogenesis. High protein diets fed to postpartum cows leads to increased blood urea and lower fertility. Although the mechanism is not clear, the practical implication of feeding the appropriate level of crude protein in the diet is clear. Thus, a coordinated management approach involving herd managers, nutritionists and veterinarians is required to obtain high reproduction efficiency in dairy cows.