Association between antral follicle count and reproductive measures in New Zealand lactating dairy cows maintained in a pasture-based production system

The antral follicle count (AFC) in cattle is consistent throughout the estrous cycle of individual cows, and cows with a lower AFC have lower fertility. We assessed the AFC at random stages of the estrous cycle, examined the correlation between AFC classifications, and determined the relationship between the most rapid and practical laboratory-based AFC classification (AFC of follicles of ≥2 mm in diameter) and fertility measures in New Zealand lactating dairy cows. Cows detected in estrus (n = 202) or not (n = 239) during the first 4 weeks of the breeding season were subjected to ultrasonography and classified as having a high, medium, or low AFC at the time of scanning (on-site classification). Images from ultrasound scanning were recorded onto video for accurate follicle counting in an imaging laboratory. A strong association (P < 0.05) between the AFC of follicles with a diameter of 2 mm or greater and fertility was observed. Cows with a high AFC had a shorter (P < 0.05) interval from calving to conception by artificial insemination (AI; 82.4 ± 1.6 vs. 87.3 ± 1.2 days) and greater pregnancy rates (PRs; i.e., PR to the first AI [68.1% vs. 45.3%], 6-week PR [81.9% vs. 67.3%], and overall PR [91.3% vs. 79.7%]) than cows with a low AFC. The AFC was positively associated (P < 0.0001) with age. Progesterone concentrations during diestrus were greater (P < 0.05) in high-AFC cows (7.6 ± 0.3 ng/mL) than in low-AFC cows (6.5 ± 0.3 ng/mL), whether these were pregnant (7.7 ± 0.3 ng/mL) or not (6.3 ± 0.2 ng/mL). A rapid on-site scoring system determined that cows classified as having a high AFC had a shorter (P < 0.05) interval from calving to the first AI (76.5 ± 1.7 vs. 82.3 ± 1.9 days) and were more likely to show estrus (P < 0.01; 56.8% vs. 36.4%) and have a CL at the beginning of the breeding season (P < 0.01; 93.4% vs. 79.6%) than cows with a low on-site AFC. Collectively, we have confirmed an association between AFC2 and fertility, and these results support the hypothesis that cows with a greater number of antral follicles are more fertile than cows with a lesser number of follicles. Although the on-site classification was related to resumption of estrous cycles after calving, associations with other fertility measurements could not be observed, highlighting a need for further refinement of the on-site classification system for rapid phenotyping of the AFC.