Event-time analysis of the effect of season of parturition, parity, and concurrent disease on parturition-to-conception interval in dairy cows

Abstract

Objective - To quantify the effect of season of parturition, parity, and various diseases on time to conception. Design - Event-time analysis (survival analysis). Sample Population - 44,450 cows delivering calves between September 1985 and September 1986, from 6,227 Ayrshire dairy herds in 80 Finnish communities. Procedure - Primiparous and multiparous cows were analyzed in separate Cox proportional hazards models for postpartum days 56 to 120 Occurrence of 43 diseases or disorders was recorded; codes were condensed into 25 variables offered to each model. Season of parturition was categorized into spring, summer, and fall-winter; for multiparous cows, 3 categorical variables represented parity. Models controlled for 60-day milk and milk fat production, herd milk production, and community. For all observations, parturition-to-conception interval was plotted against calendar day of parturition. Results - For multiparous cows, parturition in the spring or summer and being of parity 2 or 3-4 (vs older) increased the chance of conceiving; 10 diseases or disorders decreased this probability. Similarly, in the model for primiparae, parturition in spring or summer increased the probability of conception, and 6 disorders decreased it Disorders that were detrimental in both models were anestrus, ovulatory dysfunction, other infertility, late metritis, and clinical ketosis. Conclusions - The effect of season on the partuntion-to-conception interval was marked at this latitude. Parturition during late April, causing confluence of post-par turn day 55 with the summer solstice, was associated with the shortest parturition-to-conception intervals. Ketosis was found to be an important factor in lengthening the parturition-to-conception interval, highlighting the effect of negative energy balance on post-partum restoration of reproductive function.