Progesterone assays as an aid for improving reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle IV. Milk progesterone profiles for monitoring postpartum ovarian activity

Progesterone 농도측정(濃度測定)에 의한 유우(乳牛)의 번식효율증진(繁殖效率增進)에 관한 연구(硏究) IV. 유즙(乳汁)중 progesterone 농도측정(濃度測定)에 의한 분만후(分娩後) 난소기능(卵巢機能) 회복상태(回復狀態)의 검토(檢討)

Skim milk progesterone($P_4$) profiles in 74 dairy cows were determind to monitor postpartum ovarian activity by radioimmunoassay. Milk samples were collected from each cow every 5 days from 10 to 90 days postpartum. Signs of estrus were observed twice daily, and status of the ovaries and uterus were examined every 10 days by rectal palpation. Results are summarized as follows: 1. Cows were categorized into five types by the change of skim milk $P_4$ profiles; Type I(normal) : Cyclic changes of skim milk $P_4$ profiles appeared within 20 days postpartum(12 cows, 16.2%), Type II(cycle delayed) : Cyclic changes of skim milk $P_4$ profiles appeared from 21 to 60 days postpartum(39 cows, 52.7%), Type III(cycle ceased with low $P_4$) : Onset of the estrous cycle within 20 days postpartum but ceased later with low levels of $P_4$ (7cows, 9.5%), Type IV(cycle ceased with high $P_4$) : Onset of the estrous cycle within 20 days postpartum but ceased later with high levels(>3.0 ng/ml) of skim milk $P_4$ (4 cows, 5.4%), Type V(acyclicity) : Skim milk $P_4$ concentration remained low(<1.0 ng/ml) until 80 days postpartum(12 cows, 16.2%). 2. Out of the 17 cows classified as the Type III and Type V by skim milk $P_4$ profiles, 13 cows had inactive ovaries and remaining 6 cows had single or multiple follicular cysts in their ovaries by rectal palpation. All 4 cows of Type IV had a persistent corpus luteum in their ovaries. 3. Approximately eighty percent of the cows had begun ovarian activity by 60 days postpartum and 90.6% by 90 days by skim milk $P_4$ profiles, but only 39.2% by 60 days and 71.7% by 90 days had shown visible estrus signs. The mean days from parturition to the first, second and third ovulations determined by skim milk $P_4$ profiles was $28.0{\pm}11.0$, $46.4{\pm}13.3$ and $66.4{\pm}11.5$ days and the visible estrus signs were 9.3%, 38.1%, and 48.6%, respectively. The mean days from parturition to the first visible estrus was $57.2{\pm}15.9$ days. These results indicated that milk $P_4$ profile of each Types by radioimmunoassay can be utilized for monitoring postpartum ovarian and would be useful for the early detection of ovarian dysfunction in dairy cow.