Effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin A, D3, E, and garlic on heat detection, pregnancy rate, and serum profile in anestrus dairy cows

Abstract

Anestrus poses substantial challenges for dairy industries worldwide. This research aims to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation with garlic alone, vitamins A, D₃, E alone, and their combination on heat detection, pregnancy rate and serum profile in anestrus dairy cows. Using a completely randomized design, this study, conducted over 327 days, evaluated 72 anestrus-affected cows, which were divided into four groups. T₀ (Control) received only normal saline; T₁ with vitamin A,D₃,E; T₂ with Garlic and T₃ integrated with A, D₃, E + Garlic in drinking water. Results demonstrated that the treatment groups exhibited significantly higher estrus signs (p < 0.05) compared to the control. The pregnancy rate was also increased (P = 0.059), especially in the T₃ group which had the highest heat detection (55.55 %), conception (70 %), and pregnancy (38.88 %). In comparison, the heat detection rate for T₁ was 44.44 %, while the conception rate for T₂ was 66.66 %. Additionally, T₀ exhibited the least proportion across all parameters. Additionally, the elevated BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and blood glucose levels observed in non-responsive (those not showing signs of heat) cows at 32.51 and 43.65 mg/dl respectively, compared to responsive cows (those showing signs of heat) with levels of 22.40 and 51.34 mg/dl. These findings suggest a potential association between these blood parameters and the cyclicity of dairy cows. These findings highlight that oral supplementation with vitamin AD₃E+Garlic significantly improves the heat detection rate and pregnancy rate than only administering vitamin AD₃E or Garlic with anestrus in dairy cattle.