Postpartum Performance of Dairy Cows in Response to Body Condition Score, Locomotion Score, Suckling and Postpartum Diseases in Up Country Large Farm in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Approaches for reducing prolong postpartum anestrus among the dairy cattle has become a focal point in modern dairies to maximize reproductive efficiency. This study determined the postpartum performance of cows based on suckling, nutrition, body condition score (BCS), locomotion scores (LCS) of selected herds in up country in Sri Lanka. Experiment-1, Thirty cows (n=30), just after calving were used under three experimental categories. (G0=control. G1= suckling 4 times (5 minutes each) G2 = 8 times (5minute of each suckling). Mean postpartum lengths were 52.3, 60.9, 63.6 days in G0,G1 and G3 group, respectively (p=0.0427). In experiment 2, BCS were scored weekly up to 7 weeks of twenty (n=20) peripartum cows from postpartum day 1, based on 1-5 body condition scoring system. Body condition has significant effect on postpartum length (p=0.0009) showing mean postpartum lengths as 57 (BCS=l-2), 64.5 (BCS=3-4), 45.46 (BCS=2-3) days. In experiment 3, health status was observed in sixty four cows (n=64) in first 45 days of postpartum. Milk fever, mastitis and displaced abomasum have significant effect on postpartum length (p=0.0001).In experiment 4, 68 cows (n=68) were scored weekly up to 4 weeks following 1-5 locomotion scoring system (LMS). Mean postpartum lengths were 42.6 (LMS=1), 53.95 (LMS=2), 104 (LMS=3), 123.33 (LMS=4) days. LMS had a significant effect on postpartum length. In conclusion, prevention of suckling, maintaining appropriate BCS, lower LMS and absent of post-partum diseases are vital to maintain the reproductive performances and to maintain shorter post-partum anestrus in daily cattle in up-country daily farms in Sri Lanka.