An alternative AI breeding protocol for dairy cows exposed to elevated ambient temperatures before or after calving or both.
Our objective was to determine if a timed artificial insemination (AI) protocol (Ovsynch) might produce greater pregnancy rates than AI after a synchronized, detected estrus during summer. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 425) were grouped into breeding clusters and then assigned randomly to each of two protocols for AI between 50 and 70 days in milk. All cows were treated with GnRH followed 7 d later by PGF2alpha. Ovsynch cows then were treated with a second injection of GnRH 48 h after PGF2alpha and inseminated 16 to 19 h later. Controls received no further treatment after PGF2alpha and were inseminated after detected estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed once by transrectal ultrasonography (27 to 30 d after AI) and again by palpation (40 to 50 d). Based on concentrations of progesterone in blood collected before each hormonal injection, only 85.4% of 425 cows were considered to be cycling. Although conception rates were not different between protocols at d 27 to 30, AI submission rates and pregnancy rates were greater after Ovsynch (timed AI) than after detected estrus. A temperature-humidity index > or = 72 was associated with fewer controls detected in estrus with lower conception than for controls detected in estrus when index values were < 72, whereas the reverse was true for cows after the Ovsynch protocol. We concluded that a timed AI protocol increased pregnancy rates at d 27 to 30 because its success was independent of either expression or detection of estrus. However, because of poorer embryonic survival in Ovsynch cows during heat stress only (39.5 vs. 69.2% survival for Ovsynch and control, respectively), pregnancy rates were not different by d 40 to 50 after timed AI.
Cartmill
J A
JA
Department of Animal Sciences and Industry Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-0201, USA.
El-Zarkouny
S Z
SZ
Hensley
B A
BA
Rozell
T G
TG
Smith
J F
JF
Stevenson
J S
JS
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004971:Estrus; D004972:Estrus Detection; D004973:Estrus Synchronization; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006813:Humidity; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D007774:Lactation; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D015237:Dinoprost