Abstract
The "suckling response" maintains anestrus in beef cows for about 40 to 60 days postpartum. The suckling response remains intact in mastectomized cows, so stimulation of the inguinal area, and not milk flow or teat stimulation, must be part of the response. Cow-calf recognition is part of the suckling response because suckling by cross-fostered calves after nose-to-nose contact followed by suckling of an alien calf does not prevent cycling. We believe the suckling response involves a cow recognizing her own calf, followed by the calf stimulating her inguinal area. It may be possible to initiate estrus by simply blocking the cow's recognition of her own calf.
Highlights
Cows that nurse their calves at least twice daily, similar to cows that nurse their calves ad libitum, have longer intervals to first ovulation than nonsuckled or once daily suckled cows
The suckling response remains intact in mastectomized cows, so stimulation of the inguinal area, and not milk flow or teat stimulation, must be part of the response
Cow-calf recognition is part of the suckling response because suckling by cross-fostered calves after nose-to-nose contact followed by suckling of an alien calf does not prevent cycling
Summary
Cows that nurse their calves at least twice daily, similar to cows that nurse their calves ad libitum, have longer intervals to first ovulation than nonsuckled or once daily suckled cows. Suckled cows in which the mammary glands were denervated to remove a neural component of the suckling stimulus had similar intervals to first postpartum estrus as intact cows with calves. Incidence of ovulation by 12 d after onset of treatments was greater for cows with cross-fostered calves (71%) and those whose calves were weaned previously (67%) compared to cows nursed by their own calves (17%). Since 1987, our objectives have been to determine how the suckling stimulus inhibits the onset of estrous cycles after calving and what physiological components are part of this inhibitory signal. These studies were initiated by Dr Guy Kiracofe and have continued since his departure from Kansas State University in 1991
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