Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a timed artificial insemination protocol plus a period of artificial cooling on conception rate and physiologic response of heifers under heat stress. Ninety Holstein heifers were randomly allotted into one of three treatments: A control treatment (T1) with visual heat detection and insemination morning-evening (n=30), a second treatment (T2) under a timed artificial insemination protocol and a third treatment (T3) with the same protocol than T2 plus an artificial cooling period beginning 11 d before and ending 21 d after insemination. The experiment was divided in two periods: the first period was from June 25 to July 26, and the second one from August 15 to September 16. In period 1, heifers in T3 had a lower (p<0.01) rectal temperature (39.35°C) compared to T1 (39.68°C) and T2 (39.67°C); respiration rate (breaths/min) was more reduced (p<0.01) in T3 (72) in comparison to T1 (85) and T2 (84). Conception rate was not different between T3 (64.3%) and T1 (46.7%) but both showed a tendency to be different (p<0.10) to T2 (13.3%). During the period 2, the rectal temperature in T3 (39.24°C) was lower (p<0,01) than T1 (39.61°C) and T2 (39.62°C). Respiration rate also was decreased (p<0,01) in T3 (77) with respect to T1 (87) and T2 (94), being T1 and T2 different (p<0.01). Conception rate was similar between T3 (40%), T1 (13%) and T2 (13%). The pregnancy rate including both periods had a tendency to be increased (p<0,10) in T3 (51.7%) compared to T2 (13.3%) and T1 (30.0%). The artificial insemination to fixed time plus artificial cooling may be an alternative to increase the fertility of Holstein heifers during the summer.
Translated title of the contribution | Cooling and conception rate in Holstein heifers with heat stress |
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Original language | Portuguese |
Pages (from-to) | 231-239 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Archivos de Zootecnia |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 222 |
State | Published - Jun 2009 |
Keywords
- Estrus synchronization
- Fertility
- Fogging
- Ventilation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology