Kasimanickam R, Schroeder S, Assay M, Kasimanickam V, Moore D A, Gay J M, Whittier W D
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2014 Oct;49(5):775-82. doi: 10.1111/rda.12368. Epub 2014 Aug 11.
The objectives were (i) to evaluate the effect of temperament, determined by modified 2-point chute exit and gait score, on artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy rates in beef heifers following fixed time AI and (ii) to determine the effect of temperament on cortisol, substance-P, prolactin and progesterone at initiation of synchronization and at the time of AI. Angus beef heifers (n = 967) at eight locations were included in this study. At the initiation of synchronization (Day 0 = initiation of synchronization), all heifers received a body condition score (BCS), and temperament score (0 = calm; slow exit and walk or 1 = excitable; fast exit or jump or trot or run). Blood samples were collected from a sub-population of heifers (n = 86) at both synchronization initiation and the time of AI to determine the differences in serum progesterone, cortisol, prolactin and substance-P concentrations between temperament groups. Heifers were synchronized with 5-day CO-Synch+ controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol and were inseminated at 56 h after CIDR removal. Heifers were examined for pregnancy by ultrasound 70 days after AI to determine AI pregnancy. Controlling for synchronization treatment (p = 0.03), facility design (p = 0.05), and cattle handling facility design by temperament score interaction (p = 0.02), the AI pregnancy differed between heifers with excitable and calm temperament (51.9% vs 60.3%; p = 0.01). The alley-way with acute bends and turns, and long straight alley-way had lower AI pregnancy rate than did the semicircular alley-way (53.5%, 56.3% and 67.0% respectively; p = 0.05). The serum hormone concentrations differed significantly between different types of cattle handling facility (p < 0.05). The cattle handling facility design by temperament group interactions significantly influenced progesterone (p = 0.01), cortisol (p = 0.01), prolactin (p = 0.02) and substance-P (p = 0.04) both at the initiation of synchronization and at the time of AI. Inter- and intra-rater agreement for temperament scoring were moderate and good (Kappa = 0.596 ± 0.07 and 0.797 ± 0.11) respectively. The predictive value for calm and pregnant to AI was 0.87, and excited and non-pregnant to AI was 0.76. In conclusion, the modified 2-point temperament scoring method can be used to identify heifers with excitable temperament. Heifers with excitable temperament had lower AI pregnancy. Further, cattle handling facility design influenced the temperament and AI pregnancy.
（i）评估通过改良的两点式斜槽出口和步态评分确定的性情对肉牛后备母牛在定时人工授精（AI）后的AI妊娠率的影响；（ii）确定性情对同步化开始时和AI时皮质醇、P物质、催乳素和孕酮的影响。本研究纳入了八个地点的967头安格斯肉牛后备母牛。在同步化开始时（第0天 = 同步化开始），所有后备母牛都接受了体况评分（BCS）和性情评分（0 = 平静；出口慢且行走缓慢，或1 = 易激动；出口快或跳跃或小跑或奔跑）。在同步化开始时和AI时，从一部分后备母牛（n = 86）中采集血样，以确定性情组之间血清孕酮、皮质醇、催乳素和P物质浓度的差异。后备母牛采用5天CO-Synch + 控制内部药物释放（CIDR）方案进行同步化处理，并在取出CIDR后56小时进行人工授精。在AI后70天通过超声检查后备母牛是否怀孕，以确定AI妊娠情况。在控制同步化处理（p = 0.03）、设施设计（p = 0.05）以及按性情评分的牛处理设施设计交互作用（p = 0.02）后，易激动性情和平静性情的后备母牛的AI妊娠情况存在差异（51.9%对60.3%；p = 0.01）。有急转弯和转弯以及长直通道的巷道的AI妊娠率低于半圆形巷道（分别为53.5%、56.3%和67.0%；p = 0.05）。不同类型的牛处理设施之间血清激素浓度存在显著差异（p < 0.05）。按性情组交互作用的牛处理设施设计在同步化开始时和AI时均对孕酮（p = 0.01）、皮质醇（p = 0.01）、催乳素（p = 0.02）和P物质（p = 0.04）有显著影响。性情评分的评分者间和评分者内一致性分别为中等和良好（Kappa = 0.596 ± 0.07和0.797 ± 0.11）。平静且AI怀孕的预测值为0.87，易激动且AI未怀孕的预测值为0.76。总之，改良的两点式性情评分方法可用于识别易激动性情的后备母牛。易激动性情的后备母牛AI妊娠率较低。此外，牛处理设施设计会影响性情和AI妊娠情况。
