Reproductive Physiology of Beef and Cattle

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Reproductive Physiology of Beef and Cattle

• Suporn Katawatin
• Department of Animal Science
• Khon Kaen University

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• Reproduction is one of the most important
  consideration determining the profit of cattle
  production

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RECORD NUTRITION ESTROUS DETECTION
MANAGEMENT
DAYS OPEN (85 days)
FEMALE FERTILITY
HERD HEALTH
REDUCE AGE AT 1ST CALVING INCREASE COWS
CYCLING TREAT PROBLEM COWS
CONTROL GENITAL DISEASE PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
IMPROVE AI TECHNIQUE USE GOOD QUALITY SEMEN BREED
COWS IN STANDING HEAT
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• Good reproduction is
• to show regular cyclic breeding activity

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Reproductive Physiology

• Male and Female Reproductive Anatomy
• Puberty age or body weight
• Sexual maturity
• Estrous Cycle
• Mating or Breeding
• Calving
• Lactation
• Recycling

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Female Reproductive Characteristics of Cattle and
Buffalo
Parameters Cattle Buffalo
Age at puberty (mth) 15 (10-24) 21 (15-36)
Estrous cycle Length (d) Estrus (h) 21 (14-29) 18 (12-30) 21 (18-22) 21 (17-24)
Ovulation Type Time from onset (h) Spontaneous 30 (18-48) Spontaneous 32 (18-45)
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Female Reproductive Characteristics of Cattle and
Buffalo
Parameter Cattle Buffalo
Life span of CL (d) 16 16
Fertilizable life of ova (h) (20 24) ??
Entry of ova into uterus (h after ovulation) 90 (64-96) ??
Gestation length (d) 280 (278-293) 315 (305-330)
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Female Reproductive Characteristics of Cattle and
Buffalo
Parameter Cattle Buffalo
Age at 1st calving (months) 30 (24-36) 42 (36-56)
Postpartum interval (days) Uterine involution First ovulation 45 (32-50) 30 (10-110) 35 (16-60) 75 (35-180)
Calving interval (months) 13 (12-14) 18 (15-21)
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Areas of controlled reproduction in female
cattle
Control estrus
Suppression of estrus
Breeding cattle at younger ages
Controlled reproduction in cattle
Pregnancy testing
Induction of twin births
Control calving
Embryo transfer in vitro fertilization
Control postpartum interval
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Heat Detectionor Estrous Detection

• Estrous behavior

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Before heat (6-10 h)
Smells other cows Attempts to ride other
cows Vulva moist, red slightly swollen
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Standing heat (18 h)
Stand to be ridden Bawls frequently Nervous
excitable Off feed and milk Vulva moist and
red Clear mucous discharge Eye pupil dilated
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After heat (10 h)
Will not stand Clear mucous discharge from vulva
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Before heat (6-10 h)
Estrus in cow and associated featured
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Approaches to estrus detection in the cow
Tail-painting use of chalk
Heat-mount detectors
Use of closed circuit television
Techniques used in estrous detection
Chin-ball devices
Cow activity changes
Use of teaser animals
Progesterone tests
Vaginal probes
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Hormonal Pattern During Estrous Cycle in Cow
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Hormones Used for Induction of Estrus and
Ovulation
Type of hormones Method Biologic Activity
Gonadotropins eCG or PMSG Single injection Mimics FSH and stimulates follicular growth long half-life
FSH Single/multiple injections Stimulates follicular growth short half-life
hCG Single injection Mimics LH and induce ovulation

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Hormones Used for Induction of Estrus and
Ovulation
Type of hormones Method Biologic Activity
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist GnRH-buselerin Single injection Induces release of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary gland recruitment and selection of new dominant follicle
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Hormones Used for Induction of Estrus and
Ovulation
Type of hormones Method Biologic Activity
Progestogens Progesterone Multiple injections Inhibits ovulation by suppressing LH mimics action of CL
Synthetic progestogens Oral, subcutaneous implant, intravaginal device Inhibits ovulation by suppressing LH mimics action of CL
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Hormones Used for Induction of Estrus and
Ovulation
Type of hormones Method of Administration Biologic Activity
Estrogens Estradiol conjugates Injection, implant Induce premature regression of CL, and enhances response to progestrogens
Prostaglandins PGF2? or synthetic analogs Single intramuscular injection Induces regression of CL during responsive phases

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Protocols for Inducing Estrus and Ovulation in
Acyclic Cattle and Buffalo
Treatment End of Treatment to Estrus
Prepubertal or postpartum suckled cows Estrogen on day 1 followed by 7 -12 days of progesterogen, eCG given on last day (optional) Within 5 days
Postpartum milked cows GnRH on day 14 postpartum GnRH (day 0) and PGF (day 6) 1 day 2-4 days

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Techniques for Synchronizing Estrus in Cyclic
Cattle
Method Treatment Regimen End of treatment to estrus
PGF Two injections (11-12 days apart) 3-5 days AIDE/TAI
GnRH PGF Inject GnRH (day 0), PGF (day 6) 2-4 days TAI
GnRH PGF GnRH Inject GnRH (day 0), PGF (day 7), GnRH (day 8 or 9) 2-4 days TAI
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Techniques for Synchronizing Estrus in Cyclic
Cattle.
Method Treatment Regimen End of treatment to estrus
Progestogen estrogen Estrogen injection (day 1), CIDR (day 1-9X 3-5 days AIDE/TAI
Progestogen PGF Progestogen (days1-7), PGF (day 6) 2-3 days AIDE/TAI
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OVSync
Breed (cows)
GnRH (100ug)
GnRH (100ug)
PGF2? (35mg)
7 days
48 h
24 h
Ovulate follicle Start new follicle wave
Ovulate follicle
Regress corpora lutea
Timing and purpose of hormones to synchronize
ovulation in lactating dairy cow (Pursley et al.,
1995)
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Measure Reproductive Efficiency
Trait Definition
First calving Age (months)
Days open Days calving to conception
Calving interval (days) Days between successive calving Total cows
First service conception rate () No. pregnant 1st service X 100 No. bred 1st service
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Measure Reproductive Efficiency
Trait Definition
Services per conception No. of services in all cows Total conceptions
Pregnancy rate () No. of cows pregnant X 100 Total cows in herd
Calving rate () No. of calves born X 100 Total cows in herd
Net calf crop () Total calves weaned X 100 Total cows in herd
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Book Suggestion

• Hafez, E.S.E. and B. Hafez. 2000. Reproduction
  in
• Farm Animals. 7th ed. Lippincott
  Williams
• Wilkins, New York.
• Gordon, I. 1996. Controlled Reproduction
• in Cattle Buffaloes. CAB
  International.
• Bearden, H.J. and J.W. Fuquay. 1997. Applied
  Animal
• Reproduction 4th ed. Prentice
  Hall.

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Approximate Values for Selected Reproductive Events in Female Domesticated Mammals Approximate Values for Selected Reproductive Events in Female Domesticated Mammals Approximate Values for Selected Reproductive Events in Female Domesticated Mammals Approximate Values for Selected Reproductive Events in Female Domesticated Mammals Approximate Values for Selected Reproductive Events in Female Domesticated Mammals
 Species  Length of cycle (days)  Duration of estrus (hours)  Approximate time of ovulation  Normal breeding season
 Cow Mean20.5  Range 17 - 23 Mean lt 10  Range 1 - 24  30 h after beginning of estrus   All year
 Buffalo Mean21  Range 18 - 22 Mean lt 15  Range 4 - 24  32 h after beginning of estrus  All year 
 Mare Mean21  Range 12 - 35 Mean120  Range 24 - 240  Near end of estrus  Spring summer
 Ewe Mean16  Range 12 - 19 Mean30  Range 20 -48  26 h after beginning of estrus   Fall (variable with breed)
 Doe Mean20  Range 16 - 22 Mean40  Range 24 - 72  On 2nd day of estrus  Fall
 Sow Mean20  Range 16 - 22 Mean48  Range 24 - 90  36 h after beginning of estrus   All year