A five-day progesterone plus eCG-based fixed-time AI protocol improves fertility over spontaneous estrus in high-producing dairy cows under heat stress.
This study compared the efficiency of a five-day or standard (nine-day) progesterone-based regimen combined with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) in a fixed-time AI (FTAI) protocol for dairy cows. The data examined were derived from 3577 inseminations conducted in three dairy herds. Animals with no estrus signs detected over 21 days were randomly assigned to a PRID-9 or PRID-5 group. Cows in each group received a progesterone intravaginal device (PRID) for 9 or 5 days, respectively, PGF(2α) and eCG on PRID removal, and GnRH 48 h later. Fixed-time AI was performed 12 h after the GnRH dose. Cows artificially inseminated following spontaneous estrus during the study period were considered as controls. Based on the odds ratio, the likelihoods of animals in PRID-9 in the warm (conception rate [CR] of 22.3%) and cool (32% CR) periods, and control animals in the warm period (26.6% CR) becoming pregnant were reduced (by factors of 0.6, 0.3 and 0.4, respectively) compared with the control animals in the cool period (CR of 43.7%). The risk of a twin pregnancy was higher (51.4%) for cystic PRID-9 cows (by a factor of 3.6) and lower (9.9%) for cyclic PRID-5 animals (by a factor of 0.4) compared with the PRID-9 cyclic cows. These findings indicate that the proposed protocol achieves similar results during the cool or warm season to those obtained when AI is conducted at spontaneous estrus during the cool season. In addition, PRID-5 reduced twin pregnancy compared with PRID-9.
Department of Animal Production, Agrotecnio, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
Irina
I
Garcia-Ispierto
M Angels
MA
Roselló
Fabio
F
De Rensis
Fernando
F
López-Gatius
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D017849:Animals, Inbred Strains; D000858:Anovulation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003612:Dairying; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011374:Progesterone