Hormonal synchronization of ovulation in beef heifers and fertility after artificial insemination

Abstract

After ovarian examination, and enucleation of corpora lutea where possible, groups of beef heifers on farms in the New England region were injected with progesterone in oil for 6 days. This was followed in some experiments by treatment with placental gonadotrophins. Artificial insemination was carried out 3–5 days after the final injection of progesterone. The effects of dose of progesterone, pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin, and human chorionic gonadotrophin on fertility were observed. Fertility was highest in heifers in which the corpus luteum was enucleated prior to injection of progesterone.