Livestock Studies 2018, Vol 58, Num, 1     (Pages: 014-021)

Effect of Temperament on Fertility in Cows and Heifers

Musa Eren Karasoy 1 ,Ergun Akçay 1

1 Ankara Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Dölerme ve Suni Tohumlama Anabilim Dalı, Ankara - In this study, it was aimed to determine whether there was an effect on fertility of the temparement and behaviour patterns of heifers and cows during artificial insemination(AI). The animal material was provided from different farms. 45 heifers and 112 fertile cows used in this study. Animals were examined for clinical signs of oestrus by visual observation and rectal palpation. Temperament groups of animals were determined by taking into consideration the period of time of AI. Temperament was collected into 4 groups; very good, good, bad and very bad temperaments. Pregnancy rates from 1st,2nd, 3rd inseminations, total and insemination index were determined. According to this, pregnancy rates from 1st insemination of heifers in very good, good, bad and very bad temparements were 76%, 37% ve 40% resp. But in the group of very bad temperament heifers, pregnancy from 1st insemination has not occured. Same values in the cows were 54%, 42%, 20% and 23% resp. When total pregnancy rates examined, while pregnancy rates in the groups of very good temparement heifers and cows were determined as 76% and 80% , in the group of very bad temparement heifers and cows were 26% and 46% resp. Differences between groups were found statistically (chi square, fischer exact) significant (p<0.001). Same way, when the insemination index values examined, it was observed that bad-tempered heifers and cows need more insemination from good-tempered heifers and cows. As a result, this study showed that in the applications of AI, calm temperament animals didn`t create the problem according to grumpy animals. Consequently, after AI higher pregnancy rate was obtained from calm temperament animals. So, the temperament in animals were determined to be important in duration of AI and increasing the rate of pregnancy. Keywords : Heifer, Cow, Temparement, Artificial Insemination, Fertility