Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nr4z6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-27T03:43:01.030Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fertility differences between groups of sires relative to the stage of oestrus at the time of insemination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

K. L. MacMillan  and
J. D. Watson
K. L. MacMillan
Affiliation:
New Zealand Dairy Board, Awahuri A.B. Centre, Feilding, New Zealand
J. D. Watson
Affiliation:
New Zealand Dairy Board, Awahuri A.B. Centre, Feilding, New Zealand
Get access

Summary

Records for 6012 inseminations of cows were analysed to determine the effect of the stage of oestrus at the time of insemination on conception rates for three groups of sires. All inseminations were completed between 8.30 hr and 11.30 hr using 2·5 million total spermatozoa in 0·5 ml of ‘Caprogen’ extender containing catalase. The designation of the stage of oestrus was based on the milking or milkings relative to the time of insemination at which each cow was observed in oestrus. Data from cows returning to service less than 18 days after insemination were excluded.

The average conception rates (18 to 49 day% non-return rate) for the three groups of sires were 72·9% (7 sires of above average fertility), 70·5% (5 sires of average fertility), and 68·3% (6 sires of below average fertility). With inseminations in early oestrus, the comparable results were 74·3, 62·7 and 58·4% respectively. In contrast, the results for the three groups of sires with post-oestrous inseminations were 73·3, 71·13 and 73·8% respectively.

The average interval from insemination to ovulation and fertilization is related to the stage of oestrus at insemination. This interval was the major factor contributing to the fertility differences between the groups of sires included in this experiment. These differences were also reflected in the percentage and distribution of normal (18 to 24 day) return intervals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , December 1975 , pp. 243 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1975

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Beardon, H. J., Hansel, W. and Bratton, R. W. 1956. Fertilization and embryonic mortality rates of bulls with histories of either low or high fertility in artificial breeding. J. Dairy Sci. 39: 312–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beatty, R. A. 1960. Fertility of mixed semen from different rabbits. J. Reprod. Pert. 1: 52–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kidder, H. E., Black, W. G., Wiltbank, J. N., Ulberg, L. C. and Casida, L. E. 1954. Fertilization rates and embryonic death rates in cows bred to bulls of different levels fertility. J. Dairy Sci. 37: 691–697.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacMillan, K. L. 1970. Return intervals to first insemination and conception rates second insemination in New Zealand dairy cattle. N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 13: 771–777.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacMillan, K. L. 1973. Why do bulls differ in fertility? Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod. 33: 49–61.Google Scholar
MacMillan, K. L. 1975. Factors influencing A.B. conception rates. IV. Differences in distribution of return intervals between herds. N.Z. Jl exp. Agric. 3: 21–28.Google Scholar
MacMillan, K. L. and Watson, J. D. 1971. Short oestrous cycles in New Zealand dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 54: 1526–1529.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacMillan, K. L. and Watson, J. D. 1975. Factors influencing A.B. conception rates. Cow age and stage of oestrus at insemination. N.Z. Jl exp. Agric. 3: 29–35.Google Scholar
Miller, O. C, Roche, J. F. and Dziuk, P. J. 1969. Estimation of the optimum interval between insemination and ovulation in the rabbit by double insemination. J. Reprod. Fert. 19: 545–546.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Reilly, P. J., Graves, C. N. and Dziuk, P. J. 1972. Heterospermic insemination rabbit semen as a means of evaluating techniques of semen handling. J. Reprod. Fert. 29: 49–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saacke, R. G. and White, J. M. 1972. Acrosomal cap maintenance and fertility of frozen bovine semen. Semen quality tests and their relationship to fertility. J. Anim. Sci. 35: 253 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Shannon, P. 1965. Contribution of seminal plasma, sperm numbers and gas phase dilution effects of bovine spermatozoa. J. Dairy Sci. 48: 1357–1363.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shannon, P. 1968. Advances in semen dilution. Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod. 28: 23–31.Google Scholar
Stewart, D. L., Spooner, R. L., Bennett, G. H., Beatty, R. A. and Hancock, J. L. 1974. A second experiment with heterospermic insemination in cattle. J. Reprod. Fert. 36: 107–116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trimberger, G. W. 1948. Breeding efficiency in dairy cattle from artificial insemination various intervals before and after ovulation. Nebraska agric. Exp. Stn Bull., No. 153.Google Scholar
Trimberger, G. W. and Davis, H. P. 1943. Conception rate in dairy cattle by artificial insemination at various stages of oestrus. Nebraska agric. Exp. Stn. Bull., No. 129.Google Scholar