Evaluation of body type during the perinatal period and postpartum reproductive performance in dairy cows that had twin calving

Mochizuki, K.. School of Veterinary Medicine; Watanabe, N.; Kohiruimaki, M.; Ando, T.; Ohtsuka, H.; Watanabe, D.; Oikawa, M.

Evaluation of body type during the perinatal period and postpartum reproductive performance in dairy cows that had twin calving

2008

Twin births in the dairy cows have been increasing recently. Carrying and calving twins is an excessive physiological burden. In this study, the cows were divided into two groups, those with a twin (Twin group) and a single calving (Single group), and the changes in their BCS, body weight, weight change rate (WCR) and body mass index (BMI) during the perinatal period were investigated. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect of twin calving on reproductive performance, the duration of gestation, stillbirth rate, days to first AI, first AI conception rate, and culling-death rate of the two groups were compared. BCS and WCR between 2 and 1 months before parturition showed increase in the Single group but not in the Twin group. The Twin group had lower BCS than the Single group throughout the observation period. BMI was lower in the Twin group than in the Single group during 1 to 2 months post parturition. Gestation was shorter and stillbirths were more in the Twin group compared to the Single group. Furthermore, after parturition, the first AI was delayed, the first AI conception rate was lower, and the culling-death rate was higher in the Twin group. The results indicate that the cows with twins did not get their higher energy requirement before parturition. It is suggested that the individual management of feeding of cows with twins, such as feeding more, and feeding good quality forage in the late dry period, is important to reduce the physiological burden during the prenatal period.

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