Abstract

DOMINGUEZ, Carlos et al. Effect of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation on Reproductive and Productive Behavior in Carora Crossbred Cows under Venezuelan Central Plains conditions. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet. [online]. 2017, vol.58, n.2, pp.53-67. ISSN 0258-6576.

The effect of addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on reproductive behavior and productive performance was evaluated in 28 crossbred Carora cows randomly grouped in three treatments (T): TI (n=14): Cultivated pastures + 4 kg/d of a mixture of sorghum flour (55%), soybean meal (25%), molasses (25%) plus 75 g of minerals; TII (n=7): TI + 0.3 kg of inert fat (IF) during the last 20 d of gestation and the first 60 d postpartum (dpp); TIII (n=7): TI + 0.3 kg IF during 60 dpp. Body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), ovarian cyclicity (OC), ovarian dimensions (OD), follicular classes (FOLI, FOLII, FOLIII), corpora lutea (CL), blood progesterone levels (P₄), days open (DO), pregnancy (% P), total milk production (TMP), and milk fat (%MF) were assessed. Data were analyzed through ANOVA, survival analysis (SA), MANOVA, t-tests, ANOVA over time, and Chi square. There were no differences (p>0.05) in BCS and BW, and SA for OC between T. On 15 dpp there were differences for FOLIII between TII and TI; FOLII between TII and TIII (p≤0.01); and FOLIII between TII and TIII (p<0.05). CL were different (p<0.05) on 15 and 45 dpp. On day 45 pp, FOLII were different (p<0.05) between TI, TII and TIII (16.0, 18.1 and 7.7, respectively); likewise, for FOL-II among T. OD was different (p <0.05) on 30 dpp in the left ovary (LO) for TII. Follicular classes and CL were different (p <0.05) in LO during the first 60 dpp. P₄ was higher (p<0.05) in TII during 45 dpp (4.12 ng/mL±1.60) vs. TI (1.42 ng/mL±0.58) and TIII (0.85 ng/mL±0.46). DO decreased (P<0.01) in TII (70.43±10.8 d); TIII (88.4±14.90d) vs. TI (148.7±100,71d). BCS at calving affected TMP (p<0.05). The TMP in TIII, exceeded in 10.5% and 15.2% that of TII and TI, respectively (p<0.05). %MF was different (p<0.05) in TII, at 30 dpp. The inclusion of PUFAs positively influenced OC for FOLII, FOLIII, CL, and left ovary dimensions, favoring TMP, contrary to TI. Inclusion of PUFASs turned out to be beneficial to improve reproductive and/or productive indicators.

Keywords : Reproduction; bovine; production; inert fats; tropics; Carora.

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