17PREVENTION OF ANESTRUS USING AN INTRAVAGINAL PROGESTAGEN DEVICE COMBINED WITH 17²-ESTRADIOL, GNRH, AND PGF2± AT 60 DAYS POSTPARTUM IN DUAL PURPOSE CROSSBRED ZEBU COWS
In order to study the effect of an intravaginal device (sponge) impregnated with Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) on estrus induction and fertility, an assay was carried out on a commercial farm located in Zulia state, Venezuela. Eighty-four noncyclic (milk progesterone level <0.5ng/mL) suckled crossbred cows (B. taurus×B. indicus) at 60 days postpartum and 3–3.5 body condition score (scale 1–5) were randomly allotted to one of the following treatments: T1 (n=22), intravaginal device impregnated with 250mg of MAP during 7 days+50mg of MAP and 5mg of 17β-estradiol (17β-E) i.m. on the day of device insertion (Day 0) and 1.5mg of 17β-E i.m. on Day 8 (Pregnaheat-E®; VIATECA, Venezuela); T2 (n=28), 17β-E given at Day 0 was replaced by 20μg of busereline (Conceptal® Hoescht, A. Germany)+injection of 25mg of dinoprost (Lutalyse® Pharmacia Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) on Day 7 and 1.5mg of 17β-E 12h after device removal (Day 8); T3 (control group; n=34), without treatment. Animals detected in heat were inseminated in the uterine body 9 to 12 hours later in routine AM-PM. Pregnancy diagnose was carried out at 60days after AI by transrectal examination. Studied variables were: estrus rate (ER), pregnancy rate (PR), anoestrus rate (AR), and partum-conception interval (PCI). Variables were analyzed by frequency procedures and chi-square test of Statistical Analysis System (SAS). PCI was analyzed by variance model (PROC GLM) and compared by Ls means. Results are shown in Table 1. T1 and T2 showed higher ER and PR (P<0.05) than T3. AR was lower (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 than T3. PCI was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in T1, but not in T2 versus T3. The cows treated with MAP showed greater estrus and pregnancy rate, shorter partum-conception interval and lower anoestrus rate than the control group. Treatment with the intravaginal device was effective to prevent postpartum anoestrus and to improve reproductive performance in dual purpose zebu crossbred suckled cows. Table 1. Effect of an intravaginal progestagen device on reproductive performance in crossbred Zebu cows