title: Oestrus detection techniques and insemination strategies in Bos indicus heifers synchronised with norgestomet-oestradiol.
abstract: Oestrus was synchronised in 57 Bos indicus heifers using norgestomet-oestradiol and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin. Oestrus was detected by observations made at six-hourly intervals, using oestrogen-treated and chin-ball harnessed steers, heatmount detectors, tail-paint and visual observation. Heifers were inseminated once at either a fixed time of 49.2 +/- 0.4 h (mean +/- SE; n = 29) after implant removal or 12.6 +/- 1.5 h (n = 28) after oestrus was detected. The mean (+/- SE) time to the onset of oestrus was 47.1 +/- 1.9 h, while 90% of heifers recorded in oestrus were detected within 66 h of implant removal. Heatmount detectors were significantly more efficient at detecting oestrus than chin-ball harnessed steers, tail paint or visual observation (P < 0.001). A higher pregnancy rate was obtained in heifers inseminated after oestrus detection compared with heifers inseminated at a fixed-time (57.1 vs 34.5%; P = 0.043) and a higher pregnancy rate was obtained in heifers classified as easy to inseminate compared with heifers classified as difficult to inseminate (57.8 vs 0%, P < 0.001). We conclude that heatmount detectors are an efficient means of detecting oestrus in synchronised B indicus heifers and that pregnancy rates can be increased when insemination follows oestrus detection compared with a fixed-time insemination regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Tropical Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavalieri
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004972:Estrus Detection / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004973:Estrus Synchronization / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D011282:Pregnenediones; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C100284:norgestomet; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol