Risk factors associated with multiple ovulation and twin birth rate in Irish dairy and beef cattle

Journal of Animal Science

Volumn 92, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 966-973

  Fitzgerald, A M ^a,b   Berry, D P ^b   Carthy, T ^b   Cromie, A R ^c   Ryan, D P ^a  

^a Reprodoc Limited   (Ireland)

^b ANIMAL AND GRASSLAND RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTRE   (Ireland)

^c IRISH CATTLE BREEDING FEDERATION   (Ireland)

Author keywords

Cattle; Genetic; Heritability; Ovulation; Twin; Ultrasonography

Indexed keywords

ANIMAL; BOVINAE; BREEDING; DAIRYING; FEMALE; GENETICS; IRELAND; MULTIPLE PREGNANCY; OVULATION; PHYSIOLOGY; PREGNANCY; RISK FACTOR;

ANIMALS; CATTLE; DAIRYING; FEMALE; GENETICS; IRELAND; OVULATION; PHYSIOLOGY; PREGNANCY; PREGNANCY, ANIMAL; PREGNANCY, MULTIPLE; RISK FACTORS;

EID: 84895112201     PISSN: 00218812     EISSN: 15253163     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2527/jas2013-6718     Document Type: Article

References (49)

1. Arango, J. A., L. V. Cundiff, and L. D. van Vleck. 2002. Breed composition of Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Jersey, Limousin, Simmental, and South Devon for weight, weight adjusted for body condition score, height, and body condition score of cows. J. Anim. Sci. 80:3123-3132.
2. Berry, D. P., F. Buckley, P. Dillon, R. D. Evans, M. Rath, and R. F. Veerkamp. 2003. Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield and fertility in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 86:2193-2204.
3. Berry, D. P., and R. D. Evans. 2013. Genetics of reproductive performance in seasonal calving beef cows and its association with performance traits. J. Anim. Sci. (in press).
4. Berry, D. P., J. M. Lee, K. A. Macdonald, and J. R. Roche. 2007. Body condition score and body weight effects on dystocia and stillbirths and consequent effects on postcalving performance. J. Dairy Sci. 90:4201-4211.
5. Cady, R. A., and L. D. van Vleck. 1978. Factors affecting twinning and effects of twinning in Holstein dairy cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 46:950-956.
6. Çobanoǧlu, Ö. 2010. Twinning in cattle: Desirable or undesirable? J. Biol. Environ. Sci. 4:1-8.
7. Echternkamp, S. E. 1992. Fetal development in cattle with multiple ovulations. J. Anim. Sci. 70:2309-2321.
8. Echternkamp, S. E., R. A. Cushman, and M. F. Allan. 2009. Size of ovulatory follicle in cattle expressing multiple ovulations naturally and its influence on corpus luteum development. J. Anim. Sci. 87:3556-3568.
9. Echternkamp, S. E., and K. E. Gregory. 1999. Effects of twinning on gestation length, retained placenta and dystocia. J. Anim. Sci. 77:39-47.
10. Echternkamp, S. E., G. B. Huttington, H. F. Tyrell, and P. J. Reynolds. 1990. Twinning in cattle: II. Genetic and environmental effects on ovulation rate in puberal heifers and postpartum cows and the effects of ovulation rate on embryonic survival. J. Anim. Sci. 68:1877-1888.
11. Fricke, P. M., and M. C. Wiltbank. 1999. Effect of milk production on the incidence of double ovulation in dairy cows. Theriogenology 52:1133-1143.
12. Gilmour, A. R., B. J. Gogel, B. R. Cullis, and R. Thomson. 2009. ASREML ASReml User Guide Release 3.0. VSN International Ltd., Hemel Hempstead, UK.
13. Gordon, I. R. 2004. Controlling multiple births and litter size. In: Reproductive technologies in farm animals. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxfordshire. UK.
14. Gregory, K. E., S. E. Echternkamp, G. E. Dickerson, L. V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch, and L. D. van Vleck. 1990. Twinning in cattle: III. Effects of twinning on dystocia, reproductive traits, calf survival, calf growth and cow productivity. J. Anim. Sci. 68:3133-3144.
15. Hanrahan, J. P. 1980. Ovulation rate as the selection criterion for litter size in sheep. Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 13:405-408.
16. Hossein-Zadeh, N. G. 2010. The effect of twinning on milk yield, dystocia, calf birth weight and open days in Holstein dairy cows of Iran. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. (Berl.) 94:780-787.
17. Hossein-Zadeh, N. G., A. Nejati-Javaremi, S. R. Miraei-Ashtiani, and H. Kohram. 2008. An observational analysis of twin births, calf stillbirth, calf sex ratio, and abortion in Iranian Holsteins. J. Dairy Sci. 91:4198-4205.
18. Hossein-Zadeh, N. G., A. Nejati-Javaremi, S. R. Miraei-Ashtiani, and H. Kohram. 2009. Estimation of variance components and genetic trends for twinning rate in Holstein dairy cattle of Iran. J. Dairy Sci. 92:3411-3421.
19. Inskeep, E. K., A. L. Barr, and C. J. Cunningham. 1967. Repeatability of prolificacy in sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 26:458-461.
20. Johanson, J. M., P. J. Berger, B. W. Kirkpatrick, and M. R. Dentine. 2001. Twinning rates for North American Holstein sires. J. Dairy Sci. 84:2081-2088.
21. Kidder, H. E., G. R. Barrett, and L. E. Casida. 1952. A study of ovulations in sox families of Holstein-Friesians. J. Dairy Sci. 35:436-444.
22. Kinsel, M. L., W. E. Marsh, P. L. Ruegg, and W. G. Etherington. 1998. Risk factors for twinning in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 81:989-993.
23. Labhsetwar, A. P., W. J. Tyler, and L. E. Casida. 1963. Analysis of variation in some factors affecting multiple ovulations in Holstein cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 46:840-842.
24. Lopez, H., D. Z. Caraviello, L. D. Satter, P. M. Fricke, and M. C. Wiltbank. 2005a. Relationship between level of milk production and multiple ovulations in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 88:2783-2793.
25. Lopez, H., R. Sartori, and M. C. Wiltbank. 2005b. Reproductive hormones and follicular growth during development of one or multiple dominant follicles in cattle. Biol. Reprod. 72:788-795.
26. López-Gatius, F., M. López-Béjar, M. Fenech, and R. H. F. Hunter. 2005. Ovulation failure and double ovulation in dairy cattle: Risk factors and effects. Theriogenology 63:1298-1307.
27. Matos, C. A., D. L. Thomas, D. Gianola, R. J. Templeman, and L. D. Young. 1997. Genetic analysis of discrete reproductive traits in sheep using linear and nonlinear models: I. Estimation of genetic parameters. J. Anim. Sci. 75:76-87.
28. Mee, J. F., D. P. Berry, and A. R. Cromie. 2011. Risk factors for calving assistance and dystocia in pasture-based Holstein-Friesian heifers and cows in Ireland. Vet. J. 187:189-194.
29. Nielen, M., Y. H. Schukken, D. T. Scholl, H. J. Wilbrink, and A. Brand. 1989. Twinning in dairy cattle: A study of risk factors and effects. Theriogenology 32:845-862.
30. Norman, H. D., J. R. Wright, M. T. Kuhn, S. M. Hubbard, J. B. Cole, and P. M. VanRaden. 2009. Genetic and environmental factors that affect gestation length in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 92:2259-2269.
31. Pardon, B., G. Vertenton, P. Cornillie, S. Schauvliege, F. Gasthuys, G. van Loon, and P. Deprez. 2012. Left abomasal displacement between the uterus and rumen during bovine twin pregnancy. J. Vet. Sci. 13:437-440.
32. Rendel, J. 1956. Heritability of multiple birth in sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 15:193-201.
33. Ron, M., E. Ezra, and J. I. Weller. 1990. Genetic analysis of twinning rate in Israeli Holstein cattle. Genet. Sel. Evol. 22:349-360.
34. Rowson, L. E. A., R. A. S. Lawson, and R. M. Moor. 1971. Production of twins in cattle by egg transfer. J. Reprod. Fertil. 25:261-268.
35. Rutledge, J. J. 1975. Twinning in cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 40:803-815.
36. Ryan, D. P., and M. P. Boland. 1991. Frequency of twin births among Holstein-Friesian cows in a warm dry climate. Theriogenology 36:1-10.
37. Ryan G., S. Crosse, and S. Fitzgerald. 1999. The development of feeding management strategies for milk production systems with very contrasting milk supply patterns. Dairy Levy Series No 4. Teagasc, Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland.
38. Silva del Rio, N., J. D. Colloton, and P. M. Fricke. 2009. Factors affecting pregnancy loss for single and twin pregnancies in a high producing dairy herd. Theriogenology 71:1462-1471.
39. Silva del Rio, N., P. M. Fricke, and R. R. Grummer. 2010. Effects of twin pregnancy and dry period feeding strategy on milk production, energy balance and metabolic profiles in dairy cows. J. Anim. Sci. 88:1048-1060.
40. Silva del Rio, N., B. W. Kirkpatrick, and P. M. Fricke. 2006. Observed frequency of monozygotic twinning in Holstein dairy cattle. Theriogenology 66:1292-1299.
41. Silva del Rio, N., S. Stewart, P. Rapnicki, Y. M. Chang, and P. M. Fricke. 2007. An observational analysis of twin births, calf sexratio and calf mortality in Holstein dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 90:1255-1264.
42. Stevenson, J. S., M. A. Portaluppi, and D. E. Tenhouse. 2007. Factors influencing upfront and single-and multiple-ovulation incidence, progesterone, and luteolysis before a times insemination resynchronization protocol. J. Dairy Sci. 90:5542-5551.
43. Van Tassell, C. P., L. D. Van Vleck, and K. E. Gregory. 1998. Bayesian analysis of twinning and ovulation rates using a multiple-trait threshold model and Gibbs sampling. J. Anim. Sci. 76:2048-2061.
44. Van Vleck, L. D., K. E. Gregory, and S. E. Echternkamp. 1991. Ovulation rate and twinning rate in cattle: Heritabilties and genetic correlation. J. Anim. Sci. 69:3213-3219.
45. Veerkamp, R. F., and B. Beerda. 2007. Genetics and genomics to improve fertility in high producing dairy cows. Theriogenology 68:S266-S273.
46. Waldron, D. F., and D. L. Thomas. 1992. Increased litter size in rambouiller sheep: 1. Estimation of genetic parameters. J. Anim. Sci. 70:3333-3344.
47. Walsh, S., F. Buckley, D. P. Berry, M. Rath, K. Pierce, N. Byrne, and P. G. Dillon. 2007. Effect of breed, feeding system, and parity on udder health and milking characteristics. J. Dairy Sci. 90:5767-5779.
48. Weller, J. I., G. Golik, E. Seroussi, M. Ron, and E. Ezra. 2008. Detection of quantitative trait loci affecting twinning rate in Israeli Holsteins by the daughter design. J. Dairy Sci. 91:2469-2474.
49. Wiltbank, M. C., P. M. Fricke, S. Sangsritavong, R. Sartori, and O. J. Ginther. 2000. Mechanisms that prevent and produce double ovulations in cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 83:2998-3007.