Growth rate during rearing, which varies depending on provided nutrition, has been related with age at 1st calving (AFC). This study investigated the effect of upgrowth parameters during the rearing period on the reproduction of nulliparous Holstein heifers. The study comprised 77 successively born heifers from the same herd. Growth rate and fertility traits were measured during rearing and fertility parameters were recorded in lactations 1. Growth parameters (body weight, height, heart girth and body length) were measured at the approximate birth time, 270 and 450 d of age. Reproduction data collected included age at 1st breeding, number of services per conception (S/C), pregnancy rate to 1st artificial insemination, AFC. Animals were subsequently divided into 4 AFC groups for analysis: <23 mo, 23∼ 25 mo, 26∼30 mo and >30 mo. The AFC reflected both upgrowth rate and heifer reproduction, with later calving heifers smaller. Increased skeletal growth (at 270 and 450 d) was related with a reduced AFC (p<0.05). Early calving animals (<23 mo) had the best reproduction as nulliparous heifers, with most conceiving at first service (87.5%). Fertility in the first lactation was the worst in the oldest AFC group (>30 mo). In the 1st lactation period, a number of services per conception (3.1±0.3) increased with increasing AFC (>30 mo). Sub-optimal upgrowth related with an increased AFC could be mitigated by improved monitoring of replacement heifers during the rearing period.

Reproductive disorders in cows cause economic loss in livestock farms. Reproductive diseases, such as follicular cyst, luteal cyst, endometritis, pyometra, and repeat breeding cause infertility. Among these diseases, endometritis and pyometra are uterine infections that are leading causes of infertility. This study was performed to investigate the causative agents of uterine diseases using bacterial culture. Bacteria were obtained from the reproductive organs (vagina, uterine cervix, and uterine horn) of dairy cow diagnosed with endometritis or pyometra, and cultured on blood agar. The colonies obtained from cultivation for 24 hours were passaged. To identify the bacteria, the colonies grown in passaged culture Gram stained and applied to an automatic biochemical microbial identification system. Escherichia coli were commonly detected in vagina, uterine cervix, and uterine horn of dairy cows diagnosed to pyometra. The cows having endometritis showed not only Escherichia coli but also Pantoea spp. and Klebsiella spp. strains. Dairy cows that were infected with Escherichia coli in uterus caused mastitis or digestive disease. These results suggest that sanitary feeding and management beforehand are needed to prevent bacterial infections.

genetic selection has resulted in modern dairy cow with very high milk yields but reduced fertility, due mainly to an increase in reproductive disorders. The study was conducted to estimate the proportion of reproductive disorders among dairy cattle. The factors analyzed were; milk yield, cow parity, periparturient disorders, and reproductive status. The result of this study showed the incidence of reproductive disorders in high yielding dairy cows was prevalent. Repeat breeding was the major postpartum reproductive problem comprising (42.3%) of the samples. Higher reproductive disorders were also associated with lower parity. These disorders subsequently reduced reproductive performance by prolonged intervals from calving to first artificial insemination and from calving to pregnancy. Abnormalities in the reproductive system such as repeat breeder, silent heat, anestrous and ovarian cysts, as well as lower fertility have been recorded during the summer months (June to August). In conclusion, the study revealed that incidence of repeat breeder is mostly prevalent in dairy cows. Moreover, the incidence of reproductive disorders was higher in summer season and hence appropriate preventive and or therapeutic measures as per the type of abnormalities need to be undertaken.

The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of seasons on reproductive performance of Hanwoo and Holstein heifers. Heat stress in summer or cold stress in winter stress to Hanwoo and Holstein heifers may bring reproduction failure, which would pose an important economic loss, even around Daegwallyeong region located in high mountainous area. Seasonal differences in the serum levels of LH, FSH and progesterone () in response to environmental factors (hot and cold) out of 20 pubertal Hanwoo heifers in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province and 20 non-lactating Holstein heifers in Chonan city of Republic of Korea at 2-3 years of age were compared. Blood samples for hormonal analysis were from jugular vein after detection of estrus repeatedly over four seasons within four-week intervals (Spring: May to June, Summer: July to August, Autumn: October to November and Winter: January to February). In Hanwoo heifer population, averages of LH and FSH concentration in spring and in summer were greater compared to those in winter (p<0.05). LH or FSH levels tended to be greater (p=0.06) in spring and less (p=0.09) in winter compared to the levels in autumn. Only in summer, cattle seemed to show lower LH or FSH secretion (p<0.05). Similar to the results in Hanwoo heifers, the serum concentrations of LH and FSH in Holstein heifers decreased further by heat stress in summer when P 4 levels were high during luteal phase. The results demonstrate significant effect of summer heat on reproduction of Hanwoo or Holstein heifers. Although parameters indicating the extent of heat stress were not measured in this study, we suggest that serum hormone levels could be considered as successful indicators of summer heat stress condition for Hanwoo and Holstein heifers even under rather cool summer climate.