Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle

This study aimed to clarify the association between the percentage of follicle number by size over antral follicle count (AFC) and subsequent reproductive performance. A total of 306 Japanese Black cattle underwent timed artificial insemination (TAI) 41–62 days postpartum; the AFC and numbers of sma...

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Main Authors: Shiori Saito KOHIGASHI, Mizuho UEMATSU, Go KITAHARA, Takeshi OSAWA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Society for Reproduction and Development 2025-05-01
Series:The Journal of Reproduction and Development
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Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrd/71/3/71_2024-075/_pdf/-char/en
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author Shiori Saito KOHIGASHI
Mizuho UEMATSU
Go KITAHARA
Takeshi OSAWA
author_facet Shiori Saito KOHIGASHI
Mizuho UEMATSU
Go KITAHARA
Takeshi OSAWA
author_sort Shiori Saito KOHIGASHI
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to clarify the association between the percentage of follicle number by size over antral follicle count (AFC) and subsequent reproductive performance. A total of 306 Japanese Black cattle underwent timed artificial insemination (TAI) 41–62 days postpartum; the AFC and numbers of small, medium, and large follicles were recorded 10 days before TAI. The cross-sectional and blood flow areas of the dominant follicle (DF) on the day of TAI and the corpus luteum (CL) six days after TAI were recorded. The total number of follicles ≥ 2 mm was defined as the AFC, and the percentages of follicle number by each size defined as small (S-AFC%; 2–2.9 mm), medium (M-AFC%; 3–8.4 mm), and large (L-AFC%; ≥ 8.5 mm) follicles. The AFC and S-, M-, and L-AFC% were further grouped into low, medium, and high tertiles, and the subsequent reproductive performance compared among the groups. Plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were quantified on the day of AFC measurement. No differences were observed in reproductive performance between the AFC and L-AFC% groups. The high-S-AFC% group showed a 20.6% lower conception rate, 0.58 more AI numbers, and 21.9 longer days open than those of the low-S-AFC% group (P < 0.05). The low-M-AFC% group showed an 18.0% lower conception rate after TAI and 0.54 more AI numbers than those of the high-M-AFC% group (P < 0.05). DF and CL parameters did not differ among the AFC, S-, M-, and L-AFC% groups. Plasma AMH levels in the low-AFC group were the lowest in the tertile. In conclusion, the percentage of follicles by size could be used to estimate subsequent reproductive performance.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0916-8818
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language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher The Society for Reproduction and Development
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spelling doaj-art-c08f0d3dd5ed4ed99804304c6589c31e2025-08-20T03:26:16ZengThe Society for Reproduction and DevelopmentThe Journal of Reproduction and Development0916-88181348-44002025-05-0171317518410.1262/jrd.2024-075jrdPercentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattleShiori Saito KOHIGASHI0Mizuho UEMATSU1Go KITAHARA2Takeshi OSAWA3Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, JapanMiyazaki Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Miyazaki 880-0852, JapanLaboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, JapanLaboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, JapanThis study aimed to clarify the association between the percentage of follicle number by size over antral follicle count (AFC) and subsequent reproductive performance. A total of 306 Japanese Black cattle underwent timed artificial insemination (TAI) 41–62 days postpartum; the AFC and numbers of small, medium, and large follicles were recorded 10 days before TAI. The cross-sectional and blood flow areas of the dominant follicle (DF) on the day of TAI and the corpus luteum (CL) six days after TAI were recorded. The total number of follicles ≥ 2 mm was defined as the AFC, and the percentages of follicle number by each size defined as small (S-AFC%; 2–2.9 mm), medium (M-AFC%; 3–8.4 mm), and large (L-AFC%; ≥ 8.5 mm) follicles. The AFC and S-, M-, and L-AFC% were further grouped into low, medium, and high tertiles, and the subsequent reproductive performance compared among the groups. Plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were quantified on the day of AFC measurement. No differences were observed in reproductive performance between the AFC and L-AFC% groups. The high-S-AFC% group showed a 20.6% lower conception rate, 0.58 more AI numbers, and 21.9 longer days open than those of the low-S-AFC% group (P < 0.05). The low-M-AFC% group showed an 18.0% lower conception rate after TAI and 0.54 more AI numbers than those of the high-M-AFC% group (P < 0.05). DF and CL parameters did not differ among the AFC, S-, M-, and L-AFC% groups. Plasma AMH levels in the low-AFC group were the lowest in the tertile. In conclusion, the percentage of follicles by size could be used to estimate subsequent reproductive performance.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrd/71/3/71_2024-075/_pdf/-char/enantral follicle countjapanese black cattlepercentage of follicle number by sizereproductive performance
spellingShingle Shiori Saito KOHIGASHI
Mizuho UEMATSU
Go KITAHARA
Takeshi OSAWA
Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
The Journal of Reproduction and Development
antral follicle count
japanese black cattle
percentage of follicle number by size
reproductive performance
title Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
title_full Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
title_fullStr Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
title_full_unstemmed Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
title_short Percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
title_sort percentage of follicle number by size over the antral follicle count and its association with subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle
topic antral follicle count
japanese black cattle
percentage of follicle number by size
reproductive performance
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrd/71/3/71_2024-075/_pdf/-char/en
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AT gokitahara percentageoffolliclenumberbysizeovertheantralfolliclecountanditsassociationwithsubsequentreproductiveperformanceinbeefcattle
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