Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > AN > AN09106
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 50(7)

Oestrus synchronisation and fixed time artificial insemination in beef heifers

Daniel Cavestany A B , Daniela Crespi A and Alvaro Fernandez A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Reproduction, Lasplaces 1620, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay.

B Corresponding author. Email: daniel.cavestany@gmail.com

Animal Production Science 50(7) 670-674 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09106
Submitted: 30 July 2009  Accepted: 16 April 2010   Published: 30 July 2010

Abstract

To compare two oestrus synchronisation protocols in beef heifers presynchronised with two prostaglandin F2α (PG) treatments, 36 h after the second PG treatment one group (hCG-OB group; n = 112) received 250 IU of hCG and 0.5 mg of oestradiol benzoate (OB) followed by fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI) 30 h later. Additional oestrus detection (OD) and artificial insemination (AI) was done in this group for 3 days after FTAI; heifers rebred during this period were considered open to the FTAI. The Control group (n = 112) received only OD and AI for 6 days after the second PG treatment. Follicular size was measured at the time of AI in a subsample of heifers (59 in the hCG-OB group and 34 in the Control group). Results were evaluated separately either considering heifers pregnant at FTAI or those pregnant at FTAI + 3-day OD + AI. The FTAI conception rate was 45.5 vs 76.5% for the Control group (P < 0.0001) and pregnancy rates were 45.5 and 67.0% (P = 0.0014); FTAI + OD + AI conception rates were 63.4 and 76.2% (P = 0.0404) and pregnancy rates 63.4 and 62.8% (P = 0.5719) (hCG-OB and Control groups, respectively). There was a significant correlation (r = 0.713, P < 0.01) between follicle size at FTAI and pregnancy in the hCG-OB group, but not in the Control group (r = 0.3465, P > 0.1). In conclusion, acceptable synchronised conception rate and pregnancy rate were obtained by using this protocol, and the results were improved by complementing it with OD + AI for 3 days after FTAI.


Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the owner and staff of ‘El Aguila’ farm where the study was conducted. We thank Dr Fernando Lopez-Gatius and Dr Jevgeni Kurykin for their kind suggestions.


References


Burns MG, Buttrey BS, Dobbins CA, Martel CA, Olson KC, Lamb GC, Stevenson JS (2008) Evaluation of human chorionic gonadotropin as a replacement for gonadotropin-releasing hormone in ovulation-synchronization protocols before fixed timed artificial insemination in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 86, 2539–2548.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Cavestany D, Negrin N, Negrin R, Groth JF (2002) Response of beef heifers and non-suckling beef cows to different oestrus synchronisation protocols. Animal Science 74, 547–552. open url image1

Cavestany D, Betancour H, Blanc E, Lemaire C, Slavica J, Moreira F, Piaggio J, Risco C (2007) Reproductive efficiency in grazing lactating dairy cows under a programmed reproductive management. Australian Veterinary Journal 85, 141–147.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Dailey RA, Price JC, Simmons KR, Meisterling EM, Quinn PA, Washburn SP (1986) Synchronisation of oestrus in dairy cows with prostaglandin F2a and oestradiol benzoate. Journal of Dairy Science 69, 1110–1114.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Diskin MG, Austin EJ, Roche JF (2002) Exogenous hormonal manipulation of ovarian activity in cattle. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 23, 211–228.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Figueroa MR, Fuquay JW, Shipley SK (1988) Synchronisation of oestrus in early diestral dairy heifers with prostaglandin F2a and oestradiol benzoate. Theriogenology 30, 1093–1097.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Kaim M, Rosemberg M, Folman Y (1990) Management of reproduction in dairy heifers based on the synchronisation of estrous cycles. Theriogenology 34, 537–547.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Kastelic JP, Ginther OJ (1991) Factors affecting the origin of the ovulatory follicle in heifers with induced luteolysis. Animal Reproduction Science 26, 13–24.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Kurykin J, Jaakma Ü, Majas L, Jalakas M, Aidnik M, Waldmann A, Padrik P (2003) Fixed time deep intracornual insemination of heifers at synchronized oestrus. Theriogenology 60, 1261–1268.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Lamb GC, Dahlen CR, Larson JE, Marquezini G, Stevenston JS (2009) Control of the estrous cycle to improve fertility for fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) in beef cattle: a review. Journal of Animal Science ,
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lammoglia MA, Short RE, Bellows SE, Bellows RA, MacNeil MD, Hafs HD (1998) Induced and synchronized oestrus in cattle: dose titration of oestradiol benzoate in peripubertal heifers and post partum cows after treatment with an intravaginal progesterone-releasing insert and prostaglandin F2a. Journal of Animal Science 76, 1662–1670.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Lopez-Gatius F (1989) Effects of cloprostenol, human chorionic gonadotropin and oestradiol benzoate treatment on oestrus synchronisation in dairy cows. Theriogenology 32, 185–195.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Lopez-Gatius F (2000a) Short synchronisation system for oestrus cycles in dairy heifers: a preliminary report. Theriogenology 54, 1185–1190.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Lopez-Gatius F (2000b) Reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows treated with cloprostenol, hCG and oestradiol benzoate for synchronisation of oestrus followed by timed AI. Theriogenology 54, 551–558.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Lopez-Gatius F, Vega-Prieto B (1990) Pregnancy rate of dairy cows following synchronisation of oestrus with cloprostenol, hCG and oestradiol benzoate. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A 37, 452–454.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lucy MC, Stevenson JS, Call EP (1986) Controlling first service and calving interval by prostaglandin F2 alpha, gonadotropin releasing hormone and timed insemination. Journal of Dairy Science 69, 2186–2194.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Lucy MC, McDougall S, Nation DP (2004) The use of hormonal treatments to improve the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows in feedlot or pasture-based management systems. Animal Reproduction Science 82–83, 495–512.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Macmillan KL, Day AM (1982) Prostaglandin F2a: a fertility drug in dairy cattle? Theriogenology 18, 245–253.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Martínez MF, Adams GP, Bergfelt DR, Kastelic JP, Mapletoft RJ (1999) Effect of LH or GnRH on the dominant follicle of the first follicular wave in beef heifers. Animal Reproduction Science 57, 23–33.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

McIntosh DAD, Lewis JA, Hammond D (1984) Conception rates in dairy cattle treated with cloprostenol and inseminated at observed oestrus. The Veterinary Record 115, 129–130.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Moreira F, de la Sota RL, Díaz T, Thatcher WW (2000) Effect of day of estrous cycle at the initiation of a timed insemination protocol on reproductive responses in dairy heifers. Journal of Animal Science 78, 1568–1576.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Perry GA, Smith MF, Lucy MC (2005) Relationship between follicle size at insemination and pregnancy success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, 5268–5273.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Peters JB, Welch JA, Lauderdale JW, Inskeep EK (1977) Synchronisation of oestrus in beef cattle with PGF2α and oestradiol benzoate. Journal of Animal Science 45, 230–235.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Price CA, Webb R (1989) Ovarian response to hCG treatment during the estrous cycle in heifers. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 86, 303–308.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Salfen BE, Cresswell JR, Xu ZZ, Bao B, Garverick HA (1999) Effects of the presence of a dominant follicle and exogenous oestradiol on the duration of the luteal phase of the bovine oestrous cycle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 115, 15–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Santos JEP, Thatcher WW, Chebel RC, Cerri RLA, Galvao KN (2004) The effect of embryonic death rates in cattle on the efficacy of oestrus synchronisation programs. Animal Reproduction Science 82–83, 513–535.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Sartori R, Fricke PM, Ferreira JC, Ginther OJ, Wiltbank MC (2001) Follicular deviation and acquisition of ovulatory capacity in bovine follicles. Biology of Reproduction 65, 1403–1409.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Vasconcelos JLM, Sartori R, Oliveira HN, Guenther JN, Wiltbank MC (2001) Reduction in size of the ovulatory follicle reduces subsequent luteal size and pregnancy rate. Theriogenology 56, 307–314.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Wagner J, Lusby KS, Oltjen JW, Rakestraw J, Wettemann RP, Walters LE (1988) Carcass composition in mature Hereford cows: estimation and effect on daily metabolizable energy requirement during winter. Journal of Animal Science 66, 603–612.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Welch JA, Hackett AJ, Cunningham CJ, Heishman JO, Ford SP, Nadaraja R, Hansel W, Inskeep EK (1975) Control of oestrus in lactating beef cows with prostaglandin F2a and oestradiol benzoate. Journal of Animal Science 41, 1686–1692.
| PubMed |
open url image1