Table 7.
Embryo characteristics of lactating Holstein cows based on BW change from first to third week postpartum (values presented as mean ± SEM)
| Item | Quartile group1 | P-value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||
| Lost BW+: fourth quartile | Lost BW: third quartile | Maintained BW: second quartile | Gained BW: first quartile | ||
| Corpora lutea (no.) | 18.4 ± 2.6 | 18.4 ± 1.7 | 19.0 ± 1.7 | 16.0 ± 2.0 | 0.67 |
| Total ova/embryos (no.) | 9.6 ± 2.5 | 10.6 ± 1.7 | 6.4 ± 1.2 | 7.4 ± 1.4 | 0.31 |
| Fertilized structures (no.) | 7.6 ± 2.1 | 7.3 ± 1.1 | 4.8 ± 1.1 | 5.8 ± 1.4 | 0.43 |
| Degenerated embryos (no.) | 2.7 ± 0.7a | 1.7 ± 0.7ab | 0.7 ± 0.2b | 0.6 ± 0.2b | 0.02 |
| Quality 1 and 2 (no.) | 4.2 ± 1.4 | 5.3 ± 0.9 | 3.9 ± 1.1 | 4.9 ± 1.4 | 0.47 |
| Quality 1, 2, and 3 (no.) | 4.9 ± 1.6 | 5.6 ± 0.8 | 4.1 ± 1.1 | 5.3 ± 1.4 | 0.49 |
| Fertilized (%) | 76.9 ± 7.1 | 77.0 ± 6.6 | 77.6 ± 7.6 | 78.4 ± 7.1 | 0.99 |
| Degenerated (%) | 35.2 ± 8.5a | 12.6 ± 4.6b | 14.5 ± 6.3b | 9.6 ± 3.7b | 0.02 |
| Quality 1 and 2 (%) | 38.0 ± 8.7b,B | 61.3 ± 8.2ab,A | 60.6 ± 9.4ab,A | 63.4 ± 8.6a,A | 0.14 |
| Quality 1, 2, and 3 (%) | 41.7 ± 8.8b,B | 64.4 ± 8.2ab,A | 63.1 ± 9.3ab,A | 68.9 ± 8.7a,A | 0.13 |
| Degenerated of fertilized (%) | 46.9 ± 9.6a,A | 17.4 ± 6.4b,B | 24.8 ± 9.3ab,A | 16.2 ± 7.0b,B | 0.04 |
| Quality 1 and 2 of fertilized (%) | 48.4 ± 9.5b | 78.3 ± 6.6a | 72.6 ± 9.5a | 77.7 ± 7.4a | 0.05 |
| Quality 1, 2, and 3 of fertilized (%) | 53.2 ± 9.6b,B | 82.6 ± 6.4a,A | 75.2 ± 9.3a,AB | 83.8 ± 7.0a,A | 0.04 |
| Recovery rate (%) | 45.6 ± 7.4 | 55.1 ± 6.9 | 35.4 ± 6.7 | 45.3 ± 5.8 | 0.25 |
a,b
Values within a row with different superscript lowercase letters differ at P < 0.05.
A,B
Values within a row with different superscript capital letters differ at P < 0.15.
1
Fourth quartile = most BW (BW+) loss.