Major management factors associated with reproductive performance and disorders in cows at Rajshahi region of Bangladesh

Background: The present study was conducted with the objective of assessing major factors that affect the reproductive performance and disorders of dairy cows in Rajshahi region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from January 2014 to June 2015. Data on herd size, feed quality, breeding, grazing, management system, reproductive disorders, age at puberty, age at firs calving, post-partum heat period, service per conception, days open and calving interval of 500 cows were collected from farm owners by administering a questionnaire. We recorded the important diseases contacting farmers by mobile phone and visiting the farms. The effect of farm size, rearing system, feed quality and preventive measure on reproductive performance were evaluated by analysis of variance and Duncan multiple range test. Unpaired T-test was used to compare the reproductive performance according to breeding. Chi-square test was used to compare between two categories of a dichotomous outcome.. Results: The age at puberty, age at first calving, post-partum heat period, service per conception, days open and calving interval were 26.42±0.22 m, 35.48±0.22 m, 121.85±3.48 days, 1.93±0.04, 136.80±3.57 days and 401.04±3.94 days, respectively. Farm size had significant effect (P<0.05) on all reproductive traits (RT) except on service per conception and days open. The best reproductive performance (RP) was found in small size farm, good quality of feed, AI breeding method and preventive measure by veterinarian. Among the disorders, anoestrus, abortion, repeat breeding, retained placenta were most prevalent followed by dystocia, mastitis, vaginal prolapse, pyometra, metritis, uterine prolapse, milk fever, and still birth. The highest prevalence of reproductive disorders (RD) was found in intensive rearing system (39.8%). The prevalence of all RDs was higher in artificially inseminated cows (59.6%) than those bred by natural service (19.0%). Conclusion: The study revealed a lower RP of dairy cows and higher prevalence of RDs. The better reproductive performance was recorded in small than large and medium farms. Good quality of feed should be offered to dairy cow for better reproductive performance. Artificial insemination should also be preferred than natural service for better reproductive performance. Measures to control reproductive diseases should be undertaken in large herds and intensive housing system.

Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cows in Relation to Genotype, Age, Parity, Body Weight and Body Condition Score at Rajshahi District of Bangladesh

The present study was carried out from selected areas at Rajshahi district to evaluate the reproductive performance of dairy cows in relation to breed/genotype, age, parity, body weight and body condition. A total of 500 cows selected and data were collected directly from the dairy farms owner by using pre-tested questionnaires during the period from September 2013 to December 2014. The average reproductive performance (RP) were recorded as age at puberty (AP) 26.42±0.22 m, age at first calving (AFC) 35.48±0.22 m, post-partum heat period (PPHP) 121.85±3.48 days, service per conception (S/C) 1.93±0.04, days open (DO) 136.80±3.57 days and calving interval (CI) 401.04±3.94 days. Genotype had significant effect (P<0.05) on all the reproductive traits except on S/C. Local (L) × Holstein Friesian (HF) genotype showed earlier AP and AFC than L× Sahiwal (SL) and L. Age group had significant (P<0.05) effect on AP, AFC and other parameters were not significant (P>0.05). Middle age groups of cows had shown better RP than others groups. Parities of cows had significant effect (P<0.05) on PPHP, S/C, DO except on AP, AFC and CI. Third parity had better RP than others. The best RP was found in >300 kg BW groups. Body condition score had significant effect (P<0.05) on all RP. Good body condition score (BCS) had excellent RP. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(3): 481-495, December 2020

Effect of concentrate supplementation during transition period on production and reproduction of indigenous buffalo

This study was to investigate the impact of concentrate supplementation on the growth, milk yield and quality, postpartum heat period and days open in transient buffalo. Hence, six selected indigenous transient buffaloes were equally divided into two groups viz. control (n=3) and supplemented (n=3). About 56.0 kg mixed green fodders (Para:German=3:1) and 2.0 kg concentrate mixtures were offered as a basal diet to each buffalo. Besides these, an additional amount (0.5 kg) of concentrate mixture (wheat bran-50%, mustard oil cake-40%, common salt-2% and di-calcium phosphate-8%) was supplied to each buffalo of the supplemented group. The dry matter intake of the supplemented buffalo was 2.5 and 2% higher (p<0.001) at pre- and post-partum period, respectively than that of the control fed buffalo. Pre- and post-partum body weight, and body condition score of buffaloes between the group were found similar (p>0.05). About 20% more (p=0.02) milk was obtained in the supplemented group compared to the control group, however, the milk composition was not different (p>0.05). Calf birth weight was found ≈10% higher (p=0.51) in the supplemented group than that of the control group. Postpartum heat period and days open of the supplemented buffaloes were reduced remarkably by 13 and 14 days, respectively compared to the buffaloes in control group. Overall, concentrate supplementation to the transient indigenous buffaloes has noteworthy effects on milk yield, postpartum heat period and days open. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2020. 49 (1): 83-90

Effects of breed, age, parity, body weight and body condition on productive and reproductive performance of buffalo cows at Rajshahi district of Bangladesh

The present study was to evaluate the reproductive and productive performance (RPP) of Indigenous (n=145) and Nili-Ravi cross-bred (n=55) dairy buffalo in relation to age, parity, body weight and body condition. A total of 200 buffalo cows were randomly selected and interviewed to collect data on reproductive and productive performance of buffalo cows of Rajshahi district by using pre-tested questionnaire during the period from January 2015 to December 2015. The average mean ± SD value of reproductive and productive performances were as age at puberty (AP), age at first calving (AFC), gestation length (GL), post-partum heat period (PPHP), milk yield per day (MYPD), lactation length (LL), birth weight of calf (BWC) and calving interval (CI) were recorded as 25.05±4.00 months, 35.26±4.14 months, 308.28±12.46 days, 84.00±25.95 days, 3.59±0.56 litre, 202.76±33.54 days, 28.79±4.23 kilogram and 461.36±15.41 days, respectively. Nili-Ravi cross-bred buffalo cow had shown better RPP than Indigenous. The genotype of buffalo cows had significant effect (p<0.05) on most of the RPP except AP, AFC and CI. Age of buffalo had also significant effect (p<0.05) on GL, PPHP and BWC and middle age (4 to < 7yrs) observed good RPP. The best RPP were recorded in 2nd parity than others and also significant effect (p<0.05) on GL, MYPD and BWC. Body weight and body condition of buffalo had significant effect (p<0.05) on PPHP, BWC and MYPD. The body weight of >350 kg and very good body condition groups were observed better reproductive performance. It could be concluded that the buffalo owners of these areas do not follow any scientific method of buffalo husbandry; they just follow traditional rearing systems. Very recently, a few farmers started farming of the mostly Indigenous buffalo cows for dairy purpose at Rajshahi region of Bangladesh. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. September 2020, 6(3): 536-547

Heat Illness Related Meteorology over Chiangmai Using Automatic Weather Station Observed Data

This research is a part of study of heat illness vulnerability. Understanding heat characteristic, especially in tropical area, would decrease loss from heat deceases and also support tourism in tropical countries. The aim of this research is to apply the meteorological sensor dataset in Chiangmai (a famous city in northern Thailand), which is under the control of Thai Meteorological Department, from 2015-2017 to investigate heat index characteristic. Two elements, temperature and relative humidity, were used to calculate heat index following Steadman’s equation. Analyzed heat index would be arranged by its intensity and then applied on heat illness warning. The study demonstrated that heat index warning from Automatic Weather Station data analysis could get along with the maximum temperature historical statistics data which observed by weather stations. Local people and visitors in Chiangmai mostly suffer from heat in between March and June. The greatest vulnerability to heat illness in Chiangmai was in April and May. This extreme-heat period is consistent with the report from Department of Decease Control Thailand, an amount of heat illness patients is very high in April and May. Moreover, the results show that even if the air temperature is getting low in after summer season but heat index is still high through the year. So, people still need to be aware of heat deceases and always concern about environmental heat when doing outdoor activities. In the future, AWS data from every station over Thailand would be used to develop a real-time Heat Illness Alert System.

Reproductive Performance and Repeatability Estimation of Some Traits of Crossbred Cows in Savar Dairy Farm

The study was conducted on 244 crossbred cows of CCBS Savar, Dhaka to evaluate the effect of different genetic groups on their lifetime performance of various reproductive traits using twenty years data. Data were accumulated from a prescribed data sheet maintained by Central Cattle Breeding Station, Dhaka. Genetic groups for this experiment were (LF), (LJ), (LH x F), (LF x LF) and (LJ x LJ). The studied parameters were age at puberty, service per conception, post-partum heat period, calving interval, total number of calving in lifetime. ANOVA showed that genetic groups had a significant effect on age at puberty, post-partum heat period, total number of calving in lifetime and calving interval (P<0.05). From result it was found that earliest age at puberty were in L x F (749.27±99.01), service per conception, postpartum heat period was lower in L x F (1.60±0.19 and (145.75±94.44 days respectively). Calving interval was lower in L x J (411.18±136.87 days) and almost similar results were obtained for L x F (432.26±96.26 days). Total number of calving in lifetime were observed higher in (LH x F) with mean of 1468.30±198.58 days.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 10(2): 87-94 2017