Reproductive Performance of Holstein Cows Receiving Somatotropin

Some dairy producers resist using bovine somatotropin (bST) beginning at 9 wk postpartum because of the concern that fertility is compromised. We conducted a trial with a total of 205 Holstein cows, 100 multiparous and 105 primiparous, to evaluate reproductive performance in two high producing herds in Arizona and southern California. Rolling herd averages for both herds for milk production exceeded 10,700 kg/yr. Data were collected for cows calving December 1996 through August 1997. The voluntary waiting period was 60 d postcalving, with cows randomly assigned to receive bST or no treatment (controls). In the 180-d interval after calving, 65.4% (68/104) of the control cows were diagnosed pregnant. With bST-treated cows, 48.5% (49/101) were pregnant in that same interval. A chi-square value from a linear model indicated that pregnancy outcome differed significantly between treatment groups. With a similar method of analysis, first-service conception rate was not significantly different between treatment groups. An extended voluntary wait and breeding interval is recommended for cows receiving bST, similar to suggestions from other published reports.