EFFECTS OF BODY CONDITION SCORE ON POSTPARTUM ESTRUS CYCLE IN DAIRY COWS

Abstract

The study objective was to determine the effect of body condition score on postpartum oestrus cycle in dairy cows. The study was carried out in Tsirang district from November to December 2013. A total of 80 Jersey cross cows; 40 cyclic and 40 postpartum anoestrus were chosen for the study. Cows, which exhibited normal heat signs with no history of repeat breeding and nymphomania, were considered as cyclic cows. Cows, which did not show oestrus signs within 90 days after calving, were considered as postpartum anoestrus cows. The visual scoring method, using the American standard (scale one to five), was employed to judge the body condition of cows. There was a significant association between the body condition and manifestation of oestrus cycle of cows. The mean value of first postpartum oestrus was recorded at 7.13 months, which was higher than the expected first postpartum oestrus that occurs within 2-3 months after calving, to achieve optimal calving interval. The results suggest that dairy cows need minimum body condition score of 3 to 3.5, for expression of normal oestrus cycle and to produce one calf per year.