Factors affecting the response to the specific treatment of several forms of clinical anestrus in high producing dairy cows

López-Gatius, F.; Mirzaei, A.; Santolaria, P.; Bech-Sàbat, G.; Nogareda, C.; García-Ispierto, I.; Hanzen, Ch.; Yániz, J.L.

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.01.023

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Volume 69, Issue 9 , Pages 1095-1103, June 2008

Factors affecting the response to the specific treatment of several forms of clinical anestrus in high producing dairy cows

F. López-Gatius
- Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Corresponding author at: Departamento de Producción Animal, UdL, ETSEA, Avda. Rovira, Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain. Tel.: +34 973 70 25 00; fax: +34 973 70 28 74.
A. Mirzaei
- Department of Clinical Science, Shiraz University, Iran
P. Santolaria
- Department of Animal Production, University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain
G. Bech-Sàbat
- Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
C. Nogareda
- Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
I. García-Ispierto
- Department of Obstetrics and Pathology of Reproduction, University of Liège, Belgium
Ch. Hanzen
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
J.L. Yániz
- Department of Animal Production, University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain

Received 17 November 2007; received in revised form 23 January 2008; accepted 24 January 2008. published online 25 March 2008.

Abstract

This study was designed to examine estrous response rates to the therapeutic treatment of clinical anestrus in high producing dairy cows and to identify the factors that could affect these rates. Cows with silent ovulation (Subestrus group), cystic ovarian disease (Cyst group) or ovarian hypofunction (OH group) were given specific treatment for their disorder. Data were derived from 1764 treatments in cows producing a mean of 45.4kg of milk upon treatment including: 889 subestrous cows, 367 cystic cows and 508 cows with ovarian hypofunction. Cows showing estrus following treatment exhibited a similar pregnancy rate to cows attaining natural estrus used as reference: 33% (337/1006) and 35% (626/1796), respectively. No significant differences in pregnancy rates were observed among the Subestrus, Cyst and OH groups (34% (196/571), 34% (44/130), 32% (97/305), respectively. Based on the odds ratio, an estrous response for all groups was less likely to occur in cows that had suffered previous anestrus, compared to cows that were anestrous for the first time, whereas the likelihood of an estrous response increased in cows treated after 90 days in milk. Our results indicate that previous anestrus and a late stage of lactation can have a negative and positive effect, respectively, on the estrous response to the specific treatment of clinical anestrus shown by high producing dairy cows. Treatment targeted at each type of clinical anestrus can render similar pregnancy rates to those shown by cows in natural estrus.