Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Postpartum follicular development in Brahman cows under two stocking rates

  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim was to study postpartum follicular population dynamics in Brahman cows in the Mexican humid tropics and under different stocking rates. Lactating adult cows (n = 104) grazed native grammas (Paspalum spp., Axonopus spp.) under two stocking rates: 2.8 (high) or 1.7 (low) cows/ha. Follicle numbers and their size (millimetres) were measured by ovarian ultrasound scanning. Animals detected in oestrus and inseminated were taken out of the study. Both stocking rates produced similar (P < 0.05) body condition scores (BCS) and follicular dynamics. The percent of follicles, averaged over stocking rates, of <4 mm diminished and those of 5–8 mm increased with time, whilst those of >9 mm remained constant; respective values for the previously mentioned sizes were 60 days postpartum (n = 101), 49%, 56% and 5%; 120 days (n = 70), 28%, 66% and 6%; and 180 days (n = 15), 9%, 79% and 12%. There was a positive correlation between BCS and follicle number for size <4 mm (r = 0.73, P < 0.01), whilst for size 5–8 mm, this was negative (r = −0.51, P < 0.05), for follicles >9 mm, no difference was found (r = −0.08, P > 0.05). It was concluded that stocking rate did not affect follicular population dynamics of Brahman cows, but BCS dictated the number and categories of follicles present regardless of the stocking rate utilised.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BCS:

Body condition score

SR:

Stocking rate

References

  • Alonso-Díaz MA, Castillo-Gallegos E, Basurto-Camberos H, Jarillo-Rodríguez J, Valles-de la Mora B. Respuesta productiva de una pastura de gramas nativas bajo pastoreo rotacional intensivo en clima cálido húmedo (Productive response of a native pasture under intensive rotational grazing on a hot humid climate). Revista Avances Investigación Agropecuaria 2007;11:35–55. (In Spanish with abstract in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Arreguín AJA, Santos ER, Villa-Godoy A, Román YPH. Interacción de la condición corporal (C.C.) y la frecuencia del amamantamiento (M) sobre la actividad ovárica postparto en vacas Cebú. II.- Población folicular ovárica. Veterinaria México 1995;26:323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns PD, Spitzer JC, Henricks DM, Burns GL. Effects of dietary energy restriction on follicular and corpora lutea development in non-lactating beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 1994;72(Suppl 1):76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castillo, G.E. Improving a native pasture with the legume Arachis pintoi in the humid tropics of México. Doctoral Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2003, pp 157

  • Ciccioli NH, Wettemann RP, Spicer LJ, Lents CA, White FJ, Keisler DH. Influence of body condition at calving and postpartum nutrition on endocrine function and reproductive performance of primiparous beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 2003;81:3107–3120.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diskin MG, Mackey DR, Roche JF, Sreenan JM. Effects of nutrition and metabolic status on circulating hormones and ovarian follicle development in cattle. Animal Reproduction Science 2003;78:345–370.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández TL, Castillo GE, Ocaña ZE, Valles MB, Jarillo RJ. Characteristics of the sward in native grass pastures either alone or associated with Arachis pintoi CIAT 17434, under intensive rotational grazing. Técnica Pecuaria México 2006;44:365–378. (In Spanish and English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Henao G, Olivera-Ángel M, Maldonado-Estrada JG. Follicular dynamics during postpartum anestrus and the first estrous cycle in suckled or non-suckled Brahman (Bos indicus) cows. Animal Reproduction Science 2000;63:127–136.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanuya NL, Matiko MK, Nkya R, Bittegeko SBP, Mgsa MN, Reksen O, Ropstad E. Seasonal changes in nutritional status and reproductive performance of Zebu cows kept under a traditional agro-pastoral system in Tanzania. Tropical Animal Health and Production 2006;38:511–519.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lents CA, White FJ, Ciccioli NH, Wettemann RP, Spicer LJ, Lalman DL. Effects of body condition score at parturition and postpartum protein supplementation on estrous behavior and size of the dominant follicle in beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 2008;86:2549–2556.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maquivar M, Galina CS, Verduzco A, Galindo J, Molina R, Estrada S, Mendoza MG. Reproductive response in supplemented heifers in the humid tropics of Costa Rica. Animal Reproduction Science 2006;93:16–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy MG, Boland MP, Roche JF. Pattern of follicular growth and resumption of ovarian activity in postpartum beef suckler cows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 1990;90:523–533.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ocaña, Z.E., Valles, M.B., Fajersson, P., Landeros, C., Castillo, G.E., Jarillo R.J. 2005. Efecto de la carga animal sobre la producción de leche y características de pasturas nativas en Veracruz, México. Revista BioTam, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Edición Especial Tomo II, pp 449–450.

  • Pierson RA, Ginther OJ. Ultrasonography of the bovine ovary. Theriogenology 1984;21:495–501.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pullan NB. Condition scoring of white Fulani cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production 1978;10:118–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes FM, Fitzpatrick LA, Entwistle KW, De’ath G. Sequential changes in ovarian follicular dynamics in Bos indicus heifers before and after nutritional anoestrus. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 1995;104:41–49.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Cortés ZT, Olivera-Angel M. Ovarian follicular dynamics in suckled zebu (Bos indicus) cows monitored by real time ultrasonography. Animal Reproduction Science 1999;54:211–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santos ER, Arreguín JAA, Villa-Godoy A, Román YPH. Interacción de la condición corporal (C.C.) y la frecuencia del amamantamiento (M) sobre la actividad ovárica postparto en vacas Cebú. I.- El desarrollo folicular ovárico. Reunión Nacional de Investigación Pecuaria. Veterinaria México 1995;26:322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soto CR, Rubio I, Galina CS, Castillo E, Rojas S. Effect of pre- and post-partum feed supplementation on productive performance of grazing primiparous Brahman cows. Tropical Animal Health and Production 2001;33:253–264.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steel RGD, Torrie JH. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. A Biometrical Approach. 2nd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart RE, Spicer LJ, Hamilton TD, Keefer BE, Dawson LJ, Morgan GL, Echternkamp SE. Levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding proteins, luteinizing hormone and IGF-I receptors, and steroids in dominant follicles during the first follicular wave in cattle exhibiting regular estrous cycles. Endocrinology 1996;137:2842–2850.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wettemann RP, Lents CA, Ciccioli NH, White FJ, Rubio I. Nutritional- and suckling-mediated anovulation in beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 2003;81:E48–59.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors kindly appreciate the correction of the English language of this manuscript made by Dr. Jane Russell.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Enseñanza Investigación y Extensión en Ganadería Tropical Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlapacoyan, Veracruz, México

    Ivette Rubio & Epigmenio Castillo

  2. Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México

    Rodolfo Soto, Fernando Alarcón, Clara Murcia & Carlos S. Galina

  3. Apartado Postal 136, Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz, 93600, México

    Ivette Rubio

Authors
  1. Ivette Rubio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Epigmenio Castillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rodolfo Soto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fernando Alarcón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Clara Murcia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carlos S. Galina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ivette Rubio.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rubio, I., Castillo, E., Soto, R. et al. Postpartum follicular development in Brahman cows under two stocking rates. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 539–545 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9457-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9457-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation