Direct genomic value daughter pregnancy rate and services per conception are associated with characteristics of day-16 conceptuses and hormone signaling for maternal recognition of pregnancy in lactating Holstein cows

• Published in: Applied Animal Science 2022-04, Vol.38 (2), p.157-169
• Main Authors: Liebig, Bethany E., Bishop, Jeanette V., McSweeney, Kevin D., Van Campen, Hana, Gonzalez-Berrios, Carolina L., Hansen, Thomas R., Thomas, Milton G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: cattle; conceptus; embryo mortality; interferon tau; pregnancy
• ISSN: 2590-2865; 2590-2865
• DOI: 10.15232/aas.2021-02225

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that sorting Holstein dairy cows with high direct genomic value for daughter pregnancy rate (DGV-DPR) and low services per conception records improves interferon tau production and endometrial signaling for maternal recognition of pregnancy. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 86) were sorted by DGV-DPR into high- and low-fertility groups with the Clarifide (https://www.zoetisus.com/animal-genetics/dairy/clarifide/clarifide.aspx#) DNA test and low and high services per conception from farm records. High-fertility nonpregnant (NP) cows were not inseminated (n = 7) and served as controls. High-fertility pregnant (HP; n = 7) and low-fertility pregnant (LP; n = 6) cows received timed AI. Conceptuses, uterine flushings, endometrial biopsies, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected on d 16 of pregnancy or the estrous cycle. Conceptuses from HP cows were longer (P < 0.05) than those from LP conceptuses. Concentrations of interferon tau in uterine flushings were greater (P < 0.05) in HP compared with LP and NP cows, positively correlated with DGV-DPR (r = +0.68; P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with services per conception (r = −0.59; P < 0.05). Endometrial ISG15 mRNA and protein were upregulated (P < 0.05) in HP compared with NP. Low-fertility pregnant cows had intermediate endometrial levels of ISG15 mRNA between HP and NP, and ISG15 protein tended (P < 0.10) to be greater in LP compared with NP cows. This tendency was also observed for increased ISG15 in HP compared with NP in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results supported the hypothesis and provided evidence to suggest that Holstein cows with greater DNA-based DGV-DPR values and fewer services per conception have increased conceptus length and enhanced signaling for maternal recognition of pregnancy.