Nutrition deficiency: Its effects in cattle
Economic
milk production can be achieved by ensuring maximum reproductive efficiency in the dairy
heard. With the elimination of specific infectious agents causing infertility, the move
towards higher production and the use of new feedstuffs, the effect of nutrition on
reproduction in cattle has been considered to be more important.
The
most severe effect of inadequate nutrition is the cessation of cyclical activity, although
other less severe manifestations are silent heat, ovulatory defects, conception failure
and foetal and embryonic death.
Cattle
on a high plane of nutrition require lesser number of inseminations per conception. Cows
that are in a state of weight gain at the time of insemination have higher chances of
conception. Signs of energy deficiency are usually more in first calvers when compared to
second calvers, while mature cows are least affected.
High
levels of protein in the diet of dairy cows have been shown to increase the incidence of
anoestrus and decrease conception rates. Copper deficiency alongwith cobalt deficiency can
cause delayed puberty, anoestrus, suboesturs or poor pregnancy rates.
Manganese
deficiency has been associated with absence of heat, poor conception rates and birth of
deformed calves. Rations deficient in iodine may be instrumental in causing abortions,
stillbirths, and birth of weak calves and earlyembryonic death.
Supplementing
selenium and vitamin E in the ration of dairy cows can prevent retention of foetal
membranes, metritis and subsequent infertility Vitamin A deficiency has been known to
delay the onset of puberty in heifers, while in cows weak or abnormal offspring may be
born. |
