Follicular population, quantity and quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes of cows grazing in three seasons of the year in the Mexican tropics
Abstract
The high temperatures and relative humidity of recent years have cause heat stress in cattle, which mainly affects animals in grazing systems. The objective of this research was to determine the follicular population, quantity and quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes in grazing cows during three seasons of the year in the northern regions of Chiapas, Mexico. The study was conducted in three climatic seasons: fresh- humid, hot-dry, and hot-humid. A total of 416 ovaries were used (FH=225, HD=100, and HH=91), from crossbred cows (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) from grazing systems. The number of corpus luteum, follicular population, and the quantity and quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes, which were also classified as viable and non- viable, were analyzed. The study variables were analyzed using the generalized linear models. No statistical difference was observed, by ovary, for corpora lutea (P ≥ 0.05); with means of 0.35 ± 0.04 (27.3%), 0.46 ± 0.06 (35.9%), and 0.47 ± 0.07 (36.8%) for the fresh-humid, hot-dry, and hot-humid seasons. The season significantly affected medium follicles (P ≤ 0.003), small follicles (P ≤ 0.001), and total follicles (P ≤ 0.001), but not large follicles (P ≥ 0.05). A season effect was observed for all COCs variables (P ≥ 0.05), as well as for the cumulus-oocyte complexes viable and non-viable (P ≤ 0.002). According to the observed results, the highest fertility of crossbred bovine females occurs during the fresh-humid season, which can be used to schedule breeding and implement reproductive biotechnologies.
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