scholarly journals Evaluation of pregnancy rates of Bos indicus cows subjected to different synchronization ovulation protocols using injectable progesterone or an intravaginal device

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 4149
Author(s):  
Jefferson Tadeu Campos ◽  
Fábio Morotti ◽  
Camila Bortoliero Costa ◽  
Larissa Zamparone Bergamo ◽  
Marcelo Marcondes Seneda

This study evaluated the pregnancy rate in Nelore cows (Bos indicus) that were subjected to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) using different protocols consisting of injectable progesterone (P4) or an intravaginal device (impregnated with P4). Multiparous cows 72-84 months in age, 30-45 days postpartum, were selected on the basis of the absence of a corpus luteum (CL) and follicles < 8 mm after transrectal palpation and ultrasound examinations. On a random day of the estrus cycle (D0), the selected animals (n = 135) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups (n = 45 each). Group I (injectable P4/FTAI 36 hours) received 250 mg of injectable P4 and 2 mg EB on D0; on D7, they received 500 µg of cloprostenol; on D8, 300 IU of eCG and 1 mg of EB were administered; and finally, FTAI was performed 36 hours after the application of EB. Group II (injectable P4/FTAI 48 hours) received the same protocol as Group I, except that the FTAI was performed 48 hours after ovulation induction. The animals of Group III (Control/CIDR) received a conventional protocol for FTAI using an intravaginal device (D0: P4 and 2 mg EB; D8: device removal, 500 µg cloprostenol, 300 IU eCG, 1 mg EB; and FTAI performed 48 hours after removal of the device). The results showed that cows synchronized with the conventional protocol for FTAI (Control/CIDR) had a higher pregnancy rate (60 %, 27/45) than those synchronized with an injectable P4/FTAI 36 hours (33.33 %; 15/45, P = 0.010). However, the group receiving injectable P4 group/FTAI 48 hours had a similar pregnancy rate (48.9 %; 22/45; P = 0.290) when compared to both the group receiving the conventional protocol and that receiving injectable P4/FTAI 36 hours (P = 0.134). Although the injectable P4 may affect pregnancy rate with the FTAI performed in 36 hours, we found similar pregnancy rates from cows inseminated 48 hours after induction ovulation, considering injectable or intravaginal P4. Therefore, we suggest that injectable P4 represents an alternative source of progesterone for synchronization of cattle for FTAI.

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Núñez ◽  
T. de Castro ◽  
L. Cutaia ◽  
G. Bó ◽  
A. Menchaca

An important proportion of embryonic deaths in cattle occur during the critical period of embryo development and maternal recognition of pregnancy. High serum progesterone concentrations during this period are associated to higher embryo survival, and the use of eCG could enhance luteal activity. Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of administering eCG at the time of removal of a progesterone-releasing device and 14 days after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in beef cattle. Multiparous suckled cows between 60 and 90 days postpartum (n = 297; Exp. 1), and two-year old prepuberal heifers (n = 689; Exp. 2) with a body condition score (BCS) between 3.5 and 5 (1 to 8 scale) were used. At the beginning of the experiments, none of females used had a corpus luteum detected by ultrasonography. Females received an intravaginal device containing 0.5 g progesterone (DIB 0.5, Syntex, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and 2 mg oestradiol benzoate i.m. (Benzoato de Oestradiol, Syntex). Eight days later, 500 μg of cloprostenol (Ciclase DL, Syntex) and 0.5 mg oestradiol cypionate (Cipiosyn, Syntex) were given i.m. and devices were removed; FTAI was performed 52 to 56 h after DIB removal. At the time of device removal, the animals were randomly allocated to 4 groups, to receive 400 IU of eCG i.m. (Novormon, Syntex) or placebo at device removal and/or 14 days after FTAI, in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Control group did not receive eCG. In Exp. 1, nose plates were placed on calves on the day of DIB insertion and left for 10 days in order to prevent suckling. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography at 30 and 60 days after FTAI. Data were analysed by logistic regression. Pregnancy rate at 30 days after FTAI was affected by treatment (P < 0.05; Table 1). Late embryonic/fetal loss rates (non-pregnant females at 60 days after FTAI over those pregnant at 30 days) were 1.6% (3/182) for cows in Exp. 1 and 4.8% (14/292) for heifers in Exp. 2; no differences were detected among groups. In conclusion, administration of 400 IU of eCG at device removal increases pregnancy rate, both in anestrus cows and heifers. However, the administration of a second dose of eCG 14 days after FTAI suggests a possible effect on embryo survival within the first 30 days of pregnancy in cows but not in heifers. Further studies are required to confirm these results. Table 1.Pregnancy rates after administration of eCG at time of progesterone device removal and/or 14 days after insemination in beef cattle Supported by Syntex.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Lima ◽  
V. G. Pinheiro ◽  
J. R. Cury ◽  
C. M. Barros

There are reports in the literature indicating that use of eCG improves pregnancy rates in Bos indicus anestrous cows treated with a progesterone-based fixed-time AI (FTAI) protocol. More recently, replacement of eCG by FSH in FTAI protocols was reported to have beneficial effects (Bos indicus) or no effect (Bos taurus) on pregnancy rates. In the present experiment the effects of eCG and FSH on pregnancy rates were compared in an FTAI protocol. Primiparous lactating Nellore cows (40 to 80 days postpartum, n = 421) with a body condition score of 2.5 to 3.0 (on a 1 to 5 scale) were randomly allocated in 3 groups: Control (CTR), eCG, and FSH. In the control group, all animals received a progesterone (P4)-releasing intravaginal device (1.55 g, PRID®, Ceva Sante Animale S.A., Libourne, France) and 2.5 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB, i.m. Estrogin®, Farmavet, São Paulo, Brazil), on Day 0 (D0). Eight days later (D8), at the time of the intravaginal device withdrawal, PGF2α (150 μg, D-cloprostenol, i.m. Prolise®, ARSA S.L.R., Buenos Aires, Argentina) was administered. Twenty-four hours after PRID removal, cows were treated with EB (1.0 mg, i.m.), and FTAI was done 30 to 36 h later. In the eCG and FSH groups, the cows were treated with 20 mg of FSH (Folltropin-V®, i.m. Bioniche, Belleville, Canada) or400IU of eCG (Novormon®, i.m. Syntex, Buenos Aires, Argentina), respectively, at the time of PGF2α administration. Ovarian ultrasonography (Aloka SSD 500, 7.5-MHz probe, Aloka, Tokyo, Japan) was performed 10 days prior to and at the beginning of FTAI protocol to select the animals in postpartum anestrous (absence of CL in both examinations). The pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography 30 days after FTAI. Data were analyzed by logistic regression (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Cows treated with eCG had a higher pregnancy rate (41.5%, 95/229; P < 0.05) than those treated with FSH (22.7%, 22/97) or in the control group (26.3%, 25/95). Pregnancy rates of animals treated with FSH did not differ (P > 0.05) from those in the control group. These results indicated that, in lactating primiparous anestrous Nellore cows, the use of eCG in a FTAI protocol improves the pregnancy rate, whereas FSH has no beneficial effect. V. G. Pinheiro received a fellowship from FAPESP (São Paulo, Brazil). The authors are grateful to Ceva Animal Health for providing the intravaginal devices (PRID®) used in this experiment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
G. A. Bo ◽  
A. Cedeño ◽  
R. Maingón ◽  
J. P. Cedeño ◽  
H. Gamboa ◽  
...  

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of the length of insertion of a progesterone (P4)-releasing device and the length of pro-oestrus on follicular and luteal characteristics and pregnancy rates to AI (P/AI) in Bos indicus heifers treated with oestradiol/P4-based treatments. Bos indicus beef heifers (n=374), 22-26 months of age, with a corpus luteum (CL) or at least one follicle ≥8mm in diameter and with a body condition score between 2.5 and 3.5 (1-to-5 scale) were synchronised using three treatments for fixed-time AI (FTAI). On Day 0, all heifers received 2mg of oestradiol benzoate (Sincrodiol, Ourofino) and an intravaginal device with 1g of P4 (Sincrogest, Ourofino). The P4 device was removed on Day 6 in heifers in the J-Synch 6 group (n=120) and on Day 7 in heifers in the J-Synch 7 group (n=105) and conventional group (n=165). All heifers received 500μg of cloprostenol (Sincrocio, Ourofino) and 300IU of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (SincroeCG 6000UI, Ourofino) at the time of P4 device removal. Furthermore, heifers in the conventional treatment group received 0.5mg of oestradiol cypionate (SincroCP, Ourofino) at the same time. In addition, all heifers were tail-painted for oestrus detection (CeloTest, Biotay). Heifers that had lost ≥50% of the tail paint by 70-74h (J-Synch groups) or 48-52h (conventional group) after device removal were FTAI at that time. Heifers not showing oestrus by 70-74h (J-Synch groups) or 48-52h (conventional group) received 10μg of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (Sincroforte, Ourofino) at the same time and were FTAI 8h later. All heifers were also examined using ultrasonography (Mindray DP50 Vet) every 12h from the time of device removal to determine the time of ovulation, 6 days after ovulation to determine the diameter of the CL, and 28 days after FTAI for P/AI determination. Data were analysed using the MLGM procedure (InfoStat) for normal data families (follicular dynamics) and binary data family (P/AI). The results are shown in Table 1. The diameter of the dominant preovulatory follicle and the CL did not differ among groups (P&gt;0.12). However, the interval from device removal to ovulation was longer in heifers in the J-Synch groups than in heifers in the conventional group (P&lt;0.05). Furthermore, P/AI was not different among groups. In conclusion, although the J-Synch protocols delayed the interval from P4 device removal to ovulation, the three protocols evaluated in the present study were equally effective in Bos indicus heifers. Table 1.Mean (±s.e.m.) diameter of the preovulatory follicle (P/Foll) and corpus luteum (CL), interval from progesterone (P4) device removal to ovulation, and pregnancy rates to AI (P/AI) in Bos indicus heifers Treatment P/Foll, mm Interval to ovulation, h CL diameter, mm P/AI,% (n) J-Synch 6 10.5±0.7 101.4±2.3a 18.6±1.0 52.0 (62/120) J-Synch 7 10.6±0.7 96.0±2.2a 16.5±0.9 39.0 (41/105) Conventional 9.4±0.7 73.0±1.9b 16.8±0.9 45.0 (74/165) a,bDifferent superscripts denote differences between groups in the interval from P4 device removal to ovulation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caio Cezar Da Silva ◽  
Hélton Aparecido Garcia Gregianini ◽  
Jennifer Teodoro Ferreira Gregianini ◽  
José Antônio Dell’Aqua Junior ◽  
Jefferson Viana Alves Diniz ◽  
...  

Background: In vitro embryo production (IVEP) allows the spread of superior animal genetics, but pregnancy rates show a high variability with this biotechnique. In the initial stage of pregnancy, progesterone plays a fundamental role in uterine preparation, acting on embryonic growth, implantation, and development. However, on the day of the IVEP transfer to the recipients, progesterone levels may be lower than that expected, influencing the uterine environment and, consequently, the pregnancy rate. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy rate in heifers after the administration of injectable progesterone (P4) in the fixed-time embryo transfer (FTET) protocol.Materials, Methods & Results: The experiment was conducted inside a rural property near the city of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. The experimental group consisted of 232 animals, including 78 zebuine (Bos indicus) and 154 mixed (½ blood B. indicus and ½ blood B. taurus) animals, aged between 16 and 24 months, with a mean weight of 300 and 330 kg for zebuine and mixed animals, respectively. The selected animals were previously synchronized using the progesterone-estrogen-prostaglandin-estrogen protocol. Embryo transfer was performed on day 18 of the protocol, which was 9 days after the removal of intravaginal progesterone implant. On day 15 of the protocol, that is, 144 h (6 days) after the device removal, the animals were randomly distributed into two experimental groups: Control Group (CG; 0.5 mL of 0.9% saline solution, intramuscular) and Treated Group (P4G; 0.5 mL of injectable P4, 150 mg, intramuscular). Chi-square test was used for the statistical analysis of the pregnancy rate at a 5% probability. After 23 days of embryo transfer, pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography. The general pregnancy rate, considering all groups (CG and P4G) and breeds included, was 55.17% (128/232). The pregnancy rates of the P4G and CG groups, regardless of breeds, were 55.08% (65/118) and 55.26% (63/114), respectively, with no statistical difference (P = 0.8344). Angus animals presented a similar pregnancy rate in the P4G and CG groups of 54.93% (39/71) and 57.83% (48/83), respectively. Furthermore, similar results were found for the Nellore breed, with no difference in pregnancy rate between the CG (55.81%, 24/43) and P4G (48.57%, 17/35) groups.Discussion: The strategy of using P4 to increase the pregnancy rate is very widespread in fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols, although differences still exist. The literature presents zero or negative effects, as in this study, when exogenous P4 was used to increase endogenous P4 concentrations and, consequently, the pregnancy rate. However, some studies demonstrated the beneficial effects of increasing blood P4 concentrations, and that the increased fertility depends on the method and time of P4 supplementation and the animal’s physiological state. In this context, the fact that the injectable progesterone supplementation did not increase the pregnancy rate in this study is justified mainly by factors such as the animal category used (heifers), time of P4 supplementation (day 4 after ovulation), biotechnology used (FTET), and the heterogeneous characteristics related to phases of the estrous cycle of heifers. Supplementation with 150 mg of injectable long-acting progesterone intramuscularly did not interfere in the pregnancy rate of Angus and Nellore heifers receiving bovine embryos.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
M. F. Pegorer ◽  
R. L. Ereno ◽  
C. M. Barros

Previous reports indicate that a high concentration of serum progesterone (P4) decreases LH pulse frequency (Burke et al. 1996 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 45, 13–28) and, consequently, follicular growth. This may reduce the efficiency of fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols that utilize P4 in Bos indicus heifers (Marques et al. 2005 Acta Sci. Vet.). The objective of the present work was to evaluate the influence of different P4 concentrations on the ovulation and pregnancy rates of zebu heifers subjected to hormonal protocols for FTAI. Four hormonal protocols with different P4 concentrations were used to induce synchronization of ovulation in Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers (n = 292). Before the beginning of the treatments, the animals were subjected to ovary evaluations by ultrasonography (Aloka SSD 500, 5-MHz probe; Aloka, Tokyo, Japan) twice in an interval of 10 days. Only heifers with a corpus luteum (CL) in at least one of the ultrasonographic evaluations were utilized. At a random stage of the estrous cycle, the selected heifers received an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device containing 0.558 g of P4 [Triu�, Biogenesis, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Treatment 1 (T1); n = 76], or 1 g of P4 [Cronipress�, Biogenesis; Treatment 2 (T2); n = 70], or 0.558 g of P4 and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) [150 �g d-cloprostenol, IM, Croniben�, Biogenesis; Treatment 3 (T3), n = 75], or 1 g of P4 and PGF2α [Treatment 4 (T4), n = 71]. At the time of intravaginal device insertion (Day 0 = D0), all animals received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB, Bioestrogen�, IM, Biogenesis), and PGF2α was administered only in animals from groups T3 and T4. Eight days later (D8), PGF2α (0.150 g d-cloprostenol) was administered to all heifers and the P4 source was removed. Twenty-four h after removal of the intravaginal device, the heifers were treated with EB (1 mg, IM), and 30 to 36 h later all animals were fixed-time inseminated (FTAI, D10), without estrus detection. In a subset of heifers from each group (T1 = 28; T2 = 34; T3 = 33; T4 = 31), ovarian ultrasonography was performed on D9 (at 8:00 A.M.) and D11 (at 14:00 P.M.) in order to determine ovulation rate after each treatment. The data were analyzed by logistic regression (GENPROC, SAS; SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Ovulation rates after treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4, were, respectively, 71.4% (20/28), 76.5% (26/34), 84.9% (28/33), and 70.9% (22/31), and there was no significant difference among groups (P > 0.05). Pregnancy rates, ascertained by ultrasonography 40 days after AI, were 30.2% (23/76), 25.7% (18/70), 33.3% (25/75), and 28.2% (20/71), respectively, for T1, T2, T3, and T4, and likewise there was no significant difference among groups (P > 0.05). It is concluded that reduction of progesterone concentration in the intravaginal device (1 g v. 0.558 g) associated or not with administration of PGF2α at the beginning of treatments did not significantly influence ovulation and pregnancy rates in Nelore heifers submitted to a FTAI protocol. Additional experiments are underway to confirm or not the present results. This work was supported by FAPESP (Brazil) and BIOGENESIS (Argentina).


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
J. P. Detomini ◽  
R. R. Tirloni ◽  
C. V. Araujo ◽  
L. R. Martins

The aim of this study was to establish a comparison between heterospermic and monospermic semen on the pregnancy rate of fixed-time AI Bos indicus cows. The experiment was conducted in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, during December 2010 and February 2011. Multiparous (n = 173) and primiparous (n = 204) Nelore cows, 45 ± 15 days postpartum, were evaluated on body condition score (BCS; score 1 to 9), and those that presented BCS between 5 and 8 were selected. Two protocols of estrous cycle synchronization were performed (PeCG and Pshang). Synchronization of the estrous cycle was achieved with the aid of the following protocol: on Day 0, all animals were treated with a progesterone vaginal implant with 1.9 g of progesterone combined with an IM injection of 2 mg of estradiol benzoate. On Day 7, an IM injection of 12.5 mg of dinoprost was administered. On Day 9, implants were withdrawn and the animals received an IM injection of 0.5 mg of estradiol cypionate. On Day 9, part of the animals (n = 222) received an IM injection of 300 IU mg of eCG (PeCG) and the other part (n = 155) had their calves removed for 48 hours (Pshang). All animals were inseminated 46 to 52 h after the end of the protocol. Cows were allocated randomly in 4 groups according to the donor male sample in the semen straw and groups were designated as MA (monospermic straw from bull A; n = 110), MB (monospermic straw from bull B; n = 102), MC (monospermic straw from bull C; n = 108), and HT (heterospermic sample from bulls A, B, and C; n = 57). Commercially available semen straws from Aberdeen Angus donors were used (ABS Pecplan, Brazil). Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 35 days after AI using real-time ultrasonography. Results are summarized in Table 1. There was no statistical difference between MA, MB, MC, and HT in any group according to the chi-square test (P > 0.05). However, there was a remarkable difference in pregnancy rates among the 3 bulls tested considering both protocols, probably due to the variation in the ovulation moment. Table 1.Pregnancy rates of Nelore cows submitted to FTAI protocol inseminated with monospermic (bull A, B, or C) or heterospermic (HT) semen


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
C. C. Vieira ◽  
V. Buss ◽  
A. M. Oliveira ◽  
M. E. R. Costa ◽  
B. G. Freitas ◽  
...  

The effect of the exposure of pregnant cattle to oestradiol benzoate (EB) or injectable long-acting progesterone (iP4), as well as their use for early resynchronisation of non-pregnant (NP) females within the second week after timed AI (TAI), is yet to be assessed. This study aimed to assess the pregnancy rate and embryonic loss of cross-bred Bos taurus×Bos indicus beef heifers in response to an EB- or iP4-based resynchronisation strategy implemented 14 days after the first TAI. A total of 677 cyclic heifers (Braford and Brangus; 24 months old) were subjected to an EB/P4 synchronisation protocol for the first TAI (Day 0=TAI). On Day 14, all heifers received a new P4 intravaginal device (1g, Sincrogest, Ourofino Saúde Animal) and were randomly assigned to two groups: EB (1mg intramuscularly, Sincrodiol; n=339) or iP4 (75 mg intramuscularly, Sincrogest Injetável; n=338). On Day 22, P4 devices were removed and heifers underwent colour Doppler ultrasonography evaluation. Non-pregnant females were identified by the assessment of structural regression of the corpus luteum, as previously reported by our group. On Day 22, NP heifers received 1mg of oestradiol cipionate (SincroCP), 250µg of sodium cloprostenol (Sincrocio), and 200IU of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (SincroeCG), and they were inseminated on Day 24. On Day 22, the diameter of the preovulatory follicle (POF) was also recorded. Pregnancy was diagnosed via B-mode ultrasonography on Days 35-40 and 54. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software (ver. 9.2, SAS Institute Inc.). The MIXED procedure was used to evaluate the POF diameter, and the GLIMMIX procedure was used to develop a multivariate model including treatment, breed, age, farm (1-7), and possible interactions of treatment with farm, breed, and age to evaluate the binomial data (pregnancy rates and embryonic loss). In NP heifers, the diameter of the POF on Day 22 did not differ (P&gt;0.05) between the EB (9.77±0.25mm) and iP4 (9.92±0.22 mm) groups. Exposure to EB or iP4 on Day 14 post-TAI did not influence pregnancy rates as assessed on Day 22 (56.3% (191/339) vs. 60.1% (203/338)) and on Days 35-40 (49.6% (168/339) vs. 53.3% (180/338)). In addition, embryonic loss between Days 22 and 35-40 was not different between the EB (12%, 23/191) and iP4 (11.3%, 23/203) groups. On the other hand, pregnancy rates in heifers submitted to the second TAI were greater (P=0.01) in the EB group (45.95%, 68/148) than in the iP4 group (31.85%, 43/135). In conclusion, improved pregnancy rates can be achieved using 1mg of EB associated with a P4 intravaginal device on Day 14 of the resynchronisation protocol without affecting the first TAI pregnancy rates and embryonic loss. However, further investigation is warranted to assess the lower pregnancy rates obtained in response to the association of iP4 and P4 device. This research was supported by FAPESP (2015/10606-9; 2019/15514-6), Graduate Studies Support Program (PAPG-UNIPAMPA), and Ourofino Saúde Animal.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
M. F. Pegorer ◽  
R. L. Ereno ◽  
R. A. Satrapa ◽  
C. M. Barros

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different P4 concentrations, associated or not with eCG, in the ovulation and pregnancy rates of Nellore heifers submitted to hormonal protocols for FTAI. In experiment (exp.) 1, heifers (n = 15) presynchronized with a hormonal treatment were randomly allocated in 4 groups. At the time of intravaginal device insertion (Day 0) all animals received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and a intravaginal progesterone-releasing device containing 0.558 g of P4 (Triu®, Biogenesis Bago, Buenos Aires, Argentina; group 0.5G, n = 4) or 1g of P4 (Cronipres®, Biogenesis Bago; group 1G, n = 4), or 0.558 g of P4 and PGF2α (150 μg of D-cloprostenol, group 0.5G/PGF, n = 4), or 1 g of P4 and PGF2α (group 1G/PGF, n = 3). Eight days later (Day 8), PGF2α (150 μg D-cloprostenol) was administered to all heifers, and the P4 source was removed. Twenty-four hours after removing the intravaginal device (Day 9), the heifers were treated with EB (1 mg, i.m.). Blood samples were collected on Days 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 to evaluate plasma P4 concentration. In exp. 2, cycling Nellore heifers (n = 292) were treated with the same protocols as in the exp. 1. However, 30 to 36 h later all animals were FTAI on Day 10. In exp. 3, heifers (n = 459) received the treatments described for groups 0.5G/PGF and 1G/PGF associated with 300 IU of eCG (i.m. groups 0.5G/PGF/eCG and 1G/PGF/eCG) at the time of intravaginal device removal (Day 8). In a subset of heifers from each group, ovarian ultrasonography was performed to determine the diameter of the dominant follicle on Day 9 (exp.3) and the ovulation rate on Day 12 (exp. 2 and 3). ANOVA for repeated measurements was used to compare P4 levels, and the binary variables (ovulation and pregnancy rates) were analyzed by logistic regression. In exp. 1, P4 concentrations were higher in animals that received 1.0 compared with 0.558 g of P4, and lower in heifers that received PGF2α on Day 0. In both exp. 2 and 3 there were no significant differences in ovulation (65 to 77%) and pregnancy (exp.2: 26 to 33%; exp.3: 39 to 43%) rates among the several groups. In exp. 3, the animals that received 0.558 g of P4 had a larger diameter of the dominant follicle on Day 9 compared with heifers treated with 1.0 g (10.3 ± 0.2 v. 9.3 ± 0.2 mm; P < 0.01). It is concluded that reduction of P4 concentration in the intravaginal device or the administration of PGF2α at the beginning of the treatments decreases blood levels of P4 between Days 1 and 8 of the FTAI protocols. However, although the use of intravaginal devices with lower P4 contributed to increase the dominant follicle diameter on Day 9, there was no significant increase on ovulation and pregnancy rates. Additionally, the association of eCG with FTAI protocols did not improve follicular growth or ovulation and pregnancy rates. Supported by FAPESP (Sao Paulo, Brazil).


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Martins ◽  
M. I. S. Silva ◽  
G. A. Crepaldi ◽  
W. O. Melo ◽  
J. R. S. Torres-Júnior

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reutilization of intravaginal progesterone devices on pregnancy rate of lactating and nonlactating Nelore cows submitted to fixed-time AI (FTAI). The study used 684 lactating cows (50 to 70 days postpartum) and 361 nonlactating cows (210 to 240 days postpartum). At random stages of the estrous cycle (Day 0), all animals received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (Estrogin®, Farmavet, São Paulo, Brazil) and the animals of each category (lactating or nonlactating) were allocated in 1 of 2 treatments (new or used). Thus, the 4 groups consisted of lactating/new, lactating/used, nonlactating/new and nonlactating/used. The animals of lactating/new and nonlactating/new groups received a new intravaginal progesterone device (1 g of P4, DIB®, Intervet/Schering-Plough, São Paulo, Brazil) and the cows of lactating/used and nonlactating/used groups received a similar device that had previously been used for 8 days. At the time of P4 device removal (Day 8), the cows were treated with 150 μg of cloprostenol (Preloban®, Intervet/Schering-Plough), 1 mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP®, Pfizer, São Paulo, Brazil), and 300 IU of eCG (Folligon®, Intervet/Schering-Plough). The cows were FTAI on Day 10 (48 to 52 h after device removal). To evaluate the pregnancy rate, an ultrasonographic examination (CHISON 500VET, USP Brasil Eletromedicina, São Paulo, Brazil) was performed 30 days after the FTAI. Data were analyzed using the GENMOD procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).There was no interaction between treatment and BCS, AI bull, or technician. The pregnancy rates for the groups were 155/300 (51.7%a for lactating/new, 200/384 (52.1%a for lactating/used, 52/154 (33.8%b for nonlactating/new, and 96/207 (46.2%a for nonlactating/used (P = 0.0007). A reduction in pregnancy rate for nonlactating cows occurred when the intravaginal progesterone device was new. Although serum progesterone was not measured in the current trial, it is very likely that this finding might be explained by the high cyclicity rates in beef cows after weaning (210 days postpartum) and by the presence of CL producing additional support of progesterone besides the high P4 from the new device (Baruselli et al. 2004 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 82, 479-486). Many researchers found that greater circulating progesterone concentrations during progesterone implant treatment reduced LH pulsatility, LH follicular receptors, and follicular growth (Ireland and Roche, 1982 J. Reprod. Fertil. 64, 295-302). Furthermore, it seems likely that the presence of smaller-sized ovulatory follicles might contribute to ovulation failures, delayed ovulation, smaller CL area, and decrease in the pregnancy rate (Carvalho et al. 2008 Theriogenology 69, 167-175). In conclusion, lactating cows can be fixed-time inseminated using a new or a previously used DIB® as progesterone source. However, for nonlactating cows, a previously used device may increase pregnancy rates. USP Brasil Eletromedicina, ABS Pecplan and Fazendas Reunidas Rio Bravo.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Veneranda ◽  
L. Filippi ◽  
D. Racca ◽  
L. Cutaia ◽  
G. A. Bo

We have previously shown that the addition of eCG improved pregnancy rates following fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in lactating dairy cows treated with estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone releasing devices (Veneranda et al. 2006 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 18, 118). An experiment was designed to compare pregnancy rates in lactating dairy cows treated with progesterone-releasing devices and EB plus eCG with different gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based protocols. Five-hundred lactating dairy cows between 30 and 51 days postpartum (when prostaglandin F (PGF) treatments were given in the Pre-Synch groups), with a milk yield of 29.5 � 7.0 kg per day (range 13.0 to 46.0 kg) and a body condition score (BCS) between 2.5 to 3.5 out of 5 were used. Cows were blocked by days postpartum and randomly assigned to five treatment groups. Cows in the Pre-Synch group received PGF 28 and 14 days prior to the insertion of a DIB device (1 g progesterone, Syntex SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the administration of 50 µg of Lecirelin (GnRH, Ovusin, Syntex SA) IM (Day 0). On Day 7, DIB were removed and cows received PGF (0.5 mg cloprostenol, Ciclase, Syntex SA). On Day 9, cows received a second GnRH treatment and were FTAI 16 h later (60 h after device removal). Cows in the Modified Pre-Synch group were treated similarly except that they received a DIB for 7 days prior to the second PGF injection and no DIB at the time of the first GnRH. Cows in the P4-Synch group were treated as those in the Pre-synch group but did not receive the two doses of PGF 28 and 14 days earlier. Cows in the P4 + EB + eCG groups received a DIB for 8 days, 2 mg of EB at DIB insertion (Day 0), and PGF and 400 IU eCG (Novormon, Syntex SA) IM at DIB removal (Day 8); they were subdivided to receive 1 mg of EB on Day 9 (P4 + EB + eCG + EB group) or GnRH on Day 10 (P4 + EB + eCG + GnRH group). Cows in these latter two groups were also FTAI 60 h after device removal. Pregnancy was determined by rectal palpation 50 days after FTAI and data were analyzed by logistic regression. Pregnancy rates were not affected by BCS, days postpartum, or milk yield (P > 0.5). However, there was a significant group effect due to a higher (P < 0.05) pregnancy rate in the P4 + EB + eCG + EB (49%) and P4 + EB + eCG + GnRH (44%) treatment groups than in those in the Modified Pre-Synch group (30%). Pregnancy rate in the P4-Synch group (39%) was lower (P < 0.05) than those in the P4 + EB + eCG + EB group but not different from the others. Finally, pregnancy rate in Pre-Synch group (41%) was intermediate and not different from the other treatment groups. Results of these experiments suggest that treatments with progesterone-releasing devices, EB, and eCG result in pregnancy rates that are comparable to or better than those obtained in GnRH-based protocols in lactating dairy cows. Further studies are needed to investigate whether eCG could increase pregnancy rates in cows treated with GnRH and progesterone-releasing devices. The authors thank Syntex SA for providing the hormones used in the study.


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