Caracterización de la detección de celos en fincas lecheras especializadas de Costa Rica

Abstract

Heat detection represents a limiting factor for reproductive performance in dairy cattle. To characterize this problem in Costa Rica, a study on 72 dairy herds was carried out. All lactations recorded from July 1^st, to June 30^th, 2004 in the VAMPP Bovino information system, were used as data. For this study, the unobserved heat (UH) was defined as the absence of a heat recorded before 70 days after the parturition. The average of oestrus / cow / lactation was 3.4, whereas for the calving interval it was405.8 days. The calving-first heat and calving-conception (days open) intervals, averaged 50.1 and 126.1 days respectively. Almost 30.8% of the cows presented unobserved heat at least once during the analysis. The percentage did not show a detectable pattern in its year to year analysis, within a rank of 27.4% to 32.8%, averaging 29.9% Holstein cows and half-breed Holstein / Jersey cows (H4*J4) had the highest frequency of UH, with 46.5% and 28.7% respectively. According to the number of lactactions, no important differences in the percentage of UH were noted; and according to the type of delivery, almost 31% of the cows with normal parturition had UH. Finally, an important increase in the frequency UH within the high-producing cows was observed; thus, 41.4% of cows over 6100 Kg/ 305 days presented UH. In conclusion, the averages for the different reproductive parameters evaluated, demonstrate problems of heat detection in dairy farms in Costa Rica. Although these problems are not exclusive to Costa Rican dairy herds, it is necessary to look for solutions for such worldwide problem that affects the local scope this strongly.