Livestock Research: Dairy Research Group

About Us | Current Projects | Factsheets and Extension Articles | Publications | Presentations

Our Vision

Mission Statement

About Us

Who we are
Divakar Ambrose - Research Scientist
Marcos Colazo - Research Scientist
Gobikrushanth Mohanathas - Research Technician (Part-time)

What we do
Our team conducts original, applied and adaptive research on improving reproductive efficiency of dairy herds, with particular focus on:

Increasing herd pregnancy rates through the application of fixed timed artificial insemination
Developing strategies to reduce embryonic losses in dairy cows
Nutritional management of the transition dairy cow
Creating and evaluating new tools for use in reproductive and health management
Factors influencing early embryonic development in dairy cattle

Why we do it

Poor reproductive efficiency of dairy cows is a major problem facing the dairy industry
The typical dairy cow has a production cycle of only 2.5 lactations
Reproductive failure is the Number 1 reason for culling of dairy cows
Improved herd reproductive efficiency can increase cow longevity and economic returns

Current Projects

Evaluation of automated monitoring systems on reproductive physiology and performance of Holstein heifers. The overall objectives of this project are to quantify in a real setting the economic benefits of automated activity monitoring systems and improve our understanding of how the intensity of estrus activity affects fertility in heifers inseminated with sex-selected and conventional semen.
Developing and validating metabolomic biomarkers for transition diseases in dairy cows. The objective is to screen blood samples to identify metabolomics biomarkers predictive of disease problems associated with transition dairy cows. Samples were collected from 1096 cows from 11 dairy farms in Central Alberta as part of a GF2 initiative led by Marcos Colazo.
“Understanding the role of dietary lipids on reproductive and immune function of dairy cattle” Nutritional management of reproductive function in dairy cattle is an important area of research. Dietary fats and long chain fatty acids are known to have beneficial effects on reproductive function, early embryonic development and immune function but many aspects remain unknown. This project aims to improve our understanding of the effects of including dietary oilseeds during late gestational period on postpartum reproductive function, health and immunity. The role of fatty acids on embryo development will also be investigated.
“Evaluating new reproductive phenotypes in dairy cattle for genomic selection to improve fertility” Poor fertility of dairy cows is a major challenge to the dairy industry. Although reproductive traits have poor heritability and consequently received less importance in conventional genetic selection processes, the recent introduction of genomic selection programs for dairy breeds holds much promise for improving fertility. This research aims to identify genetic markers associated with a variety of new reproductive phenotypes (physiological traits) that have important roles in the regulation of reproductive function in dairy cattle.
“Development of a biosensor to determine in milk various species of interest to the dairy industry”. The sensor technology is based on the "etalon" structure that has been developed at the University of Alberta by Dr. Michael Serpe. This project will determine if this technology is capable of determining in milk the concentration of progesterone and estradiol. This biosensor technology could be used in the future as a cow-side test device or be incorporated in an in-line testing system to continuously monitor dairy cows for reproductive performance. We believe this technology has a huge potential as herd health diagnostic tool and cost saving.
“Aromatase Inhibitors: A new approach for improving reproductive performance in dairy cattle”. Our overall objective is to develop an effective and affordable method of controlling the estrous cycle to improve reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle that directly addresses government regulatory concerns and consumer demand for hormone-free meat and milk products. The study will be done in collaboration with Dr. Gregg Adams from the University of Saskatchewan.
Optimizing a 5-d TAI protocol to improve the fertility of sexed semen in dairy heifers” Several experiments are being conducted to develop an effective and affordable method of controlling the estrous cycle to enhance the use of sexed semen in dairy heifers.

Factsheets and Extension Articles

Postpartum body condition score change and performance in Western Canadian dairy cows.
K. Macmillan and M. Colazo, 2017. Controlled breeding programs for heifers. Vetoquinol article.
D.J. Ambrose (August 2016). Omega-3 fatty acid rich flaxseed, fish oil may boost fertility. Progressive Dairyman magazine.
Dairy research summary - The ovulatory follicle in dairy cows: size matters.
Feed restriction before calving negatively affects fertility in dairy cattle.
Combining ultrasonography and cytology can assist in assessing uterine inflammation.
Issues and suggestions for improvements in reproductive management in Alberta dairy herds.
Simplifying the Cosynch protocol while achieving acceptable pregnancy rates in heifers.
Lack of behavioural change during estrus in tie-stall housed cows limits pedometer efficacy.
Unsaturated fatty acids enhance early embryonic development in dairy cows.
Lower pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows fed a ration containing flaxseed
Timed-artificial insemination programs: Is shorter better?
D.J. Ambrose and M.G. Colazo (May 2011) Reproductive Boost. Milk Producer. p. 36-39.
D.J. Ambrose (2006) Does timed insemination really work? A mega analysis of over 11,000 inseminations. Western Dairy Digest (Spring Issue); 7(3):18.
D.J. Ambrose (2005) No barrier to breeding – The right treatment can overcome ovarian cysts to get cows pregnant. The Milk Producer 81 (5) 24-26.
D.J. Ambrose and J.P. Kastelic (2005) Effects of modifying a timed-insemination protocol (Ovsynch) on pregnancy rates in dairy cows. Action Fax. Dairy Farmers of Canada. Jan 14, 2005.

Publications

Click link for a list of book chapters, articles and other publications

Presentations

Oral Presentations

Year	Meeting	Presenter	Title
2016 Jun	International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Tours, France	Irene L�pez-Helguera	Maternal age but not parity affected daughter's fertility during first lactation
2016 May	XXI congreso Internacional de Medicina Bovina, Santiago de Compostela, Spain	Irene L�pez-Helguera	Relationshiop between metabolic profiles and ovarian follicular function in dairy cows
2016 Mar	American Chemical Society 251st National meeting, San Diego, USA	Yaxin Jiang	Detection of progesterone and estradiol using Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel-based biosensors
2015 Jul	I Simposio Internacional en Avances en Reproducci�n Bovina, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico	Marcos Colazo	Nutritional managements that affect cattle fertility. Manejos nutricionales que afectan la fertilidad del ganado (in Spanish)
2015 Jul	I Simposio Internacional en Avances en Reproducci�n Bovina, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico	Marcos Colazo	Postpartum uterine infections: definitions, prevalence, impacts and treatments. Problemas uterinos posparto: definici�n, prevalencia, impacto y tratamiento. (in Spanish)
2015 Jul	I Simposio Internacional en Avances en Reproducci�n Bovina, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico	Marcos Colazo	How to achieve high pregnancy rate in dairy herds. Como lograr altos �ndices de pre�ez en los hatos lecheros. (in Spanish)
2015 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer	Marcos Colazo	Is synchronization here to stay or will new technologies soon rule the day?
2015 Feb	University of Alberta, Edmonton	Marcos Colazo	Reproductive management in beef herds
2014 Apr	ESPE, Santo Domingo, Ecuador	Marcos Colazo	The bovine estrous cycle. (in Spanish)
2014 Apr	ESPE, Santo Domingo, Ecuador	Marcos Colazo	Protocols for timed-AI in Bos Taurus cattle. (in Spanish)
2014 Apr	ESPE, Santo Domingo, Ecuador	Marcos Colazo	Basic and applied aspects of transrectal ultrasonography in cattle reproduction. (in Spanish)
2014 Mar	Webinar Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development	Marcos Colazo	An update on timed-AI (TAI) programs for dairy cattle.
2014 Feb	Universidad Nacional de la Pampa, General Pico, Argentina	Marcos Colazo	The role of the veterinary profession and Alberta Agriculture on research and livestock production in Alberta, Canada. (in Spanish)
2013 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar	Marcos Colazo	New research in controlled breeding programs for dairy cattle.
2012 Oct	Universidad Cat�lica, Temuco, Chile	Marcos Colazo	Reproductive management of dairy herds in Alberta, Canada.
2012 Oct	Universidad Cat�lica, Temuco, Chile	Marcos Colazo	Practical uses for transrectal ultrasonography in reproductive management in cattle.
2012 Aug	17th International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Vancouver, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Effect of eCG on fertility to GnRH-based TAI protocols in Bos Taurus cows. Workshop: Use of eCG in beef and dairy cattle.
2012 Aug	17th International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Vancouver, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Ovulatory follicle in lactating dairy cows: size matters?
2012 Mar	Talk to producers. Airdrie, AB	Marcos Colazo	Estrus and ovulation synchronization in beef heifers
2011 May	Universidad Austral, Valdivia, Chile	Marcos Colazo	Strategies to improve reproductive efficiency in dairy cows.
2011 May	Universidad Austral, Valdivia, Chile	Marcos Colazo	Estrus synchronization treatments in cattle.
2009 Sep	VIII Simposio Internacional de Reproducci�n Animal, C�rdoba, Argentina	Marcos Colazo	Protocols for synchronization of estrus and ovulation in lactating dairy cows.
2009 Sep	VIII Simposio Internacional de Reproducci�n Animal, C�rdoba, Argentina	Marcos Colazo	Protocols for synchronization of estrus and ovulation in beef heifers.
2008 Mar	II Xornada de Reproducci�n Bovina, Galicia, Spain	Marcos Colazo	Use of hormonal treatments to synchronize estrus and ovulation in heifers.
2008 Mar	II Xornada de Reproducci�n Bovina, Galicia, Spain	Marcos Colazo	State of the art of bovine embryo transfer. (in Spanish)
2008 Mar	Meeting with veterinarians, producers and students. Talavera de la Reina + Leon + Villacarriedo + Gij�n, Spain	Marcos Colazo	Reproductive management of dairy cows.

Poster Presentations

Year	Meeting	Presenter	Title
2018 Sep	IRRS	Marcos Colazo	Modifications of a 5-d GnRH-based timed-AI protocol to optimize fertility in Holstein heifers inseminated with sex-selected semen
2018 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	M. Gobikrushanth	Relationships among postpartum body condition score change and productive and reproductive performance in Alberta dairy cows
2018 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	M. Gobikrushanth	Associations among available fertility indexes and reproductive performance in Alberta dairy cows
2018 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Is predicted transmitting ability for productive life associated to prevalence of early postpartum disorders in Alberta Holstein cows?
2018 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	Kira Macmillan	Is rectal temperature an effective tool to decide when to treat early lactation dairy cows?
2017 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Benchmarking Early Postpartum Disorders in Alberta Dairy Herds
2017 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Trace minerals in the dry period associated to postpartum metabolic and reproductive disorders in Dairy Cattle
2017 Jan	International Embryo Technology Society, Austin, USA	Reuben Mapletoft	Evaluation of a modified GnRH-based timed artificial insemination protocol associated with estrus detection in cyclic beef heifers inseminated with sex-selected semen
2016 Jun	International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Tours, France	Marcos Colazo	Plasma progesterone concentration at TAI in dairy cows: What is low enough?
2016 Jun	International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Tours, France	Marcos Colazo	Relationship between nutritional and metabolic profiles and pregnancy status after first AI in lactating dairy cows
2016 Jun	International Congress of Animal Reproduction, Tours, France	Irene L�pez-Helguera	Maternal age but not parity affected daughter's fertility during first lactation
2016 Jan	International Embryo Transfer Society, Kentucky, USA	Marcos Colazo	Initial Gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment increased pregnancy per timed insemination only in acyclic beef heifers subjected to a 5-day Co-synch protocol
2016 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Novel sensor technology for progesterone and estradiol detection in milk samples
2016 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	Marcos Colazo	Modifications of the Heatsynch Protocol for Natural-service Breeding in Dairy Cows
2016 Mar	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Canada	M. Gobikrushanth	Endometritis Affected Fertility but not Dry Matter Intake or Milk Yield in Dairy Cows
2015	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	P. Dutra	Evaluation of iVET electronic birth alert device as a calving management tool for dairy cows
2015	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	A. Behrouzi	Colostrum quality: Effect of parity, volume and collection time
2015	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	I. L�pez Helguera	Risk factors associated with dystocia in a tie stall dairy herd
2015	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	P. Dutra	Fatty acids in reproductive tissues of dairy cows fed diets supplemented with rolled canola, sunflower or flaxseed
2015	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	R. Salehi	Feeding oilseeds during late pregnancy in Holstein cows increased gestation length, dystocia, calf birth weight, and colostrum immunoglobulin content size
2015	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	R. Salehi	Effects of prepartum diets supplemented with rolled oilseeds on milk production and reproductive performance in dairy cows.
2015	3rd International Congress of Large Animal Practitioners, Tehran, Iran	Marcos Colazo	A new ovulation synchronization protocol (Estradoublesynch) improves fertility in heat-stressed lactating Holstein cows
2015	3rd International Congress of Large Animal Practitioners, Tehran, Iran	Marcos Colazo	Prostaglandin F2alpha administration before G6G increased synchronization rate in Holstein dairy cows
2014	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	Marcos Colazo	Twin pregnancies: An observational study from two Alberta dairy herds.
2014	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	A. Behrouzi	How does porcine luteinizing hormone increase pregnancy rates in dairy cows?
2014	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	R. Salehi	Serum from Cows Fed Flaxseed Advanced Embryo Development from Lower Quality Oocytes In Vitro
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	R. Salehi	A prepartum diet supplemented with rolled canola seed reduced pituitary sensitivity to GnRH in dairy cows during second week postpartum
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	R. Salehi	A prepartum diet supplemented with rolled sunflower seed increased calf weight, the incidence of dystocia and colostrum immunoglobulin content in Holstein cows
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	R. Salehi	Adding sera enriched in PUFA with different n-6/n-3 ratio advanced bovine in vitro embryo development from both high- and inferior-quality oocytes
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	A. Behrouzi	Luteinizing hormone (LH) profiles after either porcine LH or GnRH treatment in Holstein cows with or without FSH-stimulation
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	C. Straathof	Investigating RFI interactions upon pregnancy diagnosis in Angus heifers
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	C. Straathof	Investigating RFI and diet interactions upon ADG, body weight, rib and back fat thickness in pregnant Angus heifers
2014	Annual Meeting of the International Embryo Transfer Society, Reno, Nevada, USA	R. Salehi	Superovulatory response and embryo production in Holstein cows fed diets enriched in oleic, linoleic or α-linolenic acid
2014	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting. Kansas City, MO, USA.	C. Fitzsimmons	Pregnant beef heifers categorized by residual feed intake measured in adolescence exhibit differential intake and feeding behaviors when fed a restricted diet
2013	Western Nutrition Conference, Saskatoon, SK	R. Salehi	Adding flaxseed-fed-cow-serum to culture medium advanced in vitro bovine embryo development
2013	Livestock Gentec Conference	A. Behrouzi	Gene Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Family Members in Granulosa Cells of Bovine Preovulatory Follicle Exposed to Bovine or Porcine Luteinizing Hormone
2013	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	Marcos Colazo	Pregnancy per AI in Holstein heifers inseminated with sexed semen after detected estrus or timed-AI
2012	17^th International Congress of Animal Reproduction. Vancouver, Canada	D.J. Ambrose	Cows diagnosed with ovarian cysts derive no benefit from progesterone supplementation but conceive normally to a GnRH-based timed A.I. protocol
2012	17^th International Congress of Animal Reproduction. Vancouver, Canada	M.G. Colazo	Ovulatory follicle in lactating dairy cows: size matters?
2012	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	Marcos Colazo	Fertility in dairy cows subjected to two different intervals from presynchronization to initiation of Ovsynch protocol
2012	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, Alberta	E. Subramaniam	Replacing barley grain with wheat DDGS (dry distillers grains with solubles) reduced multiple ovulations in postpartum dairy cows
2011	Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Animal Science, Halifax	C.A. Felton	Evaluation of the Afimilk Pedometer Plus Tag system for predicting estrus in dairy cows housed in tie-stalls.
2011	Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Animal Science, Halifax	C.A. Felton	Evaluation of the Afimilk Pedometer Plus Tag system for predicting parturition in dairy cows housed in tie-stalls
2011	29^th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB.	C.A. Felton	Does flooring surface affect estrous behaviour in lactating dairy cows?
2011	29^th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB.	C.A. Felton	Does age or lactation affect the expression of mounting behaviour in dairy cattle?
2011	29^th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB.	Marcos Colazo	Pregnancy establishment in dairy cows supplemented with progesterone before and after timed-AI
2011	29^th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB.	Marcos Colazo	Association between endometrial cytology and uterine ultrasound findings in postpartum dairy cows
2010	Dairy Day held at the Dairy Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta South Campus, Edmonton, AB	C.A. Felton	Flooring surface and estrous behaviour in dairy cows
2010	21^st International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, Vancouver, BC	A. Cameron	Fixed Time Artificial Insemination in Cyclic Gilts Synchronized with Porcine Luteinizing Hormone (pLH)
2010	28^thWestern Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB	Marcos Colazo	Does the length of progesterone treatment in heifers matter?
2010	28th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB	C.A. Felton	Evaluation of the Afitag pedometer system for estrus detection and calving predictability in dairy cows.
2010	28th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, Red Deer, AB	D.J. Ambrose	Cows with cystic ovary conceive normally to Ovsynch/ timed AI.
2010	Banff Pork Seminar	A. Cameron	Synchronizing ovulation for fixed time artificial insemination in cyclic gilts with porcine luteinizing hormone.
2009	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar	B. L. Dyck	Effects of Supplemental Dietary Starch on Productivity and Reproductive Performance in Postpartum Dairy Cows.
2009	ADSA/CSAS/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting.	Marco Colazo	Plasma LH concentrations and CL function in Holstein cows given procine LH, GnRH, or estradiol benzoate
2008	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar	M.G. Colazo .	Increased pregnancy rates in dairy cows following a modified Ovsynch/TAI protocol.
2008	Western Canadian Dairy Seminar	M.G. Colazo	Dry period diets affect postpartum reproductive performance of dairy cows.
2008	Annual meeting of the International Embryo Transfer Society	J. Small	FSH at CIDR removal does not affect pregnancy rate to a CIDR-based, Cosynch protocol in lactating beef cows

For more information about the content of this document, contact Miranda Smit.
This information published to the web on November 17, 2014.
Last Reviewed/Revised on January 29, 2019.