Study of some reproductive parameters in bovine dairy farms in the east of Algeria

L Ghoribi, S Hireche and M H Chibat

Department of Veterinary Sciences El-Khroub Constantine Algeria.
loutfiveto@yahoo.fr

Abstract

The study involved 11 farms in four governorates in the east of Algeria (Constantine, Annaba, Setif and Mila), from September 2001 to June 2007 and focused on 577 lactations of 708 dairy cows. Statistical analyses were performed using general liner models.

The results show that our farms are characterized by infertility in heifers that calve late (29 to 31 months). In cows, the infertility has resulted in a delayed calving to first service, with averages between 68 to 85 days and a percentage of return to heat (estrus) within 60 days postpartum, between 7 and 50%. The infertility of cows is also reflected in the percentages of calving to conception intervals over 120 days, comprises between 7 and 57%. The first service conception rate ranged between 27 and 63%. Statistical analysis showed significant differences for age at first calving (P<0.05) and calving to conception intervals (P<0.001) for the year factor. These results allow to conclude that despite the establishment by the Algerian state of a series of measures to boost milk production, reproductive performance remains weak and dependent on climatic conditions.  

Keywords: dairy cattle, fertility, milk yield

Introduction

In Algeria, milk plays an important role in the food ration of each individual regardless of income. Milk consumption is still increasing steadily to about 115 liters per capita per year (Mokhtari 2009). Algeria is among the first importers of milk in the world and is the first in the Maghreb. The Algerian state has spent 750 million US dollar in 2008 (Amarni 2009). This can be explained by the demographic pressure, the milk price supported by the state and the low milk production. The latter depends on climatic conditions, especially seasonal variations in some areas of the country and finally feed resources. One factor limiting the productivity of a herd is the weak reproduction performance. To achieve the calving interval recommended (12 - 13 months), the cows should be mated within 85 to 110 days postpartum. Fertility is associated with genetic selection, as well as improvement of nutrition and management practices that contribute to increase milk yield (Emanuelson et al 1998). An inadequate nutrition management of dairy cows before and after calving is a key factor in infertility (Roche 2006). However, if one considers that the main product of dairy cows is milk; short interval between calving remains difficult without reproductive problems (Kadokawa et al 2006, Knop et al 2009). The low fertility reduces the profit by reducing the average production of milk and the number of calves per cow per year (Maizons et al 2004).

The aim of this paper is to situate the evolution of reproductive performances through calculating and analysis of fecundity and fertility indices of dairy herds in the eastern part of Algeria, to see the impact of the measures implemented by the state to promote milk production.

Materials and methods

The study focused on eleven farms in four governorates in the east of Algeria (Constantine, Annaba, Setif and Mila). All governorates are in the countryside except that of Annaba which is located on the coast. The latter has a mild climate and fairly humid. In contrast, the other governorates are subject to a harsh climate which opposes cold, wet winters with hot, dry summers. Herds of cows are made of imported breeds (French Friesian, Holstein, Tarentaise, Montbéliarde, and German Simmental Fleckvieh) or cows resulting from crossing breeding of the descendants of the latters. The herd size varies from 13 to 52 heads. The cows are stalled and were fed total mixed rations from concentrate, forage and hay. The study was conducted over 7 consecutive years, from September 2001 to June 2007 and focused on 577 lactations of 708 dairy cows. Data are collected on the dates of births, calving and insemination. In cows, fertility was estimated by the mean interval from calving to first service and between calving to conception, expressed both in days. To evaluate the return to heat, we calculated the percentage of the interval calving first service within 60 days post-partum. In order to better see the distribution of calving to conception interval, this parameter was divided into two classes of intervals namely: recommended (85 to 110 days) and late (over 120 days). In heifers, fertility was estimated by the mean value of age at first calving. This parameter is expressed in months between the date of birth and first calving. The distribution of first calving was calculated by the percentage of early calving (less than 24 months), recommended (24 to 28 months) and late (more than 28 months). Fertility was assessed by the evaluation of first service conception rate, which is determined by dividing the number of pregnant animals in the first service over the total number of pregnant animals.

To analyze the collected data, analysis of variance procedures was used; also comparison test of means for each of the reproductive parameters: age at first calving, calving first service interval, and calving conception interval as carried out. The calculations were performed using Minitab software (1998).  

Results

Age at the first calving

The best average was about 29 months and was recorded during 2001 and 2006 campaigns. The mean values of age at first calving through the campaigns 2001 to 2007 vary from 29 to 31 months. Very early calving (19 months) are observed in the years 2003 and 2004 (Table 1). The averages are very high compared with the target filled either by Gilbert et al (2005) and Williamson (1987), which is 24 months or by Etherington et al (1991), which is 27 months. The table 1 shows that age at first calving was stable over the years, ranging between 29 and 31 months. From 2003 to 2006, very high percentages (65 to 83%) of first calving of more than 28 months are observed. However, the percentages of recommended calving do not exceed the third (32%). The best score was obtained during 2001 with 62% of calving between 24 and 28 months (Table 1). Statistical analysis showed that there are significant differences (P<0.05) for the factor year. The distribution of percentages of the age at first calving reflects the poor performance in heifers. The results for age at first calving showed that farms are characterized by heifers’ infertility.   

The calving to first service interval

Through the campaigns, the highest average was obtained in 2001 (85 days) compared to that of 2002 (63 days). With the exception of the latter, all other averages are between 68 and 85 days. They are above average reported by Gilbert et al (2005) which is 45 to 60 days (Table 2). Analysis of this index reflects an extended calving to first service interval. Despite an improvement from 2002, the evolution of this index over time is irregular, but remains more or less stable. The percentage of return to heat within 60 days postpartum is very low if compared to that showed by Gilbert and al (2005) which is over 90%. It is between 7% and 50% across all campaigns (Table 2). The performance reflected in the evaluation of the calving first service interval show that the recovery of ovarian activity of cows is late.

The calving to conception interval

Unlike the average of 2002 which is 83 days, that of 2006 is the highest (153 days). Except the latter, all means are in the standards reported by Kirk (1980), Etherington et al (1991) and Gilbert et al (2005) which are respectively 85 days, 100 days and between 85 and 110 days (Table 2). As shown in Figure 3, the calving to conception interval follows an upward trend over the years, but remains within the recommended standards with the exception of the average of the 2006 campaign. With the exception of 2002, where we registered 7%, the percentages of cows fecund over 120 days exceed the 10% recommended by Weaver (1986); they are between 16% and 57% (Table 2). The study of the variance analysis of one criteria has shown that there are significant differences for the year factor (P<0.001). It can be inferred that despite an average calving to conception interval mostly in the range recommended, our cows are characterized by infertility. Significant differences occurred among years for the parameters age at first calving (P <0.05) and calving to conception interval (P<0.001) can be explained by bad master of reproduction and a lack of food management. Indeed, Guera (2008) points out the lack of forage as the area under fodder crops in the last decade are estimated to 510 000 hectares, representing 7% of the useful agricultural area. In addition, total milk production of farms shows a seasonal variability, during periods of winter and spring, where the food supply begins to improve in all areas through the provision of green fodder from February (Belhadia et al 2009). The drop in reproductive performance may be related to the deterioration of body condition of cows in some campaigns, due to the lack of forage due to climatic conditions (low rainfall and floods) (Darej et al 2010).

The first service conception rate

It was observed that 2001 season has the lowest first service conception rate (27%) compared to that of 2004 (63%). From 2003 to 2007, the rates correspond with the standards (40% to 60%) indicated by Weaver (1986) and very close to those (50 to 60%) of Gilbert et al (2005). Fertility measured by the first service conception rate shows very irregular results between the campaigns from 2001 to 2007 (Table 2). Indeed, rates increased from 2001 to 2004 and dropped thereafter.

Discussion

The age at first calving

In light of the results for age at first calving, we can deduce that heifers are characterized by infertility. The results for age at first calving are very similar to those recorded in the region of El-Tarf (Ghoribi 2000), where 3 of 4 farms record average of more than 30 months. The average age at first calving obtained in this study are very close to the value recorded in Morocco Boujenane et al (1986), which is 29,5 months. These relate to the weakness of performance due to adaptation difficulties of these animals outside their country of origin and the management conditions of the farms. According to Belhadi et al (2009), the average age of realizing the first mating is highly variable, it is 16 to 18 months or 24 months, which is causing the delay in age at first calving. The major causes of late calving heifers include the slow growth, delayed puberty and mismanagement to recognize the correct size for the reproduction (Williamson 1987). The objectives for animal husbandry replacement Holstein heifers for calving at the age of 24 months are weighing about 520 kg and a height of 142 cm at Cross (Dahl and al 1991). The delay of the first calving follows a late introduction of heifers to breeding which itself is the result of a lack of a politic of management of herd replacement. This lack of management can be of two kinds, either related to a bad management of reproduction, mainly a weakness or a lack of heat detection, or a defective feeding which is the cause of a sexual immaturity, even combination of both.

The calving to first service interval

For calving to first service interval, the averages in this study are similar to those obtained by Ghoribi (62 to 89 days) (2000) and (59 to 88 days) per Bouzebda et al (2006). Our results are in accordance with (89 days) observed in Tunisia by Bensalem and al (2007). However, the results of a survey conducted by Ghozlane and al (2003), in 8 governorates of the north are much higher (116 days). Similarly, the average values ​​recorded by Darej and al (2010) in Tunisia are higher than those of our study. According to Ghozlane and al (2003), the late introduction to reproduction, or heat detection based primarily on the overlap are the cause of the extended calving first service interval. In the other side, Belkheri (2001) suspected that undernutrition is the origin of this of the extended calving first service interval. According to Enjalabert (1998), when 15% of a dairy herd is in anoestrus from 40 to 50 days after calving, there is reason to suspect a feeding origin. The performance obtained from the measurement of the calving first service interval reflects the politic adopted during the postpartum period. This shows the lack of interest given to the voluntary waiting period before realizing the first service, and lack of post-partum examinations prior to breeding. Thus, during this period, it is imperative to monitor uterine involution and resumption of ovarian activity. In addition, the observation of heat is needed to improve this indice.

The calving to conception interval

The results for the interval calving-fertile mating are better than those reported by Ghozlane and al that averaged between 102 and 193 days in 2003 and 158 ± 93.7 days in 2010. Similarly, the average of a study by Ghoribi (2000) are much higher (115, 146, 179 and 186 days) than those obtained in this study. In Morocco, the average exceeds the desired objective; which is 139 days (Boujenane and al 1986). Despite an improving trend, the survey conducted by Bouzebda and al (2006) showed very high average values ​​(174, 156 and 151 days). Similarly, averages in Tunisia (149 days) by Bensalem et al (2007) are higher than those we recorded. The extended calving to conception interval may be the result of a late introduction to reproduction, but also to the low rates of success in first insemination. These can be related to poor heat detection, or under nutrition. The percentage of cows that have not conceived beyond the 150 days provided specific information on the failure of reproduction. These cows could be classified as functionally infertile (Weaver 1986).

The first service conception rate

The results for the success rate in the first service are lower than those recorded by Ghozlane et al (2003). While the rates recorded are higher than those reported by Ghoribi (2000) and Bouzebda et al (2006) who are 20 to 24% and from 29 to 31%. Similarly, the rates observed in our study are higher than those (40%) reported by Bensalem et al (2007) and (18.6%) given by Ghozlane et al (2010). The results of first service conception rate showed that the fertility of cows is average and remains below the recommended goals. The evaluation of this parameter allowed us to infer that the conception rates explain partly the poor fertility.

This performance level may indicate poor precision and frequency of heat detection, a bad time of insemination, a lack of insemination or improper storage of the seed (Kirk 1980). The conception rate is the result of many factors that interact in complex ways. The fertility of the female, male fertility, environmental factors, the health and nutritional status, overweight status, age, breed and time of insemination relative to estrus (Gilbert and al 2005). Bad technique of artificial insemination, contributes to low conception rates in cattle (O'Connor 1985, Williamson 1987). Inadequate disposal sites decreased fertility rates (O'Connor 1985). The timing of insemination relative to heat detection affects conception rates (Rankin 1992). Release for early breeding of heifers results in low conception rates at first breeding (Lin 1986).

Conclusion

• This study concluded that despite the implementation by the Algerian state of a series of measures to boost milk production, dairy farms are still characterized by infertility. This is related, on the one hand, to the lack of forage resources as well as seasonal variability, and secondly, to a low control of reproduction. Therefore, the improvement of milk production requires the establishment of monitoring reproduction system by the systematic integration of controls to detect heat, the health status post-partum, the recovery of ovarian activity and gestation. In addition, a feeding management program is essential to ensure an adequate state of overweight at different physiological stages and prevent metabolic diseases.

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Received 5 July 2011; Accepted 8 January 2012; Published 7 February 2012

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