7 ESTRUS LENGTH AND INTENSITY IN BOS TAURUS (HOLSTEIN) v. BOS INDICUS (NELORE) NONLACTATING COWS

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
M. R. Bastos ◽  
M. A. P. Meschiatti ◽  
R. S. Surjus ◽  
A. B. Prata ◽  
A. P. Lemes ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to compare the length and intensity of oestrus in nonlactating Bos taurus (Holstein; n = 11) v. nonlactating Bos indicus (Nelore; n = 13) cows. The cows were kept in a single pen to allow interaction between them and were daily fed a maintenance diet according to the NRC (2000), containing 42.8% sugarcane bagasse, 45.7% corn, 3.2% soybean meal, 1.2% urea, 5.7% molasses, and 1.4% mineral salt, totaling 71% dry matter (DM) in the diet. The intake of DM per kg of body weight (BW) was 1.45%. Body condition score and BW were 3.5 ± 0.1 and 3.0 ± 0.2 (range 1 to 5), and 549.5 ± 14.3 and 625.5 ± 20.5 kg for Nelore and Holstein cows, respectively. All females had the emergence of follicular wave synchronized with an intravaginal progesterone device (Sincrogest, Ourofino Agronegócio, São Paulo, Brazil), 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate (Sincrodiol, Ourofino; IM) and 0.150 mg PGF2α (Sincrocio, Ourofino; IM). Ten days after initiation of the protocol, the intravaginal device was removed and another treatment with 0.150 mg PGF2α was given. Thereafter, cows were evaluated for oestrus by continuous visual observation 24 h a day for 5 days. The number of the cow that was mounting and the number of the cow that was standing was recorded for each event, as well as the time of the event. To confirm ovulation, ultrasound examination was performed between 5 and 7 days after oestrus detection. Data were analysed by Student’s t-test and Fisher’s exact test or Chi-square and data are presented as mean ± SE or percentage. Ten of 13 (76.9%) and 11 of 11 (100%) Nelore and Holstein cows, respectively, were detected in standing oestrus and ovulated (P > 0.10). On average, Holstein cows tended to start oestrus earlier than Nelore cows after device removal (40.4 ± 2.9 v. 47.7 ± 2.8 h; P = 0.09). There was no difference in intensity and duration of oestrus between Bos taurus and Bos indicus cows. Oestrus length was 14.7 ± 1.0 h (range 8.3 to 19.0 h) in Holstein cows and 12.4 ± 0.8 h (range 8.6 to 17.1 h) in Nelore cows (P > 0.10). Moreover, the average number of times that cows accepted mounts was 32.2 ± 6.1 and 36.3 ± 5.3 for Holstein and Nelore cows, respectively (P > 0.10). Only 9.1% of the mounts accepted by Nelore cows were performed by Holstein cows and only 3.8% of the mounts accepted by Holstein cows were done by Nelore cows (P < 0.05). We concluded that Bos taurus and Bos indicus cows managed under similar environment and nutritional conditions exhibit oestrus with the same intensity and duration. However, there was very little interaction during oestrus between Nelore and Holstein cows, showing a breed segregation pattern. This work was financially supported by CNPq, FAPESP, and Ourofino Agronegócio of Brazil.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilido Nelson Ramírez-Iglesia ◽  
Rafael María Roman Bravo ◽  
Adelina Díaz de Ramirez ◽  
Leandro J. Torres

The aim of this research was to compare two artificial insemination protocols (AIP): hormonal synchronization with fixed time artificial insemination (SC-FTAI) and the use of a table based on visual observation of estrus signs (VO) in order to identify cows in natural or spontaneous estrus being assigned to AI (NSE-IA). Two groups were formed: in the first group 109 cows were assigned to SC-FTAI, in which a commercial protocol is used; the second one included 108 randomly chosen cows, which were assigned to NSE-AI and in this group a modified table was used. Response variable was first service fertility rate (FSF), which was coded 1 for pregnant and 0 for empty. Predictor variables were AIP, postpartum anestrus, daily milk yield, body condition score at AI and calving number. Statistical analyses included association chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results showed an overall 41.94% FSF and a significant association was detected (P<0.05) between FSF and daily milk yield; pregnancy rates were 42.20% and 41.67% for the SC-FTAI and NSE-IA groups, respectively (P>0.05). The odds ratio for the effect of AIP was only 1.050, suggesting no differences in FSF between groups. The NSE-AI protocol can enhance both the technique of VO and reproductive efficiency. Further validation of the table is required.


1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Hearnshaw ◽  
PF Arthur ◽  
R Barlow ◽  
PJ Kohun ◽  
RE Darnell

Post-weaning growth and body condition, puberty and pelvic size of 197 heifers comprising straightbred Hereford (HxH) and Brahman (BxB), first-cross (BxH) and back-cross (HxBH and BxBH) heifers were evaluated. The heifers were born over a 3 year period, and grazed improved and semi-improved pastures following weaning at Grafton, New South Wales. Prior to weaning, heifers had been reared by dams on three pasture systems (high, medium and low quality pastures). Heifers from low quality pre-weaning pasture had higher (P < 0.05) post-weaning liveweight gain than those from high and medium quality pastures. BxH heifers gained 71 g/day more (P < 0.05) than the mean gain of their contemporaries of the other genotypes, whose gains were similar, from weaning to either 26 or to 30 months of age. Liveweight at all ages was influenced by genotype x pre-weaning pasture system interaction. At 30 months of age, BxH heifers from high and medium pre-weaning pastures were the heaviest. At the same age, but from low quality pre-weaning pasture, heifers with crossbred dams (HxBH and BxBH) were the heaviest. Wither height depended significantly (P < 0.05) on the proportion of Bos indicus genes, increasing from 113.8 cm in the HxH heifers to 124.4 cm in the BxB heifers at 30 months of age. BxH heifers had a higher (P < 0.05) body condition score than their contemporaries of the other genotypes, which were in similar condition, at 26 and 30 months of age. On average (across pre-weaning pasture system), 9% of BxB heifers had reached puberty by 22 months of age compared to 62, 95, 82 and 64% (s.e.= 9) for HxH, HxBH, BxH and BxBH heifers respectively. No significant genotype differences were obtained in the height, width and size of the pelvic opening of the heifers, measured just prior to the beginning of the mating season at 26 months of age.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
G. A. Bo ◽  
L. C. Peres ◽  
D. Pincinato ◽  
M. de la Rey ◽  
R. Tribulo

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of the interval between thawing to deposition of the embryo into the uterine horn on pregnancy rates of in vivo-produced frozen–thawed embryos in 1.5 M ethylene glycol (direct transfer). Data were collected from 1122 embryo transfers performed in the same farm (Estancia El Mangrullo, Lavalle, Santiago del Estero, Argentina) during the spring and summer of 2004/05 and 2005/06 (6 replicates, ambient temperature between 20 and 40�C). Recipients used in all replicates were non-lactating, cycling, multiparous Bos taurus � Bos indicus crossbred cows with body condition score between 3 and 4 (1 to 5 scale) that were synchronized using fixed-time embryo transfer protocols. Briefly, the synchronization treatments consisted of the insertion of a Crestar ear implant (Intervet, Sao Paulo, Brazil) or a progesterone-releasing device (DIB; Syntex SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina), plus 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB; Syntex) intramuscularly (IM) on Day 0, and 400 IU of eCG (Folligon 5000; Intervet, or Novormon 5000; Syntex) IM plus 150 �g d-cloprostenol IM (Preloban; Intervet, or Ciclase; Syntex) on Day 5. Progestin devices were removed on Day 8 and all cows received 1 mg of EB IM on Day 9. All cows were examined by ultrasonography on Day 16 and those with a luteal area &gt;76 mm2 (by calculating the area of the CL minus the area of the cavity) received, on Day 17, frozen–thawed embryos by nonsurgical transfer. All embryos were Grade 1, and all were frozen in 1.5 M ethylene glycol at the Embryo Plus Laboratory (Brits, South Africa). After being stored in liquid nitrogen, the embryos were plunged directly (no air thawing) in a 30�C water bath for 30 s, and then transferred to the recipient cows by either one of two technicians. Based on the interval between thawing and transfer, the transfers were classified as being in one of 3 groups: Group 1: &lt;3 min; Group 2: 3 to 6 min; and Group 3: 6 to 16 min. The main reason for delayed transfers beyond 6 min was the replacement of one recipient for another because of difficulty in threading the cervix (1% of the total transfers) or a recipient falling down into the chute or with very bad disposition and behavior. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography 28 to 35 days after fixed-time embryo transfer, and data were analyzed by logistic regression. There were no effects of replicate, technician, CL area, recipient body condition score, embryo stage, and time from thawing to transfer on pregnancy rates. Pregnancy rates in the 3 thawing to transfer intervals were: Group 1: 215/385, 55.8%; Group 2: 372/655, 56.8%; Group 3: 42/82, 51.2%; P &gt; 0.6. These results may be interpreted to suggest that there is no significant effect of time from thawing to transfer (up to 16 min) in direct transfer embryos using Bos taurus � Bos indicus recipients transferred at a fixed time.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
M. P. Palhão ◽  
E. R. Oliveira ◽  
M. M. Gioso ◽  
B. C. Carvalho ◽  
L. G. B. Siqueira ◽  
...  

The ovarian follicular population has been used as a parameter to evaluate fertility and also the potential of donors undergoing assisted reproductive procedures in both human medicine and animal practice. There is a high correlation between follicular population and oocyte recovery by ovum pickup (OPU), but the relationship between oocyte recovery, embryo production and pregnancy rates may not be fully understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the conversion rate of oocytes to embryos and further pregnancies could be positively related to the number of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) recovered after OPU in cattle. For this purpose, records of 626 OPU sections from 251 nonlactating Gyr cows (dairy Zebu breed) were analysed. The animals had a good body condition score, were kept in a good feeding pasture (Brachiaria spp.) and were supplemented with corn silage and a mixture of corn, soybeans and vitamin and minerals, according to their nutritional requirements. For each ovarian aspiration, the ovarian follicular wave was previously synchronized with an auricular implant (Norgestomet-Crestar®), IM injections of 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate (Gonadiol®) and 0.25 mg of D-cloprostenol (Sincrocio®). The OPU procedures were performed using an ultrasound device (Aquila Vet, Esaote, São Paulo, Brazil) equipped with a vaginal sector 7.5-MHz probe, disposable 20 G needles and a vacuum pressure of 80 mmHg. The cows were ranked in quartiles regarding the total number of COC recovered. To reduce bias related to the eventual fluctuation of OPU results, for the present analysis the authors used only the recorded OPU session of each cow with the highest number of COC recovered. Viable COC were fertilized with sex-sorted (X) semen of Gyr bulls previously tested for in vitro embryo production. Conversion rates (%) of the total and viable oocytes to embryos, viable oocytes to pregnancy and embryo to pregnancy were evaluated for each quartile. Differences between the first and fourth quartiles were accessed by Fisher's exact test. In the 251 OPU, 4246 total and 3173 viable COC were recovered, resulting in the production of 1001 embryos (31.5%) and 453 pregnancies (45.3%). The cows ranked in the first, second, third and fourth quartiles produced >30 (41.6 ± 10.6), 21 to 30 (25.2 ± 3.0), 12 to 20 (15.9 ± 2.6) and <12 (6.7 ± 3.1) total oocytes. The average viable oocyte (29.1 ± 11.0, 18.1 ± 5.3, 11.1 ± 3.7 and 4.5 ± 2.7, respectively) and embryo production (8.6 ± 5.7, 5.2 ± 3.6, 3.8 ± 2.8 and 1.8 ± 1.8, respectively) were different (P < 0.0001) among all quartiles. Pregnancy rates, however, did not differ (46.0, 44.9, 43.9 and 45.6%, respectively; P > 0.05). Interestingly, the conversion rates (viable oocytes to embryos and viable oocytes to pregnancies) were higher (P < 0.0001 and 0.002) in cows from the last quartile (51.1 and 31.9%) compared with those from the first quartile (23.7 and 14.7%). In conclusion, the number of COC recovered by OPU (and consequently the ovarian follicular count) can further predict the total number of embryos and pregnancies produced, but it is not directly related to the oocyte development potential. Biotran and Fapemig Project CVZ APQ 01654/09 and BPD 0007/10.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 242 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. U. Gimenes ◽  
N. A. T. Carvalho ◽  
M. F. Sá Filho ◽  
H. Ayres ◽  
J. R. S. Torres-Júnior ◽  
...  

In Holstein cows, the diameter of the dominant follicle (DF) at the time of follicle deviation is 8.5 mm and the subordinate follicle (SF) is 7.2 mm (Ginther et al. 1996 Biol. Reprod. 55, 1187–1194). However, follicular responsiveness to an ovulatory treatment occurs only with 10.0-mm-diameter follicles (Sartori et al. 2001 Biol. Reprod. 65, 1403–1409). The current study tested the hypothesis that, in Bos indicus (Nelore and crossbred Nelore � Gir) females, the follicular diameters at the time of deviation and ovulation responsiveness are smaller than those in Holstein cows. The experiment was performed in two phases. In the first phase, 12 Nelore heifers were previously synchronized with a protocol using progestagen and estradiol benzoate. After implant removal, all heifers were evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography (Aloka SSD-500, Tokyo, Japan) every 12 h until Day 5 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 = Day of the ovulation) to assess the time of ovulation, the time of follicle deviation, and the follicular diameter at the deviation. In the second phase, 29 Bos indicus heifers (Nelore and crossbred Nelore � Gir) were previously synchronized with the same protocol as cited above. After the ovulations (Day 0), the follicles were evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography every 24 h, until they reached the diameter of 7.0–8.4 mm (n = 9); 8.5–10.0 mm (n = 10); and &gt;10.0 mm (n = 10). In order to assess the ovulatory capacity, all animals were treated with 25 mg of LH (Lutropin-V�; Bioniche Animal Health, Inc., Belleville, Ontario, Canada) at these follicle diameter ranges. After the LH treatment, all animals were monitored by ultrasonography every 12 h for 48 h. ANOVA, Bartlett, and chi-square tests were used in the statistical analyses. In the first phase, the diameters of the DF and SF at the time of follicular deviation (61.9 � 4.9 h after ovulation) were 6.2 � 0.2 and 5.8 � 0.2 mm, respectively. In the second phase, the the average follicular diameters at the time of LH administration in the groups 7.0–8.4 mm, 8.5–10.0 mm, and &gt;10.0 mm were 7.6a � 0.1 mm, 9.6b � 0.1 mm, and 10.9c � 0.2 mm; and their ovulation rates were 33.3%a (3/9), 80.0%b (8/10), and 90.0%b (9/10), respectively (P &lt; 0.05). The interval from LH treatment to ovulation was 38.0 � 4.0 h, 31.5 � 2.7 h, and 30.0 � 2.0 h, respectively (P &gt; 0.05). In conclusion, in Bos indicus heifers, follicle deviation occurred with smaller diameters than previously reported in Bos taurus breeds. In addition, Bos indicus heifers are able to ovulate in response to 25 mg of LH with smaller diameters compared to those of Bos taurus breeds. Moreover, in Bos indicus heifers, ovulatory capacity is acquired by follicles as small as 7.0–8.4 mm, but this responsiveness significantly increases after follicles reach 8.5–10.0 mm. This work was supported by FAPESP (Proc:03/10203-4); Bioniche Animal Health, Inc., Belleville, Ontario, Canada; and Tecnopec, S�o Paulo, Brazil.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ramos ◽  
L. Cutaia ◽  
P. Chesta ◽  
G. A. Bó

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of the timing of fixed-time AI (FTAI) in relation to the removal of an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (1 g of progesterone, DIB, Syntex SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina) on pregnancy rates in Bos indicus × Bos taurus cross-bred heifers. In experiment 1, 285 Bonsmara × zebu cross-bred heifers, between 18 and 24 months of age and with a body condition score (BCS) between 3.0 and 3.5 (1-5 scale) were used. On the day of initiation of treatment (Day 0), the heifers’ ovaries were palpated (92% of them had a CL) and they received a new DIB plus 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB; Syntex SA) and 250 μg of cloprostenol (Ciclase DL, Syntex SA). On Day 8, DIB devices were removed and all heifers received 250 μg of Ciclase plus 0.5 mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP; Cipiosyn, Syntex SA). At that time the heifers were randomly divided to receive FTAI between 48 to 49 h, 53 to 54 h, or 58 to 59 h after DIB removal. The heifers underwent FTAI with semen from 4 bulls by 2 inseminators. In experiment 2, 260 heifers from the same group as those used in experiment 1 (87% with a CL) were treated exactly as those in experiment 1, except that previously used DIB was inserted on Day 0. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 30 days post-fixed-time AI by ultrasonography. The data were analyzed by logistic regression, taking into account the effect of time of FTAI, semen, and inseminator on pregnancy rates. In experiment 1, pregnancy rates were lower (P = 0.04) in the heifers undergoing FTAI between 48 and 49 h after DIB removal (46/95, 48.4%) than those undergoing FTAI 53 to 54 h (61/99, 61.6%) or 58 to 60 h (57/91, 62.6%) after DIB removal. However, no differences in pregnancy rates were found (P = 0.72) in experiment 2 between the 3 treatment groups, with 39/91 (42.9%) for the 48 to 49 h group, 45/89 (50.6%) for the 53 to 54 h group, and 35/89 (43.8%) for the 58 to 59 h group. There was no effect of the semen or inseminator (P > 0.2) in either experiment. We conclude that when Bos indicus × Bos taurus beef heifers are synchronized with new DIB devices and ECP, higher pregnancy rates are obtained in heifers undergoing FTAI late (between 53 to 60 h after DIB removal) than in those undergoing FTAI early (48 to 49 h after DIB removal). However, time of insemination does not apparently affect pregnancy rates when Bos indicus × Bos taurus beef heifers are synchronized with previously used DIB devices and ECP.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Tribulo ◽  
E. Balla ◽  
L. Cutaia ◽  
G.A. Bo ◽  
P.S. Baruselli ◽  
...  

Although several studies have investigated the relationship between circulating progesterone and pregnancy rates in cattle, the beneficial effect of treatments that increase progesterone concentrations, by insertion of a progesterone (P4) releasing device or induction of an accessory CL with hCG, GnRH, or LH treatment, has resulted in inconsistent effects on pregnancy rates in embryo recipients. An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of hCG or GnRH treatment, given at the time of embryo transfer without estrus detection, on pregnancy rates in recipients treated with intrauterine P4-releasing devices, estradiol benzoate (EB), and eCG. The experiment was performed in two replicates; non-lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbred beef cows with a body condition score between 2.5 to 3.5 (1-to-5 scale) were used (replicate 1, n = 180; replicate 2, n = 140). All cows received 1 g of P4 via a P4-releasing device (DIB, Syntex, Argentina) and 2 mg EB i.m. (Syntex) on Day 0, and 400 IU of eCG i.m. (Novormon 5000, Syntex) plus 150 μg d(+)cloprostenol i.m. (Ciclase, Syntex) on Day 5. DIBs were removed on Day 8 and all cows received 1 mg EB i.m. on Day 9. Recipients were not observed for signs of estrus, and those >1 CL, or a single CL with an area >256 mm2, received 195 Grade 1 and 46 Grade 2 frozen/thawed “direct transfer” embryos on Day 17. At the time of embryo transfer, recipients were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups to receive 1500 IU hCG (Ovusyn, Syntex), 50 μg Lecirelina (GnRH, Gonasyn, Syntex), or no treatment (control) at that time. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed on Day 0 to determine ovarian status (only cows with a CL or a follicle >10 mm and uterine tone were used), on Day 17 to measure CL area, and 40 days after embryo transfer to determine pregnancy status. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and the effects of replication, technician, treatment, and embryo quality were considered in the model. From the 320 recipients treated with a DIB plus EB and eCG, 241 (75.3%) were selected to receive an embryo. Nine (3.7%) and 1 (0.4%) of the selected recipients had 2 and 3 CL, respectively. Pregnancy rates did not differ between replicates (replicate 1: 80/140, 57.1%; and replicate 2: 57/101, 56.4%; P = 0.84), technicians (technician 1: 65/118, 55.1%; and technician 2: 72/123, 58.5%; P = 0.64), or treatments (hCG: 43/80, 53.8%; GnRH: 45/83, 54.2%; and control: 49/78, 62.8% P = 0.99). However, pregnancy rates were higher (P = 0.001) in recipients receiving Grade 1 embryos (121/195, 62.1%) than in those receiving Grade 2 embryos (16/46, 34.8%). GnRH or hCG treatment at the time of embryo transfer did not increase pregnancy rates in recipients synchronized with P4 releasing devices, EB, and eCG. Research was supported by Syntex S.A., Estancia El Mangrullo S.A., and Agencia Cordoba Ciencia S.E.


1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
CS McSweeney ◽  
PM Kennedy ◽  
MJ D'Occhio ◽  
LA Fitzpatrick ◽  
D Reid ◽  
...  

Supplementation designed to increase the supply of glucose and amino acids, was compared with early weaning as strategies for reducing post-partum anoestrous in Bos indicusx Bos taurus (518x318) first-lactation heifers. Twenty-three pregnant heifers were allocated to four treatment groups and fed long-chopped hay (15.8 g N/kg dry matter) ad libitum and a complete mineral mixture throughout the experiment as well as 450 g molasses and 50 g urea per day during the final month of pregnancy. After calving, three groups were supplemented daily for 120 days with either 2 kg cracked rice (E), 0.4 kg formaldehyde-treated casein (P), or cracked rice (2 kg)+formaldehyde-treated casein (0.4 kg) (E+P); the unsupplemented control group had their calves weaned at 60 days post-partum. Supplemented animals had significantly higher intakes of hay (7- 1-7.3 v. 5.9 kg OM/day), weight gain (0.4-0.5 v. 0.0 kg/day) and body condition score (4.6-4.7 v. 4.3) than the unsupplemented heifers, but there were no differences between the supplemented groups in these variables. Unsupplemented animals and heifers fed P partitioned similar amounts of lactose and fat into milk, whereas secretion of both lactose and protein was significantly higher in the E+P and E groups. All control heifers ovulated within 14 days of their calves being weaned, whereas only two of the lactating supplemented heifers (EfP) showed cyclic ovarian activity at that time and three other lactating heifers ovulated several weeks later. The response to weaning occurred in heifers that had a liveweight and condition score of 374 kg and 4.3 respectively, which was 30-50 kg and a half unit in condition below the suckling heifers. In unsupplemented heifers showing ovarian cyclicity, acetate entry rate was less than half that of the supplemented animals, whereas glucose entry rate, adjusted for loss to lactose, was similar for both groups. Supplementation did not affect either the basal concentration or frequency of pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone (LH) at 60 days post-partum, or the LH response to gonadotrophin releasing hormone (5 8g GnRH). It is concluded that under the conditions of the present study, weaning had a greater effect than post-partum nutritional supplements on the resumption of ovarian activity in first-lactation heifers with moderate nutrition.


2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ahuja ◽  
F. Montiel

Induction of ovulation for timed artificial insemination (TAI) with the Ovsynch protocol was evaluated in 49 anoestrous and lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows. Palpation per rectum and transrectal ultrasonography were used on Days -30, -20, -10 and 0 (start of treatment) to confirm anoestrus but with the presence of follicles = 10 mm, and every other day during treatment to determine ovarian activity. Cows were randomly assigned to: (1) Ovsynch (n = 24; Day 0, 200 µg GnRH; Day 7, 150 µg PGF2a; Day 9, 200 µg GnRH + TAI 16 to 20 h later) and (2) control (n = 25; no treatment). Rates of ovulation for the first GnRH injection, detection of a corpus luteum (CL) at PGF2a injection, pregnancy and induction of cyclicity were greater (P < 0.05) with Ovsynch. There was no effect of body condition score (P ? 0.05). In conclusion, the Ovsynch protocol was not effective in obtaining acceptable pregnancy rate for TAI, but it was effective for induction of cyclicity in anoestrous and lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows under tropical conditions.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
L. Cutaia ◽  
M. Aviles ◽  
F. Feresin ◽  
A. Franzoni ◽  
L. Peres ◽  
...  

Three experiments were conducted to compare pregnancy rates in cows and heifers treated with intravaginal progesterone (P4)-releasing devices impregnated with either 0.5 or 1.0 g of P4 and inseminated at a fixed time (FTAI). In Experiment 1, 102 postpartum beef cows (Hereford and Angus crossbred with Tuli, 60 to 90 d postpartum) with a body condition score (BCS) of 2.5 to 3.0 (1 to 5 scale) were used. On Day 0, all cows received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB; Syntex, Argentina) i.m. and were randomly assigned to receive an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device with 0.5 g of P4 (DIB 0.5 g; Syntex) or 1.0 g of P4 (DIB 1.0 g; Syntex). On Day 7, DIB devices were removed and all cows received 150 µg D(+)cloprostenol (Ciclase; Syntex) i.m. On Day 8, all cows received 1 mg EB and were FTAI 52 to 56 h after DIB removal. In Experiment 2, 93 Holstein cows that were 90 to 110 days in milk (DIM), producing on average 5000 kg of milk per lactation and with a BCS of 2.5 to 3.0 received the same treatments as those in Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, 100 Holstein heifers, 20 to 22 months old, with a BCS of 2.5 to 3.0, also received the same treatments as those in Experiment 1. Pregnancy rates in all experiments were determined by ultrasonography 35 days after FTAI and compared by chi-square test. No differences in pregnancy rates were detected between lactating beef cows, dairy cows, or dairy heifers treated with DIB devices impregnated with 0.5 or 1.0 g of P4 (Table 1). It was concluded that vaginal P4 releasing devices impregnated with 0.5 g or 1.0 g of P4 results in comparable pregnancy rates in FTAI protocols in beef and dairy cattle. Table 1. Pregnancy rates in postpartum beef cows, Holstein cows, and Holstein heifers treated with DIB devices impregnated with 0.5 or 1.0 g of P4 and subjected to FTAI


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