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A Study of Ovulations in Six Families of Holstein-Friesians¹

The University of Wisconsin and Bureau of Dairy Industry, Madison, Wis.

ABSTRACT

The incidence of multiple ovulations in the Emmons Blaine, Jr. herd of experimental Holstein cows was found to be 13.10 per cent, while the incidence of twinning was 1.92 per cent, a highly significant difference. The incidence of multiple ovulations was not significantly influenced by reproductive period, family, or length of time after parturition. There was a significant monthly variation in frequency of multiple ovulation in the first reproductive period and the monthly variation in the second period approached significance, being high in May and low in September in both cases. A highly significant tendency for multiple ovulations to follow in sequence was found. Significantly higher fertility was noted when cows were bred at an estrus from which only a single corpus luteum was formed as compared to an estrus from which two or more corpora lutea were formed.

The incidence of "quiet" ovulations (44.3 per cent) was significantly higher during the first 60 days after parturition than during the period 61 to 308 days post-partum. During this latter period their incidence was still sufficiently high (11.0 per cent) to constitute an important problem to the breeder.

Of the ovulations 56.5 per cent were from the right ovary. Studies of family and parity failed to show any significant deviations from this ratio. No apparent tendency was found for cows to have a systematic sequence of ovulations from one ovary or the other.

¹ From the Department of Genetics (Paper no. 477) and Department of Dairy Husbandry; published with the approval of the director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. The study was supported in part by a grant from the Research Committee of the Graduate School from funds supplied by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and by a grant from The Emmons Blaine Jr. Fund. Contributions from the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station as a collaborator under the North Central Regional Cooperative Research Project entitled Dairy Cattle Breeding (NC2). This work has been done under a cooperative agreement between the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station and the Bureau of Dairy Industry, U.S.D.A. The funds contributed by the Bureau of Dairy Industry came as an allotment from the Research and Marketing Act.

² Formerly agent of the Bureau of Dairy Industry; present position: Superintendent of Advanced Registry of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America, Brattleboro, Vt.

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