Browsing by Author "Indetie, Annah Hoka"

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    Metabolites and hormones as indicators of postpartum reproductive efficiency of pasture based Friesian dairy cows in Kari-Lanet, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2014-11-28) Indetie, Annah Hoka
    Agricultural production remains the main source of livelihood for rural communities in sub- Saharan Africa, providing employment to more than 60% of the population and contributes about 30% of domestic products. There is a deficit of up to 15 mg /day of metabolisable energy and effective rumen degradable protein of 235g1 day to support desired levels of milk output. This deficit has led to low milk 'production and inefficient reproductive performance of smallholder daily cows. In other parts of the world, influences of Hormones and .metabolites ..on..Iepr.oducti¥€ .perfcrmance .of.daiJ¥ .cattle hase.been .established, In K€ll¥a, information on whether metabolites and hormonal levels are indicators of nutritional levels and reproductive performance of postpartum daily cows is not sufficient. Therefore this study seeks to determine indicators of postpartum ovarian cyclicity in Friesian daily cows. The study will be conducted at KARJ- Lanet within the Rift Valley. Purposive sampling technique will be used to select 30 Friesian cows of parities 1-4 and of body condition score 2-4. The cows will be grazed on Elba Rhodes. Test group cows (20 cows) will be supplemented with 2kg of total mixed ration (TMR) of Bracharia and Dolichos lab lab pre and 4kg of TMR postpartum whereas control group cows (10 cows) will not be supplemented. Water and minerals will be given adlibitum to all cows. Daily milk will be recorded. Cows' weights and •a0dy ,c0nGi~i0n' -seore -will• •re •r-eo0f€led• weekly. •Cal,ving •a0Gy -ceadition will ore recorded. Reproductive data will include days from calving to first observed estrus, days to first service, and conception at first service, and number of services to conception. Blood samples will be aseptically collected into heparinised tubes twice a week from each cow via jugular vein into well labeled tubes and will be centrifuged for 15 minutes at l500xg to give plasma for blood metabolites and hormone analysis. Non-esterified fatty acids, Insulin-like-growth factor-I, will be measured using commercial kits. Twenty milliliters (mls) of evening milk will aseptically be collected into 25mls sample bottles containing sodium azide as a preservative. The milk will be centrifuged at 300 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes and the resulting skimmed milk used for progesterone analysis using lAEAIF AO bench protocal. Plasma Leptin concentration will be determined every 4 days using established methods. Pasture ana .f0tal••mi*ea •rati0B feede -ana-lysi•g -will •ae -done •using wet •chel'Il:-istry to •give chemical composition of the feeds. Milk production, BCS, metabolites and hormonal concentrations will be analysed by mixed procedure (SAS institute Inc. Cary, NC. USA). Turkey Kramer tests will be conducted to analyse differences within and across treatments. Factors affecting the initiation of ovarian cyclicity will be evaluated by regression analysis using backward elimination procedure. The independent variable will be the re-initiation of ovarian cyclicity and the dependent variables will include parity, BCS at parturition, body weight, milk production, total protein, urea, NEFA, IGF-l and leptin. The recommendations of this study could put interventions in place for reproductive efficiency leading to increased milk and meat
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    Metabolites and Hormones as Indicators of Postpartum Reproductive Efficiency of Supplemented Pasture- Based Friesian Dairy Cows at Kalro, Lanet, Nakuru County,Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Indetie, Annah Hoka
    High-yielding dairy cows experience a phase of substantial tissue catabolism in the early postpartum period due to a negative nutritional balance that is partially brought on by inadequate fodder quality and quantity. A significant obstacle to increasing cow production is the requirement for feed ingredients during late pregnancy to sustain the growth of the fetus and lactation following parturition. Metabolic signals and regulatory hormones are linked to the mechanism for the restart of ovulation. The ability of metabolites and hormone levels to predict nutritional condition and postpartum reproductive efficiency in dairy cows in Kenya is unknown. Programs for breeding and feed formulation may benefit from this data. The goal of the study was to determine the role of hormones and feed metabolites as markers of postpartum reproductive efficiency. Twenty cows were supplemented with total mixed ration feed blocks (TMR) twice daily while grazing on Elba rhodes grass for eight hours/day. Ten in-calf cows served as the control; they grazed on Elba rhodes grass for eight hours without supplementation. Body condition scoring was done every fifteen days. Gestation period, calf sex, milk production, and days to postpartum heat were recorded. Analysis of feeds' chemical composition and digestibility were conducted. Skimmed milk was prepared and kept at 4°C until time for laboratory analysis. Jugular venipuncture was used to obtain blood samples into ethylene diamine tetraacetate polystyrene tubes. The blood was spun at 1500 rpm for 15 minutes to release plasma which was stored at -20°C until time for laboratory analysis. Radioimmunoassay was used to track postpartum ovarian activity using skimmed milk. Data was analyzed using statistical analysis system (2010). The results showed that neutral detergent fibre of feeds used in this study ranged from 39.5±0.04 % to 41.7±6.7%. Nutrient components that highly positively correlated with metabolisable energy were protein, methionine, and lysine. Supplementation significantly influenced (p<0.05) metabolite and hormonal levels. Body condition score at calving was higher among test cows (2.9±0.1) than the control (2.5±0.1). Test cows produced significantly higher percentage (80%) of female calves than the control (20%). The test cows took significantly shorter gestation period (278.4±1.0 days) than the control (284.1±1.1 days). The test cows registered higher mean daily milk yield (9.1 L) than the control (5.3 L). Test cows cycled earlier (50.4±0.90 days) than the control (62.7 ±2.0 days). The test cows had significantly less number of insemination to conception (1.35) than the control cows (2.7). Insulin like growth factor-1(IGF) and insulin reduced with advanced pregnancy, with the test cows having significantly higher values than the control. Glucose decreased with advanced pregnancy reaching threshold day 15 postpartum with the test cows having higher values. Commencement of luteal activity concided with low levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Luteal activity progesterone was positively highly correlated to IGF-1(p < 0.001, r2=0.672), and glucose (p < 0.001, r2=0.634) but highly negatively correlated to NEFA (P=0.001, r2 = -0.689) and BHB (P=0.001, r2=0.679). Glucose, NEFA, IGF-1, and BHB are good indicators of postpartum reproductive efficiency. Data generated from this study is useful in reducing calving interval. Supplementation of in calf cows with quality feed is recommended to reduce calving intervals.
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    Milk Progestrerone levels as indicators of Reproductive Deficiencies among dairy cows at KARI and Manara Farms in Nakuru District,Kenya
    (2011-08-01) Indetie, Annah Hoka
    Herd fertility is evaluated by the percentage of pregnant females over a period of time after exposure to bulls. Low milk production, long calving intervals, and low percent conception among all breeds of cattle call for identification of reproductive deficiencies. Progesterone is responsible for regulation of oestrus cycles by its negative feed back mechanism and maintains pregnancy among in- calf cows. Normally it is 0 nmol/[, at oestrus, 4.5±0.3 nmol/L 10 days after oestrus and 0 nmol/L at 21 days after oestrus for non-in calf cyclic cows. The current study was designed to determine the relationships between milk progesterone levels and reproductive status of Friesian dairy cows. Correlation between milk progesterone levels and conception/non-conception, embryo loss and other reproductive deficiencies were determined. The study enrolled 50 milking Friesian dairy cows randomly selected in two farms: - KARI-Lanet and Delamere, Manera farms in Nakuru district, Kenya. The cows were divided into three treatments as follows: Test group comprised 30 open cows fifteen at each farm, negative control group comprised 5 open cows at each farm and positive control group cows comprised 5 in-calf cows at each farm. All the cows were tested for milk progesterone levels 2 days before synchronization. Test and negative control cows were synchronized for heat using prostaglandin F2 a (PGF2a) at 2mls/cow. Sixty three percent of the synchronized cows exhibited heat within an average of 2.6 days and were inseminated using semen from one bull. Milk samples were collected from each cow every day for 62 days and assayed for progesterone levels using radioimmunoassay technique. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Analyzing System version 8.2 and the means were separated using student Newman Keul test. There was high correlation between progesterone levels and reproductive deficiencies with differences between in-calf and non in-call cows (r= 0.8, P<0.05). Progesterone levels ten days after artificial insemination significantly differed (P<0.05) among treated cows and controls; the levels indicated cyclicity or non-cyclicity. Cyclic cows had an average progesterone levels of 3.5 nmol/L while non-cyclic cows had average progesterone levels of 0 nmol/L. Milk progesterone levels among cows 21 days after insemination varied significantly (P<0.05). The levels were 8.2±0.6 nmol/L, 0.6±0.2 nmol/L, and 0.6±0.2 nmol/L for in calf, non-in calf cyclic cows and silent heat cows respectively. Cows with embryo loss and cystic ovary had mean progesterone levels of 0.2 nmol/L and 4.2±0.9 nmol/L respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in progesterone levels for non-cyclic cows and cows with cystic ovary. Reproductive deficiencies detected included silent heat (24%), cystic ovary (8%), and non-cyclicity (15%), heat while in calf (16%), non-conception (20%) and embryo loss (17%). There was significant interaction (r=0.86, P<0.05) between age, body condition score, and reproductive deficiencies with higher conception rates (P<0.05) in cows below 7 years of age of body condition score 3. The results of this study suggest that in order to improve herd reproductive efficiency, cows above 7 years should be culled. Milk progesterone levels proved useful in detection of reproductive deficiencies; however the method is effective only 10 days after insemination for cyclicity/non-cyclicity and 21 days for conception/non-conception and other reproductive deficiencies.