Abstract Background Nutritional strategies for sows designed to reduce peripartum stress are suggested support postpartum recovery and productivity. Spray-dried plasma (SDP) in sow feed has been reported benefit litter performance. Stressed animals fed diets with SDP have a more efficient immune response supporting animal health. The objectives of the present study using 452 (147 parity 1 sows,...

In order to differentiate groups of hypocalcemic (G1) and normocalcemic animals (G2) infer the influence subclinical hypocalcemia on metabolic profiles, this study determined calcium concentrations during transitional period in 35 dairy goats healthy, pregnant, primiparous or multiparous, crossbreed pure-bred producing average 3 kg/day/goat. Therefore, blood samples were collected before (30, 2...

To study the plasma gonadotrophin profiles of 9 cows after parturition, blood samples were obtained every 20 min for 12 hrs on three occasions between 5 and 50 days postpartum and analysed by RIA techniques. The time of the first ovulation, as judged by plasma progesterone levels, varied from 30 to more than 60 days postpartum. Variations in mean levels of FSH and LH were not significantly corr...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPT) in Swiss dairy calves. OBJECTIVES To investigate risk factors associated with poor colostrum quality and FPT on Swiss dairy farms. ANIMALS Colostrum and serum samples from 373 dam-calf pairs at 141 farms. METHODS The gamma globulin (Gg) concentrations of the dams' colostrum and the ca...

Levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, progesterone, cortisol, estrone and estradiol-17~ were determined during the postpartum anestrous period in samples collected from six second-calf, crossbred, suckled beef cows. Blood samples were collected at 6-h intervals beginning 2 wk before expected parturition and continuing until 10 d after first postpartum estrus. Samples were also collecte...

The effects of utilizing evaporative cooling system equipped with tunnel ventilation on postpartum ovarian activities, energy balance and milk production of early lactating dairy cows under hot and humid climates were studied from parturition to 22 wk postpartum. Thirty-four crossbred Holstein-Friesian (93.75% HF×6.25% Bos indicus) primiparous cows were randomly assigned to one of two groups. C...

Oxytocin is extensively used to induce or augment uterine contractions, especially to facilitate the third stage of labor in humans. Administration of oxytocin to parturient sows reduces duration of labor whereas mortality of the offspring may remain unchanged. This study aimed to evaluate whether time of administration of oxytocin during parturition may alter the uterine response and fetal out...