Progesterone monitoring of anestrous dairy cows and subsequent treatment with a prostaglandin F2 alpha analog or gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
A field study was conducted in 3 large dairy herds (50 to 300 cows) which were the objects of a reproductive health-status program, including the use of a progesterone measurement in plasma or milk. The anestrous syndrome was specifically studied and was defined as no estrus occurrence by postpartum day 60 (postpartum anestrus) or by 21 to 24 days after insemination, if a negative early pregnancy test based on milk progesterone concentrations was obtained (postinsemination anestrus). Two treatments were tested; gonadotropin-releasing hormone or a prostaglandin F2 alpha analog was used according to results of progesterone monitoring. In the largest herd, reproductive performances were recorded on 2 successive years before and after the beginning of such a reproductive health program. The overall decrease in the nonpregnant days was 17 days. This was due to (i) early and appropriate usage of prostaglandin F2 alpha analog in cycled postpartum anestrous cows, as well as in cows not seen in estrus and not pregnant after insemination, and (ii) to shortening of the nonpregnant period in noncycling anestrous cows treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone and monitored simultaneously in terms of progesterone concentrations.
D000780:Anestrus; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone