• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2007

In Korea, it is the one of controversial problems to distinguish heifer from cow in slaughtered Holstein cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate the several criterions which could be used to discriminate heifer from cow. Some criterions have shown significant differences between heifer and cow in ante and post-mortem inspections(p<0.01). Firstly, the numbers of milk teeth of heifer and cow were $6.12{\pm}1.92$ ($Mean{\pm}Standard$ deviation) and $0.03{\pm}0.39$ respectively. The teat diameter(D) and length(L) of cow were $26.43{\pm}4.31mm$ and $47.76{\pm}6.89mm$ respectively. However, those of heifer were significantly smaller (D: $18.04{\pm}5.04mm$, L: $28.61{\pm}8.91mm$) than those of cow. The size of udder was $203.68{\pm}16.84mm$ in Holstein cow and $112.70{\pm}20.59mm$ in heifer. Secondly, the uterus size of cow was significantly bigger than that of heifer and caruncle in mucosa of uterus could be easy to be confirmed by necropsy inspection. It was also obvious that the folding and length of uterus body were significantly remarkable in cow. Lastly, the pelvic cavity was $196.33{\pm}10.01mm$ in heifer and $220.90{\pm}11.41mm$ in cow. The ossifying maturation of heifer was $2.64{\pm}0.82$ and $6.71{\pm}1.81$ in cow. As the results, this study can be helpful for meat inspectors to discriminate the non-delivery heifer from delivery cow in Holstein cattle.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2000

This study was performed to provide scientific information for consumers and to increase the quality and consumption of Sullungtang prepared with bone from Hanwoo. The physico-chemical, sensory, nutritional properties of Sullungtang by different parity were investigated. The extracting extents of blood were significantly higher for heifer among Hanwoo cows with different parity(none, the second or the fourth) and for back bones among different bone portions (round, hind shank, arm, fore shank or back bone) (p〈0.05). For Sullungtang extracted from bones of heifer was higher in collagen contents than those extracted from cows with the second or the fourth parity. Sullungtang extracted from bones of heifer and cows with the second parity had significantly higher contents of condroitin and viscosity than those of cows with the fourth parity, however there was no significant difference between heifer and cows with the second parity. In color, L values were significantly high, and a and b values were significantly low for Sullungtang extracted from bones of heifer when compared to those extracted from the other cows with the second parity. The contents of total nitrogen, sodium, or calcium were higher for Sullungtang extracted from heifer than those from the cows with the second or the fourth parity. In amino acid compositions, the percentages of glycine were highest and proline and glutamic acid were followed fro all Sullungtang samples from Hanwoo. The results showed that the overall quality of Sullungtang significantly decreased as the parity increased for Hanwoo cows. The Sullungtang extracted from bones of heifer had the best sensory scores as well as nutritional quality when compared to those extracted from the cows with parity. Therefore, the labeling and price for cow bones should be differently evaluated by their parity and age in marketing system.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2015

A non-traditional forage-based protocol was employed to evaluate replacement heifer growth, fertility, and economics between small frame (SF, 3.50; n = 50) and large frame (LF, 5.56; n = 50) heifers using three increasing gain growth phases. Preceding an 85 d growing-breeding period (Phase 3; P3) the heifers were managed as a common group for Phases 1 and 2 (P1 and P2). During P1, heifers grazed common fields of unharvested corn and corn residue (total digestible nutrients [TDN] 56%) with supplemental hay. For P2, heifers grazed early spring crested wheatgrass pasture (CWG; TDN 62%) that was followed by the final P3 drylot growing and breeding period (TDN 68%). Small frame heifers were lighter at the end of P1 in May and at the start of P3 breeding in August (p = 0.0002). Percent of mature body weight (BW) at the end of P1 (209 d) was 48.7% and 46.8%, respectively, for the SF and LF heifers and the percent pubertal was lower for SF than for LF heifers (18.0% vs 40.0%; p = 0.02). At breeding initiation (P3), the percentage of mature BW was 57.8 and 57.2 and the percentage pubertal was 90.0 and 96.0 (p = 0.07) for the SF and LF heifers, respectively; a 5-fold increase for SF heifers. Breeding cycle pregnancy on days 21, 42, and 63, and total percent pregnant did not differ (p>0.10). In drylot, SF heifer dry matter intake (DMI) was 20.1% less (p = 0.001) and feed cost/d was 20.3% lower (p = 0.001), but feed cost/kg of gain did not differ between SF and LF heifers (p = 0.41). Economically important live animal measurements for muscling were measured in May and at the end of the study in October. SF heifers had greater L. dorsi muscle area per unit of BW than LF heifers (p = 0.03). Small frame heifer value was lower at weaning (p = 0.005) and the non-pregnant ending heifer value was lower for SF heifers than for the LF heifers (p = 0.005). However, the total development cost was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.001) and the net cost per pregnant heifer, after accounting for the sale of non-pregnant heifers, was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.004). These data suggest that high breeding efficiency can be attained among March-April born SF and LF virgin heifers when transitioned to a more favorable May-June calving period through the strategic use of grazed and harvested forages resulting in a lower net cost per pregnant SF heifer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2004

This study evaluated the impact of an AI heifer calf rearing scheme on dairy stock development, in a coconut grazing and a peri-urban smallholder dairy production system in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The heifer rearing scheme included free advice on calf rearing, drugs, acaricides, minerals and subsidised concentrates for 30 months. The farmers in the coconut growing area integrate dairying with their plantation, they sell their milk to the main processors. The peri-urban farmers are intensive milk producers, who sell their milk at informal markets. To estimate the effect of the heifer rearing scheme on dairy replacement stock development, scheme farmers were compared with farmers who did not participate in the scheme. Calf mortality was twice as high in non-scheme farms (23-28%) as in scheme farms (12-14%). The scheme had a positive effect on weight development and scheme heifers calved 4.5 months earlier than non-scheme heifers. The calf rearing package is cost effective in both farming systems, however, the required cash inputs are a major constraint. The costs per in-calf heifer under the scheme are much lower than the production of such animals by either multiplication in state farms or importing them. The coconut grazing system showed the highest potential for producing surplus dairy stock.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.75-77
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate optimal time of artificial insemination (AI) to Hanwoo female after natural estrus. AI was occurred 12 and 24 hours after natural estrus in both heifer and multiparous recipient then pregnancy and parturition rates were estimated. Results indicated that AI performed at 24 hours after natural estrus showed significant (p<0.05) higher pregnancy rate in both heifer and multiparous recipient groups with significantly (p<0.05) higher abortion rate. However, there are no significant differences of parturition rate, twin birth and sex ratio in both heifer and multiparous recipient groups. Therefore, our results may suggest that performance of AI at 24 hours after natural estrus promise higher pregnancy rate than AI at 12 hours after natural estrus in both heifer and multiparous recipient.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.348-351
• /
• 2012

A vaginal speculum examination of a 17-month-old Holstein heifer with a history of repeated artificial insemination (AI) failures via the cranial vagina revealed the presence of an intact hymen (imperforate hymen) beyond the external urethral orifice, which resembled the vaginal wall. An ultrasonographic examination detected hypoechoic fluid within the vaginal cavity between the intact hymen and the cervix, indicating the presence of hydrocolpos. After sedation and epidural anesthesia, the intact hymen was incised using a scalpel and scissors and removed, while the incised portions were sutured using a simple interrupted method. The heifer became pregnant after three consecutive estruses with the intervals of approximately 20 days and concomitant AIs. The heifer gave birth to a healthy male calf with no complications after a 291-day gestation period. This case reports the presence of an imperforate hymen with hydrocolpos in a Holstein heifer, followed by successful insemination, conception and delivery after removal of the imperforate hymen.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.279-280
• /
• 2007

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.153-161
• /
• 1995

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of caffeine and heparin on capacitation and acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa, effects of antisperm antibodies on acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa. The rates of acrosome reaction in control group, caffeine treated group, heparin treated group, caffeine-heparin complex treated group were 40.3, 54.3, 63.3, 72.3%, respectively and there were significant differences among the groups(p<0.01), especially higher in caffeine-heparin complex treated group than the others. The rates of acrosome reaction of antisperm antibodies serum supplemented groups(5, 10 and 20%) were 60.4, 48.9 and 37.1%, respectively and there were significant differences among the groups(p<0.0l), and the more increases in serum concentrations, the more decreases in acrosome reaction, but this phenomenon was not seen in fetal calf serum supplemented group and heifer serum group. When the serum concentration was 5%, the rates of acrosome reactions were significantly lower in fetal calf serum supplemented group than heifer serum group and in antisperm antibodies serum group(p<0.01), and there were no significant differences between heifer serum group and antisperm antibodies serum group(p<0.01). When the serum conecntrations were 10%, 20%, the rates of acrosome reactions were significantly lower in antisperm antibodies serum supplemented group than in fetal calf serum group and in geifer serum group(p<0.01), and there were no significant differences between fetal calf serum group and heifer serum group(p<0.01). These results indicate that caffeine-heparin complex treatment is very effective for inducing acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa and that antisperm antibodies block acrosome reaction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.181-185
• /
• 1975

The experiment was carried out to determine the concentrations of total calcium and inorganic phosphorus of thirty rera obtained from pregnant Holitein cows, six sera from normal non-pregnant cows with one month after delivery, six sera from cows with ovarian cyst and six sera from heifer of sixteen months old. The changes of total calcium and inorganic phosphorus were observed on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and l0th month of gestation. The results obtained in this work were summarized as follows: 1. The mean values of total serum calcium obtained from the pregnant group were $9.59{\pm}0.34mg/100ml$, from the non-pregnant group $10.23{\pm}0.47mg/100ml$, from the infertility grou $10.37{\pm}0.27mg/100ml$, and from the heifer group $10.07{\pm}0.20mg/ml$. The change of total serum calcium values in the pregnant group revealed the tendency of decrease as gestation progresses and the lowest value appeared on the sixth month. The mean value of total serum calcium in the pregnant group was lower than those of the other groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. 2. The mean values of serum inorganic phosphorus obtained from the pregnant group were $5.82{\pm}0.31mg/100ml$, from the non-pregnant group $5.92{\pm}0.44mg/100ml$, from the infertility group $5.80{\pm}0.49mg/100ml$, and from the heifer group $5.10{\pm}0.32mg/100ml$. The change during pregnancy showed a slight fall and the lowest value appeared on the sixth month. The differences of serum inorganic phosphorus values between the pregnant group and the other adult groups were not significant, but these adult groups showed a significantly higher value than that of heifer group (p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify environmental factors strongly associated with and to estimate genetic parameters of reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers. Methods: Data included reproduction records of Japanese Black heifers born between 2004 and 2014. First service non-return rate (NRR) to 56 days from first to successful insemination (FS), number of services per conception (IN), age at first calving (AFC) and gestation length were analyzed with the use of the general linear model. Genetic parameters were estimated with the use of the univariate animal model of the residual maximum likelihood. Results: Averages of reproductive traits over eleven years were assessed, and the effects of farm, year, month, artificial insemination technician and interaction of farm×year on the traits were determined. Estimated heritability of FS was very low and that of AFC was higher than that of the other traits. A close genetic relation was observed among NRR, IN, and FS; however, their heritabilities were very low. AFC shows favorable genetic correlation with IN and FS. Conclusion: Low heritabilities of most reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers are strongly influenced by farm management practices, and that large residual variances make genetic evaluation difficult. Among the reproductive traits, AFC is potentially more useful for genetic improvement of heifer reproductive traits because it has high heritability and favorable genetic correlations with IN and FS.