Factors Affecting Days Open, Gestation Length, and Calving

Interval in Florida Dairy Canle1

H. M. SILVA,2 C. J. W1LCOx,3 W. W. THATCHER
R. B. BECKER,4an d D. MORSES
Dairy Sclenoe Department
University of Rorida
GalnesviBe 32611

ABSTRACT were greater than 1.0 and estimated as

unity. Results show no discrepancy be-
Effects of several factors on reproduc-
tween estimates for measures of repro-
tive performance were evaluated. Mean
ductive perfonnance in a subtropical en-
performance and number of observations
vironment and numerous studies in
were for days from parturition to first
temperateareas.~eswdiesfrrnnsu~
service, 93 and 7730; days from first to
tropical areas are sparse; essentially none
successful service, 35 and 11,751; days
open, 123 and 8571; gestation length, concerns long-term trends.
280 and 13,612; and calving interval, (Key words: Florida, subtropical. repro-
~ and 8524. Data covered 52 yr during
duction)
~hich no detectable trends in calving
mterval occurred; other variables INTRODUCTION
changed slightly. Jerseys had 8 fewer d
Genetic and environmental effects on dairy
from parturition to first service, 16 fewer
cattle reproductive performance in temperate
d from first service to conception. 8
climates have been amply researched. A re-
~ewer d open, and 8-<1 shorter calving
view by Call and Stevenson (3) suggested that
mtervals than did Guernseys and Hol-
average calving intervals in the US were about
steins, which did not differ. Cows fresh-
13.5 mo. Coleman et aI. (4) found 13.7 mo in
ening in wann rather than cool weather
suffered by 7, 7, 12, and 13 d for these 70 DID herds and 13.0 mo in untested herds.
Variation between 12 to 15 roo had little effect
variables. Repeatabilities ranged from
on annual income over feed costs, according to
.05 to .12; heritabilities were .05 and .06.
Holmann et al. (11), but costs associated with
Nonmaternal estimate of heritability of
days open indicated that 13 mo was optimal.
gestation length was .22. Phenotypic and
Review by Call (2) suggested that annual re-
genetic correlations between days from
turn over feed costs was maximum with calv-
parturition to fIrst service and calving
ing intervals of 12 and 13 mo and declined
interval were .48 and .87; for days open
with longer intervals. Estimates of mean time
and calving interval, they were .97 and
.96. Although days from first to success- from parturition to fIrst service usually are 70
to 90 d (4, 10, 14). Most estimates of repeata-
ful service were essentially uncorrelated
with days open and calving interval bility and heritability of various measures of
phenotypically (.05), genetic correlations reproductive efficiency are less than .15 and
.05 a, 12). Dong and Van Vleck (6) used the
REML expectation-maximization algorithm to
estimate heritability of calving interval of .15,
Received May 31, 1991. which they indicated was slightly higher than
Accepted July 12, 1991.
IFiorida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Se-
estimates in the literature by different estima-
ries Number R-01613. tion procedures.
2Escola de Veterinaria cia UFMG, ~Belo F~w large studies have characterized repro-
Horizonte, Brazil ductive performance of dairy cows in a su~
3Correspoodiog author.
tropical environment, however. For Florida
4neceUed.
SDepaJtmcnt of ADimal and Range Science. North DHI cows (more than 94% Holsteins), Webb
Dakota State University, Fargo 58105-5727. (17) found average minimum projected calving

1992 J Dairy Sci 75:288-293 288

 SUBTROPICAL FEMALE REPRODUCTION 289
TABLE 1. Least squares estimates of mean reproductive performance by breed, lactation number, season, and year.

Parturition First service Days Gestation Calving

Effect to first service to conception open length interval
Breed
Jersey 87** 24 116** 278*- 394--
Holstein 95 45 124 280 401
Guernsey 95 35 125 282 402
Lactation l
1 97**2 45•• 3 121*.,4 280.7.,4 398.,4
2 96 36 116 281.4 393
3 95 29 117 281.5 394
4 94 28 116 281.6 392
5 93 28 118 281.5 394
6 90 34 116 281.3 393
7 91 35 123 281.4 406
8 88 39 119 281.3 391
9 86 27 119 281.9 397
SeasonS
Warm
Cool
96-·
89
38--
31
128--
116
280
280 405--
392
Year6 .8403** +.2501** -.2A76& .0806** _.096Ob
Overall 7 92 34 122 280 399
OverallS 93 35 123 280 400
Observations, no. 7730 11,752 8571 13,612 8524
lLactations greater than 9 not presented.
1rend was linear.
~rend was cubic.
"Trends were quadratic.
Swarm = March to August; cool = September to February.
6values are linear regression coefficients for years; &1' < .06; b1' < .48.
7Overall least squares mean.
SArithmetic mean.
*1' < .05; (or breed, Jerseys differed from Holsteins and Guernseys, which did not differ from each other.
**1' < .01; (or breed, Jerseys differed from Holsteins and Guernseys, which did not differ from each other.

intervals to be 424 d for 1988 to 1989; days
open, 144; days from parturition to first ser-
vice, 77. Objectives of the present study were
to quantify genetic and environmental factors
affecting reproductive performance of Hol-
stein, Jersey, and Guernsey cattle in Florida.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Florida climate, source and collection of
data, and statistical analyses of this data set are
described by Silva et al. (15). Briefly, Florida
generally is classified geographically as tropi-
cal but climaticologically as subtropical (5).
Data were from seven Florida dairy farms and
included parturitions over a 52-yr period, 1923
to 1974. Number of observations varied with
response variable from 7730 to 13,612 (Table
1). Data were analyzed by method of ordinary
least squares using standard computer pack-
ages (1, 8). The mathematical model to esti-
mate environmental effects included farm,
breed, farm by breed, year, parity, season, and
sex of calf. Trends over time were from esti-
mates of year effects. Seasons were defmed as
warm (March through August) and cool, based
on examination of arithmetic means by month
for reproductive traits. For estimation of re-
peatability and heritability and phenotypic and
genetic correlations, the random variables sire
in farm-breed and daughter in sire in farm-
breed were added to the model. Estimation of
variance components was by Henderson's
method 3 (9). Data were reduced and ranged

JOIIrDIll of Dairy Science Vol. 75, No.1, 1992

290
from 3423 to 12,675. Additional two-factor
interactions between fIxed effects were exam-
ined. For those effects for which solutions
could be obtained, none was significant (i.e.,
breed by sex or season, farm by sex or season,
and sex by season). These were deleted from
the final models. Sires were nested within
farms because only natural service was used in
the early years of the study; even after the
advent of AI in Florida in about 1946, there
was little use of sires across herds until years
later. Relationships among sires were not con-
sidered.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Mean Performance
Least squares means and overall arithmetic
means are in Table 1. They agreed closely.
Performance was similar to previous reports
for temperate areas. Days from parturition to
frrst service, and from first service to concep-
tion, do not sum to days open because the data
differed. Several herds reported only success-
ful services during early years of the study.
Arithmetic mean for days open was 123. Mean
gestation length, with a mixture of Jerseys,
Holsteins, and Guernseys, was 280 d. Average
calving interval of 400 d did not suggest an
overall detrimental effect of subtropical cli-
mate on this variable (2, 3, 4, 14).
Breed, Farm, and Breed
by Farm Interactions
Jerseys had fewer days to first service and
from frrst service to conception than did
Guernseys and Holsteins, which did not differ.
Days open likewise favored Jerseys. Shorter
gestation lengths in Jerseys than in Holsteins
are not confirmed in other research; least
squares means were 280.0, 282.6, and 278.3 d
for Holsteins, Guernseys, and Jerseys. Jerseys
had slightly shorter calving intervals (P < .01)
than did Holsteins and Guernseys, which did
not differ. Nieuhof et al. (13) found that Jer-
seys had the shortest calving intervals, 384 to
392 d between parities 1 and 6, followed by
Holsteins (394 to 402 d) and Guernseys (398
to 408 d). Farm effects (not shown) were
significant for all responses (P < .01). This
doubtless reflected variability among farms in
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 75, No. I, 1992
Sn..VA ET AL.
management policies for breeding, and man-
agement expertise, except for gestation length
differences, for which there appears no expla-
nation. Some farms may have been more accu-
rate than others in recording dates. For farm by
breed interactions, only days from parturition
to fust service was significant (P < .01), possi-
bly reflecting differences among farms in their
breeding policies for the three breeds. Guern-
seys appeared on six of seven farms, Jerseys
on four, and Holsteins on three; three farms
had all three breeds.
lactatIon Number
Phenotypic trends were significant for each
response. Days from parturition to first service
decreased linearly with advancing lactation
number at the rate of about 1 d per lactation
(Table 1). Trends were curvilinear for the other
four responses; cubic regression described days
from fIrst service to conception, and quadratic
regression described the remainder. Although
significant, differences in length of gestation
were small; the range was only 1.2 d. Ranges
in days open and calving intervals were 5 and
14 d
Year
Year effects were detected overall (P < .01
or .05) for each response in Table I, although
no trends could be detected for calving inter-
val. Estimates were examined by weighted
least squares analysis of variance (1) to the
third order of polynomial regression. In no
case was the third order statistically significant
(P > .12 to .90). Evidence of curvilinearity
(quadratic) was detected. however, for days
from parturition to first service, days open, and
calving interval. Such might be expected with
the large number of years involved (45 to 50)
and the large number of degrees of freedom for
error (>7000 to >13,(00). Linear trends
described the estimates very well in spite of
the curvilinearity present, however, and are
shown in Table 1. All linear trends were sig-
nificant (days open, P < .06) except for calving
interval (P > .48).
Breeders delayed fust service as time
progressed; it was not unusual in the early
years to inseminate naturally at first estrus
 SUBlROPICAL FEMALE REPRODUCTION 291
postpartum. With the advent of AI, recommen- weather, a higher percentage (57%) were less
dations were to delay first service until 50 to than or equal to 396 d, whereas only 50% of
60 d or more postpartum. Days from frrst those that began in hot weather were less than
service to conception increased slightly, but 396 d.
overall days open decreased. Increases in days
to first service and from first service to con- sex of Calf
ception would lead to increases in days open;
days open decreased, however. The only plau- Effects of sex of calf were detected for
sible explanation for this apparent discrepancy gestation length; males were carried 1.1 d
seems to be in the large variation in the num- longer than females, agreeing with many previ-
ber of observations per response (7730 to ous reports. It was not possible to detect ef-
11,752). The overall change in days from frrst fects of sex, however, on any other measure of
service to conception and days open over the reproductive performance (P > .25). Least
period studied was only about 12 d. The slight squares mean for calving interval was 399 d
but significant increase in gestation length was following birth of either males or females.
unexpected; the total linear change over 50 yr
would be 4 d. No such change in gestation Repeatabllities, Heritabilities,
length has been reported previously to the and Correlations
knowledge of the authors. The change could be
real, resulting from natural selection or from Some loss of data occurred with editing
selection for correlated traits. It could result because of lack of and imperfect sire and cow
from a decrease in premature births over time, identification. Numbers of observations for
which occurred after 250 d but prior to normal these estimates ranged from 3423 to 12,675
parturition. The linear change in average calv- (fable 2). Numbers of sires represented ranged
ing interval over 47 yr was near zero. Calving from 342 to 1184; numbers of cows ranged
intervals in Florida DID cows declined 9 d from 1435 to 4956. Gestation length was con-
from 1969 to 1990, days open by 10 d, and sidered to be a characteristic of the fetus for
days from parturition to first service by 2 d, the estimation of heritability. Hence, the esti-
according to Webb (17). Nationally, Nieuhof mate of .22 from paternal half-sib correlation
et al. (13) found a slight increase in calving should represent nonmaternal genetic effects.
interval from 1966 to 1986. Because gestation lengths longer or shorter
than average are associated with increased
problems at parturition and for other reasons,
Season
attempts to change gestation length by selec-
Detrimental effects of heat stress are repre- tion probably are not warranted. Elsewhere in
sented by an increase of 7 d from parturition to the table, gestation length is considered a char-
first service, 7 d from first service to concep-- acteristic of the cow. Heritabilities of the other
tion, 12 d open, and 13-d calving interval four measures of reproductive performance
following parturitions in warm weather. agreed closely with previous reports; all values
Results suggest a postponement of first normal were .05 or .06. Likewise, repeatability esti-
estrus during the warm season as well as a mates ranged from .05 to .12. Thus, there was
reluctance to conceive once inseminated. no evidence that these estimates differed from
These two factors were of about equal magni- those frequently obtained from traditional tem-
tude. Longer calving intervals of heat-stressed perate dairy areas.
animals were expected (16). Time from parturition to first service was
The change in patterns in days open and more closely related to days open and calving
calving interval can be demonstrated For days interval, with phenotypic correlations of .50
open, a greater percentage of periods equal to and .48, than was days from first to successful
or greater than 84 d occurred in cool weather service, with correlations .05 and .05, as ex-
(37 vs. 30%), whereas there were more periods pected (7). Gestation length essentially was
greater than 84 d in warm weather (70 vs. unrelated to the other measures. Days open
63%). Calving intervals showed the same pat- was highly correlated with calving interval,
tern. Of all calving intervals that began in cool .97. Estimate of genetic correlation between

Journal of Daily Science Vol. 75, No.1, 1992

292 SILVA ET AL.

TABLE 2. Repeatabilities, heritabilities, 1 and phenotypic2 and genetic2 correlations of reproductive ttaits.

Trait
Trait 2 3 4 5
1. Parturition to first service .05 .06 50 -.04 .48
.03
2. First service to conception -.12 .06 .05 .03 .05
.02
3. Days open .86 >1 .05 -.02 .97
.03
4. Gestation3 length -.06 -.23 -.21 .22 .00
.03
5. Calving interval .87 >1 .96 -.29 .05
.03
Repeatability .05 .09 112 .10
.004 .01 .02 .02
Records, no. 3423 6279 4413 12,675 4295
Cows, no. 1435 2334 1725 4956 1652
Sires, no. 342 443 434 1184 435
IOn diagonal with approximate standard error for each.
2Pbenotypic correlations above diagonal and genetic correlations below.
3Considered as a characteristic of the dam except for heritability in which it was considered a characteristic of the
fetus.
4Standard error of intraelass correlation.

days to first service and days from first to
conception was low, -.12. The five remaining
genetic correlations (gestation length excluded)
were high, ranging from .86 to greater than 1.
If true, selection of sires, based on perfonn-
ance of large groups of daughters, could be
effective for the four measures (7). Additional
study seems needed to determine whether
selection is economically justified. Separate
attention would have to be given to gestation
length (as a characteristic of the cow), howev-
er, because of the small negative genetic corre-
lations with it, if any genetic change is desired.
CONCLUSIONS
There were few if any results that were
unexpected, based on numerous previous
reports in temperate dairy cattle areas. Note-
worthy were calving intervals of 394 d in
Jerseys and 401 and 402 d in Holsteins and
Guernseys. Estimates of genetic parameters
were very similar to other published research.
Lack of detectable phenotypic trends in calv-
ing interval over a long period of time suggests
that this measure of reproductive efficiency is
neither deteriorating nor improving. If results
reported here can be extended to other areas of
the subtropics, those genetic and environmen-
tal management programs proven efficient for
temperate areas for reproduction can be trans-
ferred with modest modification.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Contributions of University of Florida
Emeritus Professors P. T. Dix Arnold and A.
H. Spurlock, both deceased, are gratefully ac-
knowledged, as is assistance of University of
Florida Center for Tropical Agriculture and the
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics
Research, Edinburgh, Scotland. Acknowledg-
ment also is given for assistance of owners and
operators of Florida dairy farms, who provided
data for many years.
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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 75, No.1, 1992