Frequency of ovarian follicular cysts, reasons for culling, and fertility in Holstein-Friesian cows given gonadotropin-releasing hormone at two weeks after parturition.
Holstein-Friesian cows (n=204) were given saline solution or 200 microgram of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by intramuscular injection at 8 to 23 days after parturition. Of cows culled, fewer GnRH-treated cows were culled for infertility, compared with number of cows given saline solution (26 vs 57%; P less than 0.05). Frequency of ovarian follicular cysts was reduced from 15.2% in controls to 5.7% for cows given GnRH (P less than 0.01). The interval to 1st insemination, interval to conception, and inseminations per conception did not differ among saline solution or GnRH-treated cows which remained in the herds. These data provide evidence for reduction in infertility and reproductive disorders in early postpartum dairy cows given GnRH as a prophylactic.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones