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Relationships among milk progesterone, concentrate allocation, energy balance (EB), milk yield and conception rate were studied in 146 lactations in 94 moderate yielding cows. All animals were of the dual purpose breed Norwegian cattle, and were monitored through their first and second lactations. The cows were assigned three different concentrate allocations and had free access to grass silage. Energy balance was estimated by subtracting energy required for maintenance and lactation from energy intake. Milk progesterone concentration was determined three times weekly from calving until pregnancy. The cumulative progesterone concentration was calculated as area under the progesterone curve for the first three luteal phases postpartum. The conception rate increased linearly by rising milk progesterone for values of cumulative progesterone in the lowest third of the range, whereas the likelihood of conception did not differ between milk progesterone concentrations within the upper two-thirds. This implies that the progesterone values were below a threshold value for optimal reproductive success in one-third of the services performed in this study. Milk progesterone concentrations during the third luteal phase postpartum were low when the high-energy diet was fed. Negative EB was associated with reduced values for milk progesterone during the third luteal phase in second parity cows. Likewise, milk yield was inversely related to progesterone levels during both the first and third luteal phases postpartum in second parity cows. Energy balance was higher and milk yield lower during peak lactation among second parity cows that conceived compared to cows that remained open after the first artificial insemination. The present study have demonstrated an association between likelihood of conception and the energy coverage in Norwegian cattle. This relationship is possibly mediated through progesterone deficiency., (Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.)

Relationships among body condition score (BCS), milk constituents, and resumption of postpartum luteal function were studied in 162 lactations of first- and second-parity Norwegian dairy cows. Milk components included acetone, lactose, fat, protein, urea, and ratios of fat to protein and fat to lactose. Milk progesterone concentrations were used to determine intervals from calving to first luteal response (> 5 ng/ml). Intervals to first luteal response were divided into categories of early (< or = 24 d) or late (> 24 d) responses. Higher BCS were observed during wk 4 and 5 postpartum among both first- and second-parity cows with early compared with delayed luteal responses. Second-parity cows with early onset of luteal function also had higher BCS from wk 6 through 12, whereas first-parity cows with early onset of luteal function had higher BCS from wk 13 through 15. Higher acetone levels from wk 2 through 4 postpartum were associated with late luteal response in second-parity cows. Greater milk lactose content during wk 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 postpartum and higher fat fractions during wk 4 postpartum were related to early luteal response in second-parity cows. Relationships between milk constituents and onset of luteal function were less evident and occurred later postpartum among first-parity cows than among second-parity cows. Measures of weekly milk composites obtained during the early postpartum period and BCS were closely associated with postpartum resumption of luteal function. Acetone and lactose values in milk from the first 4 wk postpartum predicted postpartum luteal function in second-parity cows at a sensitivity of 0.84 and specificity of 0.86.

Results indicated that the dual marker system of Yb-acetate and Co-EDTA supplied per os reduced the proportion of fatty acids in bovine milk that were products of Δ9-desaturase. To verify this effect and identify the responsible marker component, 18 cows (3 cows per treatment) were administered per os a 0.25- L solution of either Co-acetate, Co-EDTA, Co-EDTA + Yb-acetate, EDTA, Yb-acetate, or water twice daily for 5 d. The daily amounts of Co, Yb, and EDTA were, respectively, 3.50, 3.44, and 21.00 g per cow. Milk and blood were sampled and analyzed for content of fatty acids, and blood was sampled and analyzed for Co and cobalamin. Only solutions containing Co had a reducing effect (P ≤ 0.01) on fatty acids that were products of Δ9-desaturase in milk-cis-9 10:1, cis-9 14:1, cis-9 16:1, cis-9, trans-11 18:2, and cis-9 18:1-with the exception of the solution containing Co-EDTA + Yb-acetate for cis-9 18:1. Of the substrate fatty acids of Δ9-desaturase, only 18:0 increased (P < 0.001) in all groups supplied with Co-containing solutions. Thus, Co had a reducing effect (P ≤ 0.004) on the Δ9-desaturase indices [(product of Δ9-desaturase)/(product of Δ9-desaturase + substrate of Δ9-desaturase)J of milk for cis-9 14:1, cis-9 16:1, cis- 9 18:1, and cis-9, trans-11 18:2. There were no differences in Δ9-desaturase indices between Co-EDTA and Co-acetate. None of the marker solutions influenced the fatty acid composition of blood plasma, and Co was detected only in the blood samples from cows treated with solutions containing Co. On the basis of these results, we concluded that Co given per os decreased the Δ9-desaturase indices of bovine milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]