Journal of Animal Science, Vol 76, Issue 3 871-879, Copyright © 1998 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Influence of hypo- or hyperthyroidism on ovarian function in Brahman cows

G. V. De Moraes, H. R. Vera-Avila, A. W. Lewis, J. W. Koch, D. A. Neuendorff, D. M. Hallford, J. J. Reeves and R. D. Randel
Texas A&M University Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Overton 75684, USA.

Multiparous Brahman cows (n = 21) were randomly assigned during late fall within BW and body condition score (BCS) to receive either 3.0 mL of corn oil (C; n = 7), 3.0 mg/(cow x d) triiodothyronine (T3) s.c. in 3.0 mL of corn oil (HYPER; n = 7), or 4.0 mg/(kg x d) 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU; fed with concentrate) plus 3.0 mL/d corn oil (HYPO; n = 7). Water, minerals, and Coastal bermudagrass hay were available free choice, and all cows received 3.2 kg x cow(-1) x d(-1) of 5:1 corn:soybean meal concentrate. The feeding period extended through three normal estrous cycles. Blood samples were collected weekly during the first and second estrous cycle, or until d 42 for anestrous cows, and daily throughout the third cycle. Also, between d 9 and 14 of the third cycle, or after d 35 in anestrous cows, intensive samples were collected at 2-h intervals for 24 h. Serum T3, thyroxine (T4), and progesterone (P4) were measured in weekly and intensive samples, and cortisol, insulin, GH, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured in intensive samples. The altered thyroid status of HYPER and HYPO cows was evident (P < .001) during the third estrous cycle in mean daily T3, T4, and intensive TSH (P < .001) concentrations. Changes in BW and BCS were influenced by treatment (P < .001). A greater (P < .001) proportion of HYPER cows exhibited abnormal cycle length, and three of seven cows became anestrous. For cows that continued normal cycles, treatment did not affect (P > .05) the number of follicular waves, diameter of the dominant follicle, diameter of the ovulatory follicle, or P4 profiles during the third cycle. Insulin and GH concentrations did not differ (P > .05) among treatments in intensive samples, but, mean cortisol was greatest (P < .02) in HYPER cows. For Brahman cows that maintained normal estrous cycles, induced hyper-or hypothyroid status did not influence ovarian function.

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