The ability of an animal to reproduce is the main locomotion of the whole dairy industry. It is in fact the main source to gain profit through one calf crop every year. A cattle with a strong, healthy reproductive system and an industry with good infrastructure, contribute to profitability actively and passively.
A cow is introduced with the productive cycle by parturition. During this, the cow needs a frequent cycle of conception with calving for healthy lactation. Therefore, the better and more robust the system for reproduction, the better is the dairy industry. These factors add extreme value to the reproduction of cattle, which necessitates a strong reproductive pattern for syncing with the market. When the reproduction is not good it can have several reasons behind it, one of which is repeat breeding. Breeding cattle multiple times can be harmful to their health and it can be impactful on other aspects of the industry.
What is a Repeat Breeder Cattle / Cow?
A cow that does not have an irregular estrous cycle, does not suffer from any palpable clinical abnormalities, is able to be bred regularly. The cattle should be under the age of 10 years, should not have uncharacteristic vaginal discharge, and come to heat regularly but do not conceive.
It is wiser to prevent such diseases by detecting the loopholes in managing cattle health. The following are the symptoms to prevent a cattle from being affected by repeat breeding, in order to avoid a huge financial loss.
What are the symptoms of Repeat Breeding in Cattle?
Reproduction Failure:
Reproduction failure of a cattle or a pregnant cow is the worst symptom of repeat breeding. It affects the reproduction system, the cow’s health, and consequently lactation. Hence, it impacts dairy production. Extreme use of synthetic hormones to provoke breeding can also be detrimental to the cow’s health as well as the dairy product quality. For these reasons, a cow with a fit reproductive system is needed to be reared properly.
Complicated Eostrus Cycle:
A cow with repeat breeding syndrome may have an oestrus cycle with medical complications. Multiple unhealthy breeding and over lactation in exploiting nature can be harmful and be a symptom of repeat breeding. However, it can also draw the symptoms of RBS.
Delayed Conception:
A cow has a specific time period for conception. The conception is on time for healthy cattle. If the conception is late or extremely out of the time track, it is the time to check up for an RBS. A delayed conception passively affects the whole industry circulation as well as the delivery chain for the delay in lactation.
The following are the number of visible Causes of Repeat Breeder Cattle ( RBS):
1. Genetics:
One reason could be genetic abnormalities passed on from a parent animal to a child animal. Repeat breeding also happens with such inheritance of the factors and reflects the cattle health while lactation period and pregnancy.
2. Age:
Fertility is active and passively impacted by the age of the cow as it matters to the health of the cow. As per the veterinarians, the older cows suffer from relatively impactful repeat breeding syndrome while the fertility.
3. Uterine infection and repeated estrous cycles:
Uterine health with zero difficulties is a plus point for cattle’s fertility, conception, and calving. From an industrial perspective, the uterine cycle will be affecting cattle health, dairy production, and meat quality. The diseases like uterine infections, endometriosis, pyometra, etc. can be caused.
4. Congenital anatomical defects of the genital tract:
The oocyst growth, sperm transmission, and implantation of the same contribute to the congenial atmosphere, to which, the reproductive canal is a vital part. Hence, any of such failures will make an ill effect on the process of breeding and may result in the functional dispute of the cattle organs, which caused repeat breeding.
5. Improper ovarian function:
Cows develop unwanted ovarian function due to improper diet, intake of unhealthy substances, etc, which cause a harmful interruption in the ovarian process and cause repeat breeding.
How is Repeat Breeding Treated in a Cattle?
1. Bolstering the oestrus (heat) detection:
In order to manage cattle health and avoid repeat breeding, oestrus detection is required early and accurately. In most cases, the dairy farms lack an exact oestrus detection system by the right timing. A cow is supposed to be under observation for 30 minutes every day to find out the signs of heat. The absence of this awareness is a good reason to increase the critical conception.
2. Administration of GnRH at insemination
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is responsible for the growth in a cattle body. It is injected into the animal before detecting the oestrus in the body. This is a synthetic and external hormone, which is passively responsible for reducing the symptoms of repeat breeding.
3. Nutrition
Healthy nutrition is always a smart upgrade for your cattle’s health. During the various phase of the cattle’s health, it requires continuous flow is nutrients, proteins, and energy sources, lack of which impacts the health of the cattle. The cattle owner should keep them in good care and maintain cleanliness, avoid stressful work in order to maintain the optimum body condition score.
Following the above-mentioned things, does not only prevents the repeat breeding symptoms but also holds the good health of the cattle overall.
What is the maximum number of breeding times when it comes to a Cow?
Theoretically, a cow can breed a minimum of once and more than that if in case she is quick at rebreeding. Wise and aware management of cattle health can rear them to be friendly with breeding multiple times.
The dairy industry sometimes forces th cattle to breed by applying synthetic hormones, which is very harmful if unguided. However, if a cow is breeding after the end of its calving period, it can give birth within the next 365 days. Therefore, any medical investment in cattle health is the most important investment in the whole industry, the key to which is the cattle with a healthy reproductive system.
