Dr. Raajii Ahamed

 INFERTILITY IN CATTLE# Infertility is the diminished or absent capacity to produce viable offspring. There are many other causes of  infertility in cattle. The goal of a breeding program should be to have 90-95% of cows bred in a 65 day breeding  season. If pregnancy/calving rates are below this, finding out why is important. There are both  infectious and non-infectious causes of infertility.  Non Infectious Causes of Infertility  Female  • Nutrition • Stress • Genetics Male  • Failing to use a bull that has passed a breeding soundness exam  • Insufficient bull numbers for cow numbers and environment  • Bull(s) with poor libido  The most common cause of infertility in beef herds is poor cow nutrition. Over conditioning can also be  detrimental, especially in heifers, but is far less common a problem. Body condition before calving, after calving,  and at breeding can all contribute to infertility. Cows that calve thin but...

 Acetonaemia (Ketosis) Cause Ketosis is a metabolic disorder that occurs in cattle when energy demands (e.g. high milk production) exceed energy intake and result in a negative energy balance. Ketotic cows often have low blood glucose (blood sugar) concentrations. When large amounts of body fat are utilised as an energy source to support production, fat is sometimes mobilised faster than the liver can properly metabolise it. If this situation occurs, ketone production exceeds ketone utilisation by the cow, and ketosis results. In the beef cow, this is most likely to occur in late pregnancy when the cow's appetite is at its lowest and the energy requirement of the growing calf near its peak. In the dairy cow, the mismatch between input and output usually occurs in the first few weeks of lactation, because the cow is not able to eat enough to match the energy lost in the milk. Symptoms Reduced milk yield Weight loss Reduced appetite Dull coat Acetone (pear drop) smell of breath/ or m...