Impact of postpartum time period associated body condition score on reproductive performance in dairy cows

This study was designed to identify the time period at which the body condition score (BCS) most critically affects the reproductive performance after calving in dairy cows. Data were collected from 4865 lactation records (1821 from primiparous and 3044 from multiparous cows) on 28 dairy farms, including the BCS (at calving, and month 1 and the first artificial insemination [AI] after calving), the presence of peri- or postpartum disorders, reproductive data, and the weather. The data on the extent of BCS loss from calving to the first AI was divided into two periods, namely, between calving and month 1 after calving (period 1), and between month 1 and the first AI after calving (period 2). Cows with BCS of 3.0, 3.25 and > 3.5 at the first AI after calving were more likely (P < 0.05-0.01) to be pregnant at 30 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.36, 1.64, and 1.90) and 45 (OR: 1.39, 1.75, and 1.99) days post-AI and more likely (P < 0.050.01) to be pregnant within 180 days after calving (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.18, 1.43, and 1.58) than cows with BCS of <2.75. In addition, cows who suffered a BCS loss of >0.5 units during period 1 tended to be less likely (HR: 0.79, P < 0.1) to be pregnant within 180 days after calving than cows without a BCS loss. Cows with BCS of 3.0, 3.25, and >3.5 at calving were less likely (P < 0.1-0.05) to lose their pregnancy (OR: 0.37, 0.33, and 0.16) than cows with BCS of <2.75. These results indicate that the linearly higher BCS (3.0, 3.25, and >3.5) at the first AI is positively associated with the probability of pregnancy per AI after the first AI and the likelihood of pregnancy within 180 days after calving, whereas a higher BCS loss of >0.5 units during period 1 was adversely associated with the likelihood of pregnancy within 180 days after calving.& COPY; 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to identify the critical time period at which body condition score (BCS) most impacts reproductive performance after calving in dairy cows. Data from 4865 lactation records on 28 dairy farms were analyzed, revealing that a higher BCS at the first artificial insemination (AI) after calving is positively associated with pregnancy probability per AI and likelihood of pregnancy within 180 days after calving. Conversely, a greater BCS loss during a specific period after calving was found to decrease the likelihood of pregnancy within 180 days after calving.