Uterine involution does not generally limit cyclicity unless disease conditions occur which delays normal involution. Table 1 . Body condition, level of nutrition, age of cows, milk production, weather, disease, parasites, and other factors will affect the ability to shorten the postpartum interval. Nutrition is probably the easiest way to shorten the postpartum period. As mentioned previously, pre calving is equally important.
Nutritional demands increase greatly in late gestation and even more in early lactation.
There is promising research at Ft. Keogh and other institutions indicating that supplemental fat may have such an effect. Caution should be used with feeding great excesses of other nutrients at this time, protein is a good example, several scientists have shown that excess protein may be detrimental to reproductive performance in cattle because of increased urea content in the reproductive tract which appears to be detrimental to embryonic development. 52 Fat 31 Ionophores such as Bovatec and Rumensin have been shown to influence reproductive performance during the postpartum period. Scientists have also demonstrated that heifers fed an ionophore reach puberty at an earlier age and a lighter weight.