Relationship of corticoid, thyroid and metabolic profiles with fertility of beef females on sourveld and mixed sweetveld

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Date
2000-09
Authors
Erasmus, Johann Andre
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: During the 1981/82 season, first-calf Bonsmara cows on the sourveld (lower plane of natural pasture) supplemented with an NPN lick in winter (sourveld +N), and sourveld not supplemented with an NPN lick in winter (sourveld - N), had significantly lower mean blood (2.13; 2.12 and 2.30 mmol/l; P < 0.01), plasma (3.20; 3.10 and 3.38 mmol/l; P < 0.01) and red blood cell glucose (1.06; 0.98 and 1.09 mmol/l, P <0.05) concentrations, compared to the cows on mixed sweetveld (higher plane of natural pasture) supplemented with an NPN lick in the winter (sweetveld +N). Similar results were obtained with regard to total plasma protein, 66.0; 68.0 and 72.0 gil (P < 0.01), plasma albumin, 32.0; 32.0 and 34.0 gil (P < 0.01), and plasma globulin, 35.0; 36.0 and 38.0 gil (P <0.05) for the 3 treatments respectively. Plasma urea concentrations appeared to be a good indicator of protein status of first-calf cows on the 3 treatments, concentrations being 1.75; 1.35 and 3.75 mmol/l (P < 0.01) respectively.During the following year (1982/83), differences in energy and protein constituents were much smaller, and only plasma albumin and urea concentrations were indicative of the higher nutritive value of the mixed sweetveld. First-calf cows on the sourveld + N had significantly (P < 0.01) lower plasma cortisol concentrations than their counterparts on mixed sweetveld + N during the 1980 period (11.94 vs. 13.02 ng/ml respectively), and the 1981/82 period (8.78; 7.32 and 9.76 ng/ml for females in the 3 treatment groups respectively. During the subsequent year, virtually no differences in plasma cortisol levels were observed. No significant difference in plasma thyroxine concentrations was noted between experimental animals on the sourveld and mixed sweetveld during the 1980 period. During the following 2 seasons, plasma T4levels were significantly (P <0.001) elevated in the experimental animals on the mixed sweetveld (41.80; 40.80 and 48.1 0 ng/ml during 1981/82, and 39.10; 40.80 and 46.60 ng/ml during 1982/83 for females in the 3 treatment groups respectively. Pregnancy influenced the mentioned metabolites and hormones Bonsmara cows to varying degrees. Lactation suppressed blood and plasma glucose concentrations for 8 to 10weeks after parturition. The influence oflactation on total plasma protein, albumin and globulin concentrations was not significant, and variable. Plasma urea levels were considerably suppressed in lactating first-calf cows, compared to dry cows in the 3 treatment groups, viz. 1.28 vs. 1.96 (P < 0.05); 1.02 vs. 1.53 (P < 0.01) and 3.05 vs. 3.98 (P < 0.05) respectively. Little differences were noted during the subsequent year. The adrenal cortex and thyroid activity were suppressed by the effect of lactation in first-calf cows in all 3 treatment groups during the 1981/82 season. Cows having higher mean blood glucose concentrations after first parturition (8 weeks prior to mating) conceived at the next mating, compared to lower concentrations of infertile cows, viz. 2.49 vs. 1.93 mmolIl, and 2.20 vs. 2.07 mmol/l during the 1981/82 and 1982/83 seasons respectively. Similar results were obtained for plasma glucose (3.57 vs. 2.75, and 3.36 vs. 3.27 mmol/l respectively), plasma cortisol (8.2 vs. 4.0, and 8.3 vs. 5.3 ng/ml respectively) and plasma thyroxine (45.2 vs. 34.5, and 41.0 vs. 37.2 ng/ml respectively). Fertile cows were in a weight gaining phase from parturition to mating. Season of the year generally did not have a significant and consistent influence on blood and plasma metabolites. Energy, and some of the plasma protein metabolites, were significantly higher during the summer of 1981/82, than during the winter. During the following year (1982/83), results were generally reversed, with plasma albumin and urea levels being higher during the winter than summer seasons. Plasma cortisol concentrations were generally elevated during the summer season, compared to the winter season.
Afrikaans:Gedurende die 1981/82 seisoen, het Bonsmara eerstekalfkoeie op die suurveld (laer peil van natuurlike weiding) met 'n NPN lekaanvulling in die winter (suurveld + N), en suurveld sonder 'n NPN lekaanvulling in die winter (suurveld - N), betekenisvolle laer gemiddelde bloed- (2.13; 2.12 en 2.30 mmol/l, P < 0.01), plasma- (3.20; 3.10 en 3.38 mmol/l, P < 0.01) en rooibloedselglukosekonsentrasies (1.06; 0.98 en 1.09 mmol/l; P < 0.05) in vergelyking met die koeie op die gemengde soetveld (hoër peil van natuurlike weiding) met 'n NPN lekaanvulling in die winter (soetveld + N) getoon. Soortgelyke resultate is verkry ten opsigte van totale plasma proteïene, 66.0; 68.0 en 72.0 g/l (P < 0.01), plasma albumien, 32.0; 32.0 en 34.0 g/l (P < 0.01) en plasma globulien, 35.0; 36.0 en 38.0 g/l (P < 0.05) vir die 3 behandelings onderskeidelik. Plasma ureurnkonsentrasies blyk 'n goeie indikator van proteïenstatus van eerstekalfkoeie op die 3 behandelings te wees, nl. 1.75; 1.35 en 3.75 mmol/l (P < 0.01) respektiewelik. Gedurende die daaropvolgende jaar (1982/83) was verskille in energie- en proteïenmetaboliete heelwat kleiner en het slegs plasma albumien- en ureurnkonsentrasies die hoër voedingswaarde van die gemengde soetveld gereflekteer. Eerstekalfkoeie op die suurveld het betekenisvolle (P < 0.01) laer plasma cortisolkonsentrasies as hul eweknieë op die gemengde soetveld gedurende die 1980 periode (11.94 vs. 13.02 ng/ml) en 1981/82 periode, gehad (8.78; 7.32 en 9.76 ng/ml vir diere in die 3 behandelingsgroepe onderskeidelik). Gedurende die daaropvolgende jaar, is feitlik geen verskil in cortisolpeile waargeneem nie. Geen betekenisvolle verskille in tiroksienkonsentrasies tussen eksperimentele diere op die suurveld en gemengde soetveld gedurende die 1980 periode waargeneem nie. Gedurende die volgende 2 seisoene, was die plasma T4 peile betekenisvol hoër (P <0.001) in die eksperimentele diere op die gemengde soetveld gewees (41.80; 40.80 en 48.10 ng/ml gedurende 1981/82, en 39.10; 40.80 en 46.60 ng/ml gedurende 1982/83 vir die koeie in die 3 behandelingsgroepe onderskeidelik). Dragtigheid het die genoemde metaboliete en hormone van Bonsmarakoeie tot 'n varierende mate beïnvloed. Laktasie het bloed- en plasmaglukosekonsentrasies vir 8 tot 10 weke na parturisie onderdruk. Die effek van laktasie op totale plasma proteïen-, albumien- en globulienkonsentrasies was nie betekenisvol nie, en het gevarieer. Plasma ureumpeile is aanmerklik onderdruk in lakterende eerstekalfkoeie, in vergelyking met droë koeie in die 3 behandelingsgroepe, nl. 1.28 vS.1.96 (P < 0.05); 1.02 vs. 1.53 (P < 0.01) en 3.05 vs. 3.98 (P < 0.05) onderskeidelik. Min verskille is gedurende die daaopvolgende jaar waargeneem. Die bynierkorteks- en tiroïedaktiwiteit is deur die effek van laktasie in eerstekalfkoeie in al3 behandelingsgroepe gedurende die 1981/82 seisoen onderdruk. Koeie met 'n hoër gemiddelde bloedglukosekonsentrasie na eerste kalwing (8 weke voor paartyd), het bevrug geraak tydens die daaropvolgende paarseisoen, in vergelyking met die laer konsentrasie van onvrugbare koeie, nl. 2.49 vs. 1.93 mmol/l, en 2.20 vs. 2.07 mmol/l gedurende die 1981/82 en 1982/83 seisoene onderskeidelik. Soortgelyke resultate is verkry ten opsigte van plasmaglukose (3.57 vs. 2.75 mmol/l en 3.36 vs. 3.27 mmol/l onderskeidelik), plasma cortisol (8.2 vs. 4.0 ng/ml, en 8.3 vs. 5.3 ng/ml onderskeidelik) en plasma tiroksien (45.2 vs. 34.5 ng/ml, en 41.0 vs. 37.2 ng/ml onderskeidelik). Vrugbare koeie was in 'n gewigstoenemende fase van parturisie tot paring.Seisoen van die jaar het oor die algemeen nie 'n betekenisvolle en konsekwente invloed op bloeden plasmametaboliete getoon nie. Energie-, en van die plasma proteïenmetaboliete, was betekenisvol hoër gedurende die somer van 1981/82 as gedurende die winter gewees. Gedurende die daaropvolgende jaar, is omgekeerde resultate oor die algemeen verkry, met plasma albumienand ureumpeile wat hoër in die winter in vergelyking met die somer was. Plasma cortisolkonsentrasies het oor die algemeen hoër gedurende die somerseisoen in vergelyking met die winterseisoen geneig.
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Keywords
Sourveld, Mixed sweetveld, Bonsmara cows, Glucose, Plasma protein, Plasma globulin, Plasma urea, Cortisol, Thyroxine, Plasma albumin, Beef cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape, Beef cattle -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape, Hormones in animal nutrition, Thesis (Ph.D. (Animal Science.))--University of the Free State, 2000
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