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Factors Affecting Fertility According to the Postpartum Period in Crossbred Dual-Purpose Suckling Cows in the Tropics

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Abstract

To determine the relationship between first service conception rate (FSC) and the postpartum period (PP), 6160 calvings from 2250 crossbred dual-purpose cows were analysed. The effects of breed predominance (BT: Bos taurus and BI: Bos indicus), season of service (dry, intermediate and humid), parity (1 or 2 and more), agroecological region (Sub-humid and Dry Tropical Forest) and milk production were studied. The postpartum period was grouped according to the calving–first service interval as G1 ≤ 60 days (n = 1889); G2 > 60 ≤ 90 days (n = 1436); G3 > 90 ≤ 120 days (n = 1030); and G4 > 120 days (n = 1805). Data were analysed by chi-squared test. The overall mean for FSC was 58.2% and was lower in G1 (p < 0.01). All PP showed a breed effect on FSC, with mean values of 61.6% and 53.3% for BI and BT, respectively. Season of service also affected FSC, which was significantly lower during the humid period: 51.2% versus 57.4% and 61.5% for the intermediate and dry periods (p < 0.01), respectively. Parity and environmental effects were not observed on FSC. Levels of milk yield did influence the FSC, which decreased from 66.7% and 61.0% for milk yields of < 1500 kg and between 1501 and 2000 kg to 46.0% in milk yields > 2000 kg (p < 0.01).

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Abbreviations

BT:

Bos taurus

BI:

Bos indicus

FSC:

first service conception rate

PP:

postpartum period

AI:

artificial insemination

NM:

natural mating

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de los Andes, Trujillo, Estado Trujillo

    F. Perea-Ganchou (Miembros del Grupo de Investigadores de la Reproduccioń Animal la Región Zuliana (GIRARZ)

  2. Facultade de Ciencias Veterinarias, Trujillo, Estado Trujillo

    E. Soto Belloso (Miembros del Grupo de Investigadores de la Reproduccioń Animal la Región Zuliana (GIRARZ), G. Soto Castillo (Miembros del Grupo de Investigadores de la Reproduccioń Animal la Región Zuliana (GIRARZ) & H. Hernández Fonseca (Miembros del Grupo de Investigadores de la Reproduccioń Animal la Región Zuliana (GIRARZ)

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Agronomia, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela

    C. González Stagnaro (Miembros del Grupo de Investigadores de la Reproduccioń Animal la Región Zuliana (GIRARZ)

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  1. F. Perea-Ganchou
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  2. E. Soto Belloso
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  3. C. González Stagnaro
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  4. G. Soto Castillo
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Correspondence to F. Perea-Ganchou.

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Perea-Ganchou, F., Belloso, E.S., Stagnaro, C.G. et al. Factors Affecting Fertility According to the Postpartum Period in Crossbred Dual-Purpose Suckling Cows in the Tropics. Trop Anim Health Prod 37, 559–572 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-005-4219-x

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