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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Effects Of Sire, Dam Traits, Calf Traits, And Environment On Dystocia And Subsequent Reproduction Of Two-Year-Old Heifers, D. J. Colburn, Gene H. Deutscher, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Don C. Adams
Effects Of Sire, Dam Traits, Calf Traits, And Environment On Dystocia And Subsequent Reproduction Of Two-Year-Old Heifers, D. J. Colburn, Gene H. Deutscher, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Don C. Adams
Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications
A study was conducted over 3 yr to evaluate effects of sire birth weight EPD, calf birth weight and shape, and heifer pelvic area and weight, individually and in combination, on dystocia and subsequent rebreeding of 2-yr-old heifers. Heifers (n = 550), MARC II yearlings, were assigned for breeding to one of four Angus sires with birth weight EPD of -.95, -.82, +2.9, and +2.7 kg. At calving, heifers were assisted as needed. A gauge attached to the calf puller recorded applied traction pressure. Analysis of traction pressure detected only slightly larger amounts of variation (2 to 3%) affecting dystocia …
Environmental Effects On Neonatal Mortality Of Beef Calves, S. M. Azzam, J. E. Kinder, Merlyn K. Nielsen, L. A. Werth, K. E. Gregory, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch
Environmental Effects On Neonatal Mortality Of Beef Calves, S. M. Azzam, J. E. Kinder, Merlyn K. Nielsen, L. A. Werth, K. E. Gregory, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch
Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications
Calving records from 1969 to 1989 from the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center were used to investigate how climatic conditions, in addition to dystocia, age of dam, size of calf, and sex affect calf survival from birth to 1 wk of age. Data were analyzed separately for cows calving with (n = 11,094) or without (n = 72,187) dystocia. Neonatal mortality was described by a logit model and parameters were estimated by maximum-likelihood procedures. Calves born to cows with dystocia were five times as likely to die neonatally than calves born without assistance. Of all calves that …
Twinning In Cattle: 111. Effects Of Twinning On Dystocia, Reproductive Traits, Calf Survival, Calf Growth And Cow Productivity, K. E. Gregory, S. E. Echternkamp, G. E. Dickerson, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch, L. Dale Van Vleck
Twinning In Cattle: 111. Effects Of Twinning On Dystocia, Reproductive Traits, Calf Survival, Calf Growth And Cow Productivity, K. E. Gregory, S. E. Echternkamp, G. E. Dickerson, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch, L. Dale Van Vleck
Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications
An evaluation of natural twinning in beef cattle revealed that cows birthing twins had shorter (P < .0l) gestation lengths, more (P < .0l) retained placentas, more (P < .01) dystocia, more (P < .0l) days to estrus, lower (P < .0l) conception rates and more (P < .01) days to pregnancy than cows birthing singles. Days to estrus, conception rate and days to pregnancy were not affected by number of calves reared (1 vs 2) in cows birthing twins. Survival at birth was greater (P < .0l) for single- than for twin-born calves, but twins and singles did not differ (P > .05) in postnatal survival. When dystocia was experienced, calf survival at birth was 95% vs 73% for singles vs twins compared with 99% vs 92% when no dystocia was experienced. Calves born twins were lighter (P < .01) at birth, 100 d and 200 d, but twins and singles did not differ in postweaning gains. Total calf weights at 100 d per cow calving were 12% greater (P < .01) in cows birthing twins vs singles when twin calves reared by foster dams were! excluded. The potential increase in cow productivity for total calf weight at 100 d is 40% if calf survival rates of twins with dystocia relative to survival rates of twins without dystocia were comparable to survival rates of singles with and without dystocia, and if cows birthing twins were fed and managed to obtain conception rates equal to those of cows birthing singles. Identification of cows gestating twins to provide for their higher prepartum nutritive requirements and calving assistance at parturition is necessary to make twinning in cattle an economically viable technology.
Factors Affecting Twinning And Effects Of Twinning In Holstein Dairy Cattle, R. A. Cady, L. Dale Van Vleck
Factors Affecting Twinning And Effects Of Twinning In Holstein Dairy Cattle, R. A. Cady, L. Dale Van Vleck
Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications
Data were obtained from 23,978 calving records collected by the Eastern Artificial Insemination Cooperative's Calving Survey. The survey information included breed, parity and size of dam, date of breeding and birth, identification of sire and maternal grandsire, sex, size, and vigor of calf, and difficulty of birth. Due to small numbers of records for non-Holstein breeds, only Holstein records were used in the analyses. As parity increased, the incidence of twinning increased (P<.05). Month of birth (conception) and the size of dam measured within parity did not affect the twinning rate. The heritability of twinning, estimated using the genetic covariance between paternal half-sibs was .05 over all parities and within parity was .06, .03, and .03 for the first, second and third parities, respectively. Length of gestation for twins was 5 days less (P<.05) than for singles. In addition, twins were smaller and weaker, and their birth was accompanied by more dystocia than monoparous calves (P<.05). Neonatal mortality was four times higher (P<.05) for twins as compared to single births. In view of these facts, it does not appear that selection programs designed to increase twinning rates would be desirable for Holstein dairy cattle.