Postpartum reproductive efficiency in cows supplemented with rumen bypass fat*

Abstract

Postpartum infertility due to negative energy balance is a major problem among the high producing cows, incurring a huge economic loss. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of bypass fat on the reproduction and production parameters of high yielding crossbred cows with or without postpartum hormonal induction of oestrus. The trial was conducted with four experimental groups of six cows each (GI – control, GII- 200 g bypass fat, GIII – 200 g bypass fat daily + Ovsynch protocol, GIV – Ovsynch protocol alone). The animals in GII and GIII were observed to be superior in milk production parameters viz. peak yield (P<0.05), and day of attaining peak yield (P<0.01).There was a significant increase in conception rate in GII and GIII (animals fed with bypass fat) compared to GI and GIV (p<0.05). The calving to conception interval was significantly reduced in those animals fed with bypass fat. The relative economic benefit in animals fed with bypass fat (GII and GIII) was higher compared to others. It was observed that bypass fat feeding is an economically viable and environment-friendly recommendation for improving the productive and reproductive performance of dairy animals.

Keywords

• crossbred cows
• ovsynch
• conception rate
• techno-economics