Effect of Retained Fetal Membranes on the Reproductive Performance of Holstein Frisian Cows in Northern Gezira Dairy Project (Al Bagair)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of retained fetal membranes (RFM) on reproductive performance of Holstein Frisian cattle reared in the farm of the Arab Company for Agricultural Production and Processing (ACAPP), about 40 km south of Khartoum at Al Bagair area. A number of 1377 recorded cases of (RFM) covering the period from 1990 to 1999 were studied for their effect on reproductive performance under the prevailing management and environmental conditions. The traits examined were calving interval (CI), days open (DO), and number of services per conception (NS\C). Data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance. The results obtained showed that the overall mean (CI), (DO) and (NS\C), were 394 ± 45.87 days, 110.21 ± 45.75 days and 2.81 ± 1.1-63 respectively. The mean (CI) were highly significant (P≤ 0.01) affected by the level of (RFM). The results revealed were (402.73± 47.20, 392.42± 46.48 and 389.07 ± 42.55) at high, medium, and low level of (MS) respectively. The effect of (RFM) on (DO) was highly significant (P≤ 0.01) the results obtained for (DO) were (117.67± 47.46, 107.69± 46.39, and 106.05± 42.22). The effect on (NS/C) was also highly significant (P≤ 0.01). The results obtained for (NS/C) were (3.10± 1.75, 2.71± 1.61, 2.65 ± 1.48) at high, medium, and low level of (RFM) respectively. It is concluded that RFM significantly affected the reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian cows in the farm under study