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Timed artificial insemination plus heat II: gonadorelin injection in cows with low estrus expression scores increased pregnancy in progesterone/estradiol-based protocol

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2019

W. B. Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Embrapa Pantanal, Rua 21 de Setembro, 1880, Corumbá, MS 79320-900, Brasil
A. S. Silva
Affiliation:
Genesis Tecnologia e Reprodução Animal, Rua Goncalves Dias, 390, Campo Grande, MS, 79004-210, Brasil
J. C. B. Silva
Affiliation:
Embrapa Pantanal, Rua 21 de Setembro, 1880, Corumbá, MS 79320-900, Brasil
N. A. Anache
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, UFMS – Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443,Campo Grande -MS, 79074-460, Brasil
K. C. Silva
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, UFMS – Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443,Campo Grande -MS, 79074-460, Brasil
C. J. T. Cardoso
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, UFMS – Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443,Campo Grande -MS, 79074-460, Brasil
W. R. Garcia
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, UFMS – Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443,Campo Grande -MS, 79074-460, Brasil
P. Sutovsky
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women’s Health, Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
E. Nogueira*
Affiliation:
Embrapa Pantanal, Rua 21 de Setembro, 1880, Corumbá, MS 79320-900, Brasil Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, UFMS – Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443,Campo Grande -MS, 79074-460, Brasil
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Abstract

The use of tail chalk and estrus/heat expression scores (HEATSC) evaluation is instrumental in identifying cows with greater estrus expression and greater artificial insemination pregnancy rates (P/AI) in cows submitted to timed artificial insemination (TAI), and cows with low or no estrus expression present lower P/AI. It was intended in this study to improve the pregnancy rates in TAI for Bos indicus beef cows, and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection was hypothesized to increase pregnancy rates in a TAI program for cows submitted to progesterone–estradiol-based protocols with low or no estrus expression, evaluated by HEATSC. Cows (n= 2284) received a progesterone device and 2 mg estradiol benzoate, after 8 days the device was removed and 1 mg estradiol cypionate, 150 μg of d-cloprostenol and 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin was administered. All cows were marked with chalk and HEATSC evaluated (scales 1 to 3) at TAI performed on day 10. Animals with HEATSC1 and HEATSC2 (n= 937) received 100 μg de gonadorelin (GNRH group; n= 470), or 1 ml saline (Control group; n= 467), and cows with HEATSC3 (named HEAT group; n= 1347) received no additional treatment. The larger dominant follicle, evaluated on day 8and at TAI (day 10), was greater in HEAT group (P= 0.0145 and P <0.001, respectively). Corpus luteum (CL) area and progesterone concentration was evaluated on day 17, and CL area was larger in HEAT group, intermediary in Control and lower in GnRH group (Control= 2.68 cm2, GnRH= 2.37 cm2, HEAT group= 3.07 cm2, P <0.001). Greater progesterone concentrations were found in HEAT group than in Control and GnRH groups (Control= 4.74 ng/ml, GnRH= 4.29 ng/ml, HEAT group= 6.08 ng/ml, P<0.001). There was a difference in ovulation rate, greater in HEAT group than GnRH and Control groups (Control= 72.5%; GnRH= 81.25%; HEAT group= 90.71%; P= 0.0024). Artificial insemination pregnancy rates was greater in HEAT group (57.09% (769/1347) than in Control and GNRH groups, with positive effect of GnRH injection at the time of TAI in P/AI (Control= 36.18% (169/467), GnRH= 45.95% (216/470); P<0.0001). In conclusion, GnRH application in cows with low HEATSC (1 and 2) is a simple strategy, requiring no changes in TAI management to increase pregnancy rates in postpartum beef cows submitted to progesterone–estradiol-based TAI protocols, without reaching, however, the pregnancy rates of cows that demonstrate high estrus expression at the TAI.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2019 

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