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Abstract
Overall reproductive performance and associated periparturient disorders were monitored in a herd of British Friesian cross dairy cows from September 1987 to August 1988. Pregnancy diagnosis and cyclical status of the herd was determined by palpation of the ovaries per rectum. A total of 49 (110) cows were randomly treated with Sepia 200c either on day 14(19) or 21 days (30) postpartum.
Statistical analysis of the results was based on the differences between the control and combined Sepia-treated groups. Although there were significant differences in the proportion of heifers calving in each group, there was no significant difference in periparturient disorders or during the pre-service period.
However, in the Sepia Group that held a lower proportion of heifers, a significant difference was found in the conception rate to 1st service (47%), the percentage of cows in calf (90%) and total culling rate (10%) compared to the Control Group (26%, 72% and 28% respectively). A reduction (non significant) was found between the Sepia and Control services to conception (0.2), calving to conception interval (5 days) and calving index (2 days).
The results of this pilot study appear to demonstrate a difference in effect between the Sepia-treated Group and Control Group. The study has been extended to treat a larger number of dairy cows to examine the reproducibility of these results.
