| Abstract: | Ovaries were obtained at slaughter from 12 Holstein dairy cows at 15, 25 or 35 days after their 4th calving. Non-atretic and atretic antral follicles were separated into 6 size classes according to size and the numbers in each class were expressed as a percentage of the total for each ovary. Non-atretic follicles of diameter 0.16-0.28 mm decreased from 27.5% at Day 15 to 1.5% at Day 35 whereas those of 0.29-0.67 mm and 0.68-1.57 mm diameter increased from 37.4 to 47.2% and from 11.5 to 17.3% respectively (all P less than 0.05). The proportions of follicles measuring 1.58-3.68, 3.69-8.56 and greater than 8.56 mm remained almost constant. The atretic follicles of 0.29-3.68 mm varied significantly in number according to the post-partum interval and to whether they were in the ovary containing the CL of pregnancy. It is concluded that the CL of pregnancy and/or the conceptus have a carry-over effect on the rate of growth of the antral follicles even after parturition. |
