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A comparison of the effects of progesterone sponges and ear implants, PGF2alpha, and their combination on efficacy of estrus synchronization and fertility of Mashona goat does.

Efficacy of estrus synchronization and fertility after synchronization of 60 multiparous Mashona goat does using intravaginal progesterone (P4) sponges (Group 1), norgestomet ear implants (Group 2), cloprostenol (Group 3), or a combination of P4 sponges and cloprostenol (Group 4) was compared with untreated does (Group 5). At the end of treatments, all does were mated to intact fertile bucks for 21 d. The number of does bred within 11 to 96 h was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the treated groups than the untreated control, with rates of 80, 80, 64, 67 and 30% for Groups 1 to 5, respectively. There were no differences (P > 0.05) among treated does. Kidding rates ranged from 64 to 83% but were not different (P > 0.05) between groups. Prolificacy and overall fecundity were similar (P > 0.05) among the groups. The results indicate that all 4 treatment methods were effective in synchronizing estrus and that none of the methods affected overall fertility of the does.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

An update on estrus synchronization in goats: a minor species.

Estrus synchronization allows for parturition at suitable times to take advantage of niche markets, feed supplies, labor, and rising price trends. In the past, synchronization of estrus in goats has focused primarily on dairy goats to allow for optimal timing of milk production. However, recent interest in meat goat production has resulted in attempts to use dairy goat, sheep, and cattle synchronization regimens in meat goat management systems. Methods of synchronization have included techniques as simple as alteration of light patterns or manipulation of social inputs (i.e., the buck effect) and as complex as varying timed hormonal treatments combined with light alteration and the buck effect. The synchronization of estrus using timed hormonal treatments seems to be more convenient in many meat goat production situations. Examples of hormones used include melatonin, progestogens (administered orally, as an injection, or by using intravaginal releasing devices), gonadotropins/GnRH (or agonists), and PG alone or in combination. As is seen with sheep and cattle, breed and/or breed type, stage of production, and environmental effects can influence synchronization success in goats. The introduction of breeds developed in other countries for rapid growth, such as the Boer goat, and increased consumer and producer interest have added to the impetus for developing cost-efficient and highly effective estrus synchronization regimens. New research is being conducted and various synchronization methods are being attempted in goats, a minor species, and the objective of this paper is to review these efforts.

Administration, Oral↗

Comparison of two estrus synchronization and resynchronization treatments in lactating dairy cows.

Reproductive performance in cows following synchronization of estrus with intravaginal progesterone releasing devices (IVD) has varied with the length of treatment, cyclic status and prolonged return to estrus intervals in some cows following first AI. The objective of this study was to compare two methods of synchronizing and resynchronizing estrus on the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows. Cows were treated with an IVD (Day 0) for 7 days (n = 350) or 8 days (n = 350), cloprostenol (0.5 mg i.m.) at the time of device removal and estradiol benzoate (EB) at the time of device insertion (1.5mg i.m.), and again 9 days later (1.0 mg i.m.). Cows were also resynchronized starting on Days 23 and 46 by reinsertion of IVDs for either 7 or 8 days and treatment with EB (1mg i.m.) at the time of device insertion and again 9 days later. Cows were inseminated on detection of estrus for 4 days after removal of devices at each of the synchronized estrous cycles. No significant differences in reproductive performance were detected between each treatment throughout the study period. Synchrony of estrus was more precise at the first and second estrus after treatment with an IVD for 8 days compared to 7 days. Cows classified as anestrous had lower reproductive performance than cows classified as cycling and had longer intervals to estrus at the second (P < 0.001) and third estrus (P < 0.06), but not at the first estrus (P = 0.09). Mean time to onset of estrus after IVD removal was less in cows treated with an IVD for 8 days compared to 7 days at each synchronized estrus (P < 0.01). More Holstein-Friesian cows were classified as non-pregnant and not detected in estrus than crossbreed cows (15.7%, 54/343 versus 9.0%, 24/266; [P < 0.05). The results of the study suggested that the main effects of the treatments that were used to synchronize and resynchronize estrus were to alter the timing and synchrony of estrus without affecting fertility.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

Effect of the method of estrus synchronization and PMSG dosage on estrus and twinning in Ethiopian Menze sheep.

Mature, cyclic Ethiopian Menze ewes (n=72) were used in this study. They were divided into 6 equal groups in a 2x3 factorial experimental design. Estrus and ovulation were synchronized in all ewes using either 2 dosages of prostaglandin F2 alpha 12 days apart (n=36) or intravaginal progestogen sponges for an equal length of time (n=36). At sponge removal or at the second prostaglandin injection, equal groups of ewes were injected with either 0, 200, or 300 IU of PMSG. Prostaglandin-synchronized ewes exhibit estrus significantly earlier (P=0.025) than the progestogen-synchronized group. Although PMSG treatment increased twinning rates and therefore total number of lambs born, the differences between groups did not reach significant levels (P>0.10).

Journal Article↗

[Use of PGF2alpha and GnRH for estrus synchronization in cattle].

Estrus detection has a tremendous impact on the reproductive efficiency in dairy farms. Recently the systematic use of hormones for synchronization of estrus and ovulation has been propagated. These programs are designed to facilitate estrus detection and/or increase its efficiency. Prostaglandin programs are used to improve estrus detection and reproductive management in dairy operations. All cows are treated up to three times in weekly or biweekly intervals at the end of the voluntary waiting period. This should lead to groups of cows in estrus within two to four days after PG treatment. Since PG programs cannot completely eliminate the need for estrus detection procedures for fixed time artificial insemination (AI) were developed. Fixed time AI not only requires control of the luteal phase of the cow but also synchronization of the follicular development. Treatment with GnRH will induce a new follicular wave and provide a dominant follicle in a defined growth phase at the time of PG administration seven days later. A second injection of GnRH given 48 hours after PG results in ovulation approximately 24 to 32 hours after GnRH (OvSynch-procedure). The pros and cons of hormone programs in dairy farming are discussed in the light of field trials and experiments performed in our department.

Animals↗

Estrus synchronization in dairy goats: use of fluorogestone acetate vaginal sponges or norgestomet ear implants.

The ultimate aim of any estrus synchronization method is to allow artificial insemination at a predetermined time after the end of treatment. This requires a very tight synchronization of estrus which is not observed in goats after administration of the usual fluorogestone acetate (FGA)/prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha/equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) treatment. The possibility to improve the synchronization of estrus and luteinizing hormone (LH) peak with different progestagens (FGA versus norgestomet) and routes of administration (vaginal sponge versus subcutaneous ear implant) was evaluated in two experiments where goats received one of three progestagen treatments: (1) a vaginal sponge impregnated with 45 mg of FGA, (2) a half-implant of norgestomet, or (3) a whole implant containing 3 mg of norgestomet. The progestagens were left in place for 11 days and intramuscular injections of 400 or 500 IU of eCG (according to milk yield) and 50 micrograms of an analogue of PGF2 alpha (cloprostenol) were given 48 h prior to progestagen removal. In Experiment 1, 117 cycling goats were checked for the time of onset of estrus, preovulatory LH peak and ovulation rate following estrus synchronization treatment. Goats treated with half-implants came into estrus earlier than those receiving vaginal sponges (27.8 +/- 5.0 h vs. 33.0 +/- 6.6 h, respectively; P < 0.05). No effect of progestagen priming was observed on the variability of the onset of estrus. However, the interval between the time of onset of estrus and LH peak was more variable (P < 0.05) in goats treated with half-implants. In Experiment 2, 170 non-cycling goats were monitored for the time of onset of estrus, percentage of females ovulating, fertility and prolificacy after estrus induction treatment and artificial insemination with frozen-thawed semen performed 24 h after the onset of estrus. No effect of progestagen treatment was observed either on the time or the variability of onset of estrus. The percentage of goats ovulating and overall fertility rate were higher (P < 0.05) in goats receiving vaginal sponges (98.2% and 75.0%, respectively) than those treated with half-implants (81.8% and 45.5%, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed, for the same parameters, in animals receiving implants (86.3% and 58.8%, respectively). In conclusion, estrus synchronization with a norgestomet implant or half-implant did not reduce the variability in the onset of estrus and LH peak. The fertility tended to be lower in goats treated with a whole implant and was significantly decreased in goats which received a half-implant.

Animals↗

Synchronized estrus and subsequent conception in dairy heifers treated with prostaglandin F2 alpha. I. Influence of stage of cycle at treatment.

When prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was injected (im) at three different stages of the cycle, estrus was synchronized within an 80-h period in a progressively, but nonsignificantly, higher percentage of heifers with each advancing stage: 86.0% at d 7, 90.0% at d 11 and 98.0% at d 15. Estrus was exhibited within a 48-h period for heifers treated on d 7, but extended over a 72-h period for heifers treated on either d 11 or 15. Stage of cycle when PGF2 alpha was injected not only influenced the degree of estrous synchrony, but also influenced (P less than .001) the time of estrous onsets. Within the 24-h interval from 32 to 56 h postinjection, the percentage of heifers exhibiting estrus from treatment on d 7, 11 or 15 varied widely: 88.4, 13.3 and 73.5, respectively. Induction of estrus was complete, or nearly so, by 72 h postinjection for heifers treated during the early (d 7 = 100.0%) or late (d 15 = 95.5%) stage of the cycle, but reached only midpoint for midcycle injections (d 11 = 48.9%), with the remaining one-half (51.1%) occurring 72 to 104 h later. Pregnancies arising from the first through the fifth services among the 150 PGF2 alpha-treated heifers were as follows: 76.0, 10.0, 6.7, 4.0 and .7%, plus failure of pregnancy in 2.7%. These percentages were not different (P greater than .50) from those among the 50 control heifers.

Animals↗

Pregnancy percentage following deposition of sex-sorted sperm at different sites within the uterus in estrus-synchronized heifers.

Our objective was to assess the effect on heifer pregnancy rate of deposition at three sites within the uterus of frozen-thawed sex-sorted sperm at a fixed time after estrus synchronization. Estrus was synchronized in 209 heifers by administration of PGF2a 14 days apart. At 80-82 h after the second PGF2a injection, X-chromosomes bearing fractions of semen with 2.2 x 10(6) sperm in insemination dose were used for single insemination into the uterine body (UB-AI, n=91) or for intracornual deposition in the middle of the uterine horn (MH-AI, n=57) or close to the utero-tubal junction (UTJ-AI, n=61). The overall pregnancy rate was 43.1%. Pregnancy rates did not differ (P>0.05) among sites of sperm sperm deposition, between the two farms at which the heifers were kept or between the two bulls producing the semen. Within UB-AI, MH-AI and UTJ-AI treatments, pregnancy rates were 41.8%, 49.1% and 39.3%, respectively (P>0.05). Pooled across classes for deposition site, pregnancy rate was 25.1% higher (P<0.01) for heifers showing strong signs of estrus than for heifers showing weak signs of estrus (45.9 versus 20.8%, respectively). Embryonic and fetal loss from diagnosis of pregnancy to term and at calving equalled 5.6%. Of 88 calves of identified sex, 93.2% were female. In conclusion, pregnancy rates of heifers did not differ significantly following deposition of 2.2 x 10(6) sex-sorted sperm 80-82 h after the second PGF2a injection near the utero-tubal junction, in the middle of the horn or into the uterine body.

Animals↗

[Methods for synchronizing estrus and selecting recipient heifers in embryo transplantation].

Threefold thorough gynecological investigations were carried out with a total of 108 heifers with normal cycle, which remained uninseminated--in their choice, treatment with hormonal preparations, and transplantation of embryos, reducing their number up to 76. With the first test group of 35 heifers estrus was synchronized with implants, containing 3 mg norgestomet each. On the 9th day these were removed, and the heifers were injected with 500 IU PMSG (Intervet) each. The animals of the second test group (73 in number) were injected with 7.5 mg prostaglandin F2-alfa at 11-day intervals. The conception rate was 31 per cent higher with heifer-recipients treated with norgestomet implants and serum gonadotropins. Death was established with 47 transplanted embryos (61.8 per cent). With 19 embryos (25 per cent) death set in on the 21st day, and with 28 ones (26.8 per cent)--within the period of the 60th days of pregnancy up to calving. In 17.10 per cent of the transplanted embryos migration was seen toward the opposite horn, on the side of which the ovary contained no yellow body.

Animals↗

Efficiency of single-sire mating programs with beef bulls mated to estrus synchronized females.

Efficiency in reference to pregnancy rates of breeding beef bulls with estrus synchronized cows and heifers was tested. Most bulls (104 of 112) were given a breeding soundness examination and two 10-min libido/serving capacity tests. Females received either Syncro-Mate-B (SMB) or two injections of Prostaglandin F(2)alpha (PGF) to synchronize estrus. They were assigned to single-sire breeding groups with bull-to-female ratios ranging from 1:7 to 1:51. Control groups consisted of untreated females maintained in single-sire breeding pastures with ratios from 1:24 to 1:37. Continuous observations of sexual activity were made for 30 h (SMB) and 48 h (PGF). After the 120-h posttreatment breeding period, females were placed in breeding pastures. During the synchronized breeding period the percentage of pregnant cattle of total treated was 43.5 +/- 1.7% compared (P < 0.01) with 58.9 +/- 3.3% for the control group after 23 d of breeding. At end of 28-d (treated) and 46-d (control) period, the percentage of pregnant females was 75.0 +/- 2.4 and 79.6 +/- 4.7, respectively (P > 0.05). In SMB trials, the percentages of females exhibiting estrus, those serviced at estrus and those pregnant following service during the synchronized breeding period were 90.8 +/- 1.5, 73.3 +/- 4.5 and 56.4 +/- 5.6%, respectively. In PGF trials, the means for these same factors were 78.3 +/- 2.4, 70.4 +/- 5.9 and 56.1 +/- 6.5%, respectively.

Journal Article↗

Estrus synchronization efficiency of PGF2alpha injection in Shorthorn-Hereford and crossbred Charolais cattle not having exhibited estrus at 4 or 7 days prior to treatment.

The objective of this study was to compare the estrus synchronization efficiency of PGF2alpha in cattle (n = 470) not having shown estrus for 4 (D4 treatment) or 7 d (D7 treatment) after onset of the breeding season. The physiological status of crossbred Charolais cows was studied, and their reproductive performance was compared to that of Shorthorn-Hereford cows. The percentage of cows in estrus during the 7 d prior to PGF2alpha treatment was superior (P < 0.01) to that observed during the 4 d preceding PGF2alpha. The daily rates of estrus were similar during the 2 periods. For both the Shorthorn-Hereford (87.8 vs 74.7%; P < 0.03) and crossbred Charolais (87.8 vs 66.3%; P < 0.005) females, the estrus synchronization rate during the 5 d post PGF2alpha was higher in treatment D7 than in the D4 treatment. Therefore, for both Shorthorn-Hereford (92.8 vs 81.4%) and crossbred Charolais (93.1 vs 75.0%) the D7 program permitted insemination in 12 d (before and after PGF2alpha) of a higher percentage (P < 0.01) of females than the D4 program did in 9 d. The intervals PGF2alpha to estrus and their variances were similar for both treatments. The conception rate of Shorthorn-Hereford was the same whether they were inseminated after spontaneous (73.4%) or PGF2alpha-induced estrus (D4 treatment: 78.5%; D7 treatment: 72.2%). However, crossbred Charolais cows inseminated after a PGF2alpha-induced estrus in the D4 treatment had a fertility rate (50.9%) slightly inferior (P < 0.07) to that of cows inseminated after spontaneous estrus (70.1%) or after PGF2alpha-induced estrus in the D7 treatment (67.4%). The reproductive performances of multiparous Shorthorn-Hereford and crossbred Charolais were similar in treatment D7; however, in the D4 treatment, the conception rate of Shorthorn-Hereford was higher than that of crossbred Charolais (81.0 vs 42.9%; P < 0.002). Primiparous crossbred Charolais in the D4 treatment had a slightly lower (P < 0.10) synchronization rate (48%) than nulliparous (71%) and multiparous crossbred Charolais (78%). In contrast, the reproductive performances of nulliparous, primiparous and multiparous crossbred Charolais were similar in the D7 treatment. These results indicate that the efficiency of PGF2alpha to synchronize estrus is greater when the estrus detection period increases from 4 to 7 d before PGF2alpha. Only in the D7 treatment was the fertility rate of crossbred Charolais similar to that of Shorthorn-Hereford.

Journal Article↗

Estrus synchronization and controlled breeding in goats using prostaglandin F(2)alpha.

Estrus synchronization in the goat employing the double injection regimen of 7.5 mg of prostaglandin F(2)alpha (Lutalyse) at each injection, resulted in 64% and 84% synchronization at first and second injections, respectively. Breeding at estrus induced by the second injection resulted in 90% conception. Kidding at the end of the gestation period was spread over a 17-day period. The first and the last does had 141 and 158 days of gestation, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that two injections of prostaglandin F(2)alpha 10 days apart is superior to a single injection for estrus synchronization in the goat. Breeding following the second injection resulted in high conception rate. Due to individual differences in gestational lengths, estrus synchronization with prostaglandin F(2)alpha cannot be depended upon for synchrony of kidding.

Journal Article↗

Fixed-time insemination in peripuberal, lightweight replacement beef heifers after estrus synchronization with PGF2alpha and GnRH.

Estrus synchronization contributes to optimizing the use of time, labor, and financial resources by shortening the calving season, in addition to increasing the uniformity of the calf crop. We determined whether acceptable pregnancy rates could be achieved after synchronization of ovulation and fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) in peripuberal replacement beef heifers using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and PGF2alpha. Crossbred heifers from two herds (MH, n=239; SS, n=330) were wintered at a single location. After a prebreeding examination revealed that 55 heifers had a reproductive tract score (RTS) of 1 (infantile reproductive tracts), they were culled and the remaining heifers were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups: administration of 25mg PGF2alpha i.m. on Days -12 and 0 followed by estrus detection and insemination between 10 and 14 h after an observed estrus (Control; n=173); administration of 100 microg GnRH i.m. on Day -6, followed by 25 mg PGF2alpha i.m. on Day 0, then fixed-time AI and administration of 100 microg GnRH i.m. on Day +2 (GPG; n=172); and, treatment as for group GPG in addition to administration of 100 microg GnRH i.m. on Day -12 (GGPG; n=169). Bulls were introduced 10 days after AI for 60 days to breed heifers which did not conceive after AI (clean-up bulls). On Days -12, -6, and 0 transrectal ultrasonography was used to monitor ovarian structures in a subset of heifers (30 per treatment). At 30-35 days after AI, ultrasound was used to determine the presence of a viable fetus. Presence of a fetus and stage of pregnancy were determined via palpation per rectum 61-63 days after the conclusion of the breeding season. Heifers in the MH herd (309+/-1.9 kg) were heavier (P<0.001) than those in the SS herd (283+/-1.7 kg) at initiation of the breeding season. Synchronized pregnancy rates were greater (P<0.05) in GGPG (25.4%) and GPG (22.1%) than Control (12.7%) heifers. Pregnancy rates were 9, 21, 32, or 31% for heifers with RTS of 2, 3, 4, or 5, respectively. The average diameter of 22 follicles induced to ovulate in heifers treated with GnRH (GPG and GGPG treatments) was 14.2+/-0.8 mm (range=10.0-23.6 mm). In conclusion, a fixed-time ovulation synchronization program using GnRH and PGF2alpha improved pregnancy rates in peripuberal, lightweight replacement beef heifers.

Animals↗

Effectiveness of GnRH plus prostaglandin F2alpha for estrus synchronization in cattle of Bos indicus breeding.

Postpartum and lactating crossbred cows containing a percentage of Bos indicus breeding at three locations were studied to determine the efficacy of GnRH + PGF2alpha combinations for synchronization of estrus and(or) ovulation. Cows were equally distributed to each of three treatments by body condition score at the start of the experiment (d 0). All cows received 100 microg of GnRH on d 0 and 25 mg of PGF2alpha 7 d later. The three insemination protocols included 1) AI 12 h after exhibiting estrus during d 7 to 12 of the experiment (Select-Synch; n = 197); 2) timed-AI + 100 microg of GnRH on d 9 of the experiment (CO-Synch; n = 193); 3) AI 12 h after exhibiting estrus during d 7 to 10 of the experiment. Cows not exhibiting estrus by d 10 were timed-AI and injected with 100 microg of GnRH on d 10 of the experiment (Hybrid-Synch; n = 200). The percentage of cows exhibiting estrus during d 7 to 12 of the experiment was lower (P < 0.05) for CO-Synch (17.6%) cows than for Select-Synch or Hybrid-Synch (45.2 and 33.0%, respectively) cows, which did not differ (P > 0.05). For the Select-Synch and Hybrid-Synch cows that exhibited estrus during d 7 to 10 of the experiment and were artificially inseminated, conception rates were similar across treatments (50.5%). Pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.01) for CO-Synch and Hybrid-Synch (31.0 and 35.5%, respectively) cows than for Select-Synch (20.8%) cows. A greater (P < 0.01) percentage of cycling cows became pregnant (34.5%) than noncycling cows (25.9%) across all treatments. The CO-Synch and Hybrid-Synch synchronization protocols resulted in greater pregnancy rates compared with the Select-Synch protocol in postpartum and lactating crossbred cows containing a percentage of Bos indicus breeding.

Animals↗

Comparative studies on the effectiveness of Sil-estrus implants, Veramix sheep sponges and prostaglandin F2alpha in synchronizing estrus in West African dwarf sheep.

Sil-estrus implants, Veramix sponges and PGF2alpha were successfully used to synchronize estrus in normocyclic West African dwarf sheep. The intervals from end of treatment to onset of observable estrus in the three groups of treatment were 42.33+/-1.99, 77.67+/-15.20 and 41.62+/-2.23 h respectively, for Sil-estrus, Veramix sponges and PGF2alpha (P>0.05). Of all the treated sheep, 100% of those treated with Sil-estrus and PGF2alpha and 66.67% of the sheep treated with Veramix sponges were in estrus within 48 h post treatment. Neither the duration of standing estrus nor the succeeding estrus cycle length was significantly affected by the treatment. These results indicate that progestogens and prostaglandin F2alpha can be usefully employed in the management of reproduction of West African dwarf sheep.

Journal Article↗

An evaluation of estrus synchronization programs in reproductive management of dairy herds.

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effect of various estrus synchronization programs on estrus detection rate (EDR) and pregnancy rate (PR) in lactating cows. Spring-calving, lactating dairy cows (n = 3,096) were allocated to one of six treatments: 1) PG (n = 514), estrus detection for 10 d before the onset of the breeding season (BS), cows detected in estrus received PGF2 alpha (PGF) 8 d after estrus, and all cows to be bred by d 11 of BS; 2) PG+EBZ (n = 510), as in PG plus cows treated with PGF received 1 mg of estradiol benzoate 48 h later; 3) C (n = 522), progestogen (controlled intravaginal drug release; CIDR) inserted per vaginum 10 d before BS for 8 d, PGF treatment on the day before CIDR removal, and AI within 6 d after CIDR withdrawal; 4) C+EBZ (n = 520), as in C, plus 10 mg of estradiol benzoate 10 d before BS; 5) C+BUS (n = 517), as in C plus 10 micrograms of buserelin on the day of CIDR insertion; or 6) CON (n = 513), no treatment, and a 32-d period of AI. Relative to other CIDR-treated groups, estradiol benzoate at the time of CIDR insertion reduced (P < .05) the EDR (C, 85.0%;C+EBZ, 75.9%; C+BUS, 88.5%). The PR to first AI was reduced (P < .05) by C compared with other treatments (PG, 60.9%; PG+EBZ, 57.2%; C, 46.6%; C+EBZ, 60.5%; C+BUS, 57.9%; CON, 60.1%). The interval from the onset of BS to AI and pregnancy was reduced (P < .05) by up to 9 d by estrus synchronization relative to controls (PG, 5.5 +/- .2 d; PG+EBZ, 5.2 +/- .2 d; C 1.7 +/- .1 d; C+EBZ, 2.3 +/- .1 d; C+BUS, 106 +/- .04d, CON, 10.4 +/- .3 d). In conclusion an 8-d progestogen-buserelin-PGF treatment resulted in the best overall estrus detection and pregnancy rates, which would be beneficial to a compact calving program.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

Conception rates to artificial insemination in primiparous, suckled cows exposed to the biostimulatory effect of bulls before and during a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-based estrus synchronization protocol.

The objective of these studies was to evaluate whether exposing primiparous, suckled beef cows to the biostimulatory effect of bulls alters breeding performance associated with an estrus synchronization protocol that included GnRH followed 7 d later by PGF(2alpha) and fixed-time AI (TAI). This was a composite analysis of 3 experiments that evaluated (1) the effects of bull exposure at different days after calving (yr 1); (2) the biostimulatory effects of bull excretory products (yr 2); and (3) the biostimulatory effects of familiar and unfamiliar bulls (yr 3) on the resumption of ovarian cycling activity. In all studies, cows were exposed (biostimulated; n = 94) or not exposed (nonbiostimulated; n = 67) to bulls or excretory products of bulls for at least 60 d before the beginning of the estrus synchronization protocol. Average calving day did not differ among years and was 52 +/- 5 d. Year did not affect the proportions of biostimulated and nonbiostimulated cows that were cycling at the beginning of the estrus synchronization protocol; however, a greater (P < 0.001) proportion of biostimulated than nonbiostimulated cows were cycling at this time. In each year, cows were given GnRH followed by PGF(2alpha) 7 d later. Cows were observed for estrus twice daily (am and pm) after PGF(2alpha). Cows that exhibited estrus before 54, 60, and 64 h after PGF(2alpha) were inseminated by AI 12 h later in yr 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Cows that failed to show estrus were given GnRH and TAI at 62, 72, and 72 h after PGF(2alpha) in yr 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Conception rates were determined by transrectal ultrasonography 35 d after TAI in each year. The percentages of cows that exhibited estrus after PGF(2alpha) and before TAI, the interval from PGF(2alpha) to estrus, and the percentages of cows inseminated 12 h after estrus or at TAI did not differ between biostimulated and nonbiostimulated cows and were 51%, 54.7 +/- 7.3 h, 35%, and 65%, respectively. Conception rates for cows bred by AI 12 h after estrus did not differ between biostimulated and nonbiostimulated cows; however, the TAI conception rate was greater (P < 0.05) for biostimulated cows (57.6%) than for nonbiostimulated cows (35.6%). We conclude that TAI conception rates in an estrus synchronization protocol that includes GnRH followed 7 d later by PGF(2alpha) may be improved by the biostimulatory effect of bulls in postpartum, primiparous cows.

Animals↗

Comparison of pregnancy rates with two estrus synchronization protocols in Italian Mediterranean Buffalo cows.

The aim in this study was to compare two estrus synchronization protocols in buffaloes. Animals were divided into two groups: Group A (n=111) received 100 microg GnRH on Day 0, 375 microg PGF(2alpha) on Day 7 and 100 microg GnRH on Day 9 (Ovsynch); Group B (n=117) received an intravaginal drug release device (PRID) containing 1.55 g progesterone and a capsule with 10mg estradiol benzoate for 10 days and were treated with a luteolytic dose of PGF(2alpha) and 1000 IU PMSG at the time of PRID withdrawal. Animals were inseminated twice 18 and 42 h after the second injection of GnRH (Group A) and 60 and 84 h after PGF(2alpha) and PMSG injections (Group B). Progesterone (P(4)) concentrations in milk samples collected 12 and 2 days before treatments were used to determine cyclic and non-cyclic buffaloes, and milk P(4) concentrations 10 days after Artificial insemination (AI) were used as an index of a functional corpus luteum. Cows were palpated per rectum at 40 and 90 days after AI to determine pregnancies. All previously non-cyclic animals in Group B had elevated P(4) (>120 pg/ml milk whey) on Day 10 after AI. Accordingly, a greater (P<0.01) relative percentage of animals with elevated P(4) 10 days after AI were observed in Group B (93.2%) than in Group A (81.1%). However, there was no difference in overall pregnancy rates between the two estrus synchronization protocols (Group A, 36.0%; Group B 28.2%). When only animals with elevated P(4) on Day 10 after AI were considered, pregnancy rate was higher (P<0.05) for animals in Group A (44.4%) than Group B (30.3%). The findings indicated that treatment with PRID can induce ovulation in non-cyclic buffalo cows. However, synchronization of estrus with Ovsynch resulted in a higher pregnancy rate compared with synchronization with PRID, particularly in cyclic buffalo.

Animals↗