Bioscientifica Proceedings

The New Zealand (NZ) economy and its dairy industry are sensitive to global consumer perception of farming practices used to generate milk products because milk exports account for >25% of national export earnings and >90% of milk produced is exported as products. Astute management of product image and market risk is, therefore, important for the viability of the industry and country. More than 95% of milk produced in NZ comes from strictly seasonal, pastur...

In the current review the main fundamental biological differences in reproductive function between Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle are discussed. Breed differences regarding puberty, estrous cycle patterns, estrous behavior, acquisition of ovulatory capacity, ovarian structures and reproductive hormones are presented. The main physiological differences that Bos indicus cattle present relative to Bos taurus cattle include: delayed age at pu...

Poor reproductive efficiency is a worldwide problem affecting the dairy industry. There is substantial evidence for an association between high milk production and lower conception rates observed in cows compared to heifers. However, whether the decline in fertility is due directly to the level of milk production or other factors associated with lactation is unclear. There are various checkpoints along the developmental axis which could, in part, contribute to reduced fertilit...