Authors : F. Escobedo-Amezcua, M.G.J. Nuncio-Ochoa, J. Herrera-Camacho, B. Gomez-Ramos, J.C. Segura-Correa and J. Gallegos Sanchez
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the suckling systems on live body weight, body condition score and the onset of the postpartum ovarian activity in Bos taurus x Bos indicus cows under tropical humid conditions of Mexico. Sixty multiparous pregnant B. taurus x B. indicus cows, with average age and body weight of 6.38±2.4 years and 446.8±58.7 kg, respectively, were used. Cows were randomly assigned to two treatments: Continuous Suckling (CS; n = 30), the calves remained with the cows for 24 h daily; Restricted Suckling (RS; n = 30), the calves suckled once a day by 30 min, starting on the 7th day of the postpartum period until day 105. There was not significant effect of the suckling system on body weight and luteal phase duration (p>0.05). However, differences (p<0.02) were found for body condition score (3.01±0.06 vs. 3.33±0.06, for CS and RS, respectively). The ovulation rate was higher (p<0.001) in the RS group that in the CS (83.3 vs. 36.6%, respectively) and the interval calving-first ovulation was shorter (p<0.005) for the RS (58.7±6.2 days) than for the CS system (84.6±6.2 days). Pregnancy rate at 45 days postpartum was higher (p<0.001) in the RS system (50.0%), with regard to the CS group (13.3%). Under the present conditions of this study, the suckling system affected the body condition score, ovulation rate and conception rate of B. taurus x B. indicus cows.
F. Escobedo-Amezcua, M.G.J. Nuncio-Ochoa, J. Herrera-Camacho, B. Gomez-Ramos, J.C. Segura-Correa and J. Gallegos Sanchez, 2010. Effect of Restricted Suckling on Body Weight, Body Condition Score and Onset of Postpartum Ovarian Activity in F1 Cows under Tropical Conditions. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 79-84.