Effects of Selenium Injection on the Reproductive Performance of Holstein Dairy Cows

Abstract

but Abstract | This study aimed to determine the effects of selenium (Se) injection on 1) the Se concentration in blood, 2) the body condition score, 3) the number of artificial fertilizations per conception, and 4) the days open of dairy cows. In the conduct of the study, forty-two (42) Holstein cows were divided into control and treatment groups. The treatment groups were classified based on the parity of the dairy cows (2 ∼ 3, 4, 5, and 6 ∼ 7 parity). The control group was fed with basal diet while the treatment groups were fed with basal diet plus 40 mL of Se injection. The results showed that the Se concentration in blood was greater in treatment groups than that in the control group (p<0.05). The average Se concentrations in 2 ∼ 7 parity treatment groups and the control group were 0.24 and 0.16 mg/L, respectively. The effects of Se injection on the number of artificial inseminations per conception and on the days open of dairy cows, on the other hand, resulted to be lower in the treated cows compared to the untreated cows or control group. The average number of artificial inseminations per conception in the 6 ∼ 7 parity treatment group (1.50) lowered by half than the control group (3.67). The treated cows also showed a decrease in days open as compared to the untreated cows. The days open decreased by an average of 13.35 days in the treatment groups (126.96 days) compared to the control group (140.31 days). In conclusion, these results indicate that the injection of Se to dairy cows might affect the parameters of their reproduction such as the number of artificial inseminations per conception and days open.