Short communication: presynchronization for timed artificial insemination in grazing dairy cows by using progesterone for 14 days with or without prostaglandin F2α at the time of progesterone withdrawal.
Progesterone-containing devices can be inserted intravaginally for 14 d to presynchronize the estrous cycle for timed artificial insemination (TAI) in beef heifers ("14-day CIDR-PG" or "Show-Me-Synch" program). The progesterone treatment is effective for presynchronization because cattle develop a persistent dominant follicle during treatment that ovulates within 3 d after progesterone removal. The subsequent estrous cycle can be effectively used for a TAI program. Some cattle will retain a functional corpus luteum (CL) for the entire 14-d treatment period and will not be synchronized effectively because the interval to ovulation depends on the lifespan of their existing CL. The objective was to test the effect of a luteolytic dose of PGF(2α) at progesterone removal for improving synchrony of estrus after treatment and increasing conception rate to a subsequent TAI in dairy cows. Postpartum cows (n = 1,021) from 2 grazing dairy herds were assigned to 1 of 2 presynchronization programs that used a controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) device containing progesterone: 14dCIDR (CIDR in, 14 d, CIDR out; n = 523) or 14dCIDR+PGF(2α) (CIDR in, 14 d, CIDR out, and PGF(2α); n = 498). Cows were body condition scored (BCS; 1 to 5, thin to fat) and tail painted at CIDR removal. Paint score (PS) was recorded after CIDR removal [PS = 0 (all paint removed, indication of estrus), PS = 3 (paint partially removed), or PS = 5 (no paint removed; indication of no estrus)]. At 19 d after CIDR removal, all cows were treated with PGF(2α), 56 h later treated with GnRH, and then 16 h later were TAI. Treating cows with PGF(2α) at CIDR removal increased the percentage with PS = 0 within 5 d (58.1% vs. 68.9%; 14dCIDR vs. 14dCIDR+PGF(2α)). We found no effect of treatment, however, on conception rate at TAI (41.1% vs. 43.6%; respectively). The TAI conception rate increased with increasing BCS and was greater for cows that had PS = 0 within 5 d after CIDR removal. In summary, treating cows with PGF(2α) at CIDR removal increased the percentage of cows with all tail paint removed but did not increase percentage of pregnant cows after TAI.
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Escalante
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Poock
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Mathew
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Martin
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Newsom
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Hamilton
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
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Pohler
Division of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211. Electronic address: lucym@missouri.edu.
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Lucy
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004973:Estrus Synchronization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011374:Progesterone; D015237:Dinoprost