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One of the major and most important factors in
determining the profitability of cattle farming is
reproductive performance (Rekwot et al. 2000;
Sharma et al. 2018). Each cow need to calve regularly
in order to maximize the economic output of milk
production (Sharma et al. 2019). Various factors such
as breed, parity, nutrition, metabolism, body condition
score (BCS), stage of lactation, reproductive health
and season of calving is required for resumption of
ovarian activity in post-partum cows (Tomomi et al.
2008). Body condition score at calving is also
important in determining the length of anestrous
period (De Rensis et al. 2008). Similarly, another
accurate objective indicator of subcutaneous fat and
reliable predictor of body energy reserves which has
been used recently is back fat thickness (Ayres et al.
2009; Galindo et al. 2013). Therefore, post-partum
ovarian cyclic activity is mainly affected by
fluctuations in metabolic reserves and ultimately,
downplays the successive fertility (Sharma et al.
2018). The objective of present study was to
investigate the effect of BCS and back fat thickness on
resumption of ovarian cyclicity after calving in Jersey
cross bred cows.
Materials and Methods
The present study was carried out on dairy cattle
having normal parturition (Jersey crossbred cows;
N=34; parity 2-4) at University Dairy Farm, Himachal
Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (32.6ºN,
76.3ºE, altitude 1290.8 m). Cows were reared in a
loose housing system under standard management
conditions, fed a total mixed ration, once daily, ad
libitum, and had unrestricted access to water. BCS of
all the cows was recorded immediately after calving
using five point scale of scoring (Edmonson et al.
1989; Sharma et al. 2019). Cows were milked twice
daily (04:00 and 15:00 h) and were divided into two
groups on the basis of BCS i.e. low BCS (n=15) i.e.
<2.5 and high BCS (n=19) i.e. ≥2.5. Back fat
thickness of thrul area (Fig.1), located midway
between the tuber coxae (hooks) and the tuber ischiae
(pins), 2–3 cm above the greater trochanter of the
femur (Schroder and Staufenbiel 2006; Diaz et al.
2017), was recorded using micro-convex transducer at
Impact of body condition score and back fat thickness on resumption of ovarian cyclicity after
parturition in dairy cows
Akshay Sharma*, Madhumeet Singh, Pravesh Kumar and Ankaj Thakur
Department of Veterinary Gynecology and Obstetrics
DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, India.
*Corresponding author: akshays482@gmail.com
Manuscript Received: 24.11.2019; Accepted: 05.12.2019
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of body condition score (BCS) and back fat thickness
on resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Jersey cross bred cows. Thirty four (N=34) cows having normal
parturition were monitored for recording the body condition score on the day of calving and divided into two
≥
groups i.e. low BCS (n=15) i.e. <2.5 and high BCS (n=19) i.e. 2.5. For monitoring the back fat thickness,
trans-abdominal ultrasonography of thurl area was done on the day of calving. Trans-rectal ultrasonography
was done on a weekly interval to adjudge the resumption of ovarian cyclicity i.e. first ovulation post-partum.
As a part of results, low BCS cows had a significantly lower back fat thickness (9.92±0.48 mm; P<0.05) as
compared to high BCS cows (12.14±0.82 mm). Similarly, low BCS cows had a significantly longer interval
(42.47±2.14 days; P<0.05) to first post-partum ovulation in comparison to high BCS cows (32.42±1.82 days). In
conclusion, metabolic status of cows had an important role in resumption of ovarian cyclicity after parturition.
Key words: Body condition score; back fat thickness; dairy cows; ovarian cyclicity; trans-rectal ultrasonography.
Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research 45(1&2) : 104-106 (2019)
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frequency 5.0 MHz. Trans-rectal ultrasonography
(TRUS) was performed to assess the ovarian rebound
using linear transducer at frequency 7.5 MHz
(Mindray Z5 Vet), on a weekly interval basis between
day 0 (calving) to 56 post-partum (Fig. 2). Numeric
data for all the parameters are expressed as mean ± SD
and statistical analysis was carried out. Statistical
analysis was performed using Student's t-test with
®
SAS (Statistical Analysis Software), SAS 9.2 TS
Level version 2M2 for windows.
Results and Discussion
Mean body condition score, mean back fat
thickness (mm) and resumption of ovarian cyclicity/
first post-partum ovulation (Figure 1) has been shown
in Table 1.
In our study, mean back fat thickness (BFT) at
calving was significantly lower (P<0.05) in cows with
BCS <2.5 in comparison to cows with BCS ≥ 2.5.
Similar results to our research were reported by Diaz et
al. (2017) where cows with low BFT at the time of
calving had delayed resumption of ovarian cyclicity.
As the body weight of cows is affected by many factors
such as age, parity, changes in body fat, feeding
management, stage of lactation, and breed, BFT serves
as an accurate indicator of metabolic reserves during
peri- and postpartum period (Mishra et al. 2016). Also,
ovarian follicular growth can be compromised by
decreased Insulin Like Growth Factor- I (IGF-I) in the
post-partum cows, which as a consequence produces
prolonged interval to first ovulation after calving
(Hemanta et al. 2005).
Mean time taken for first ovulation (resumption of
ovarian cyclicity) was significantly longer (P<0.01) in
cows with low BCS. Delayed ovulation after
parturition occurred cows having poor condition score
was recorded by other researchers which is similar to
our findings (Kamimura et al. 1993; Diaz et al. 2017;
Sharma et al. 2018). Body condition score is a
subjective method for analysis of metabolic reserves
and is directly correlated with resumption of post-
partum ovarian cyclicity (Kavya et al. 2018; Sharma et
al. 2018). As the negative energy balance during peri-
and post-partum period suppresses the hypothalamo-
pituitary and gonadal axis, resumption of ovarian
cyclicity does not occur (Diaz et al. 2017; Sharma et
al. 2019). Also, the number and size of large ovarian
follicles are affected due to NEB which leads to
lowering of plasma progesterone and estradiol-17â
concentrations (Justyna et al. 2011).
As a part of peroration, metabolic reserves of cows,
reflected by body condition score and back fat
thickness, play an important role in resuming the post-
partum ovarian function. Therefore, proper nutrition
must be provided during peri- and post-partum period
in order to achieve desirable fertility goals in dairy
Table 1 . Body condition score (BCS), back fat thickness and resumption of ovarian cyclicity
after parturition in dairy cows (Mean±S.D.)
Categories of cows BCS at calving Back fat thickness
(mm)
Resumption of ovarian
cyclicity (d)
Low BCS (n=15) 2.18±0.15b 9.92±0.48b 42.47±2.14x
High BCS (n=19) 2.69±0.12a 12.14±0.82a 32.42±1.82y
x,y Values with different superscripts within the same column differ significantly(P<0.01)
a,b Values with different superscripts within the same column differ significantly (P<0.05)
Figure 2: First ovulation post-partum (marked
by yellow outline)
Figure 1: Back fat thickness (black arrow) in
thurl area during post-partum period
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