Reproductive performance of beef cattle with ovarian hypofunction and repeat breeding in Jepara Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Reproductive disorders keep the beef cattle population in Jepara Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, from increasing. Ovarian hypofunction and repeat breeding are the most common reproductive disorders, leading to large economic losses for traditional breeders. However, the impact of poor reproductive performance among traditional breeders is not well-known. This study aimed to investigate the reproductive performance of beef cattle with ovarian hypofunction and repeat breeding in Jepara Regency.

Materials and Methods: We determined cattle’s reproductive status by rectal examination and anamnesis, assessing
reproductive performance in 28 cows with repeat breeding and 27 cows with ovarian hypofunction. The following parameters
were measured: Postpartum estrous (PPE), days open (DO), service per conception (S/C), and calving interval (CI). The
data came from livestock records from animal recording cards, iSIKHNAS, and estimated births from the insemination date that produced a pregnancy.

Results: In beef cattle diagnosed with ovarian hypofunction, S/C, PPE, DO, and CI were 1.28, 257 days, 265 days, and
18 months, respectively. The length of CI caused by long PPE may be due to improper nutrition and calf weaning delays.
In beef cattle with repeat breeding, S/C, PPE, DO, and CI were 4.15, 106 days, 210 days, and 16 months, respectively. The length of CI was caused by long DO due to pregnancy failure at the first estrus.

Conclusion: Hypofunction and repeat breeding reduce the reproductive performance of beef cattle in the Jepara Regency. The cows’ health conditions pre- and postpartum can be optimized by providing high-quality feed to enhance reproductive performance.