David J. Patterson

Timing of artificial insemination in postpartum beef cows following administration of the CO-Synch + controlled internal drug-release protocol.

This experiment was designed to compare pregnancy rates in postpartum beef cows resulting from fixed-time AI (FTAI) at 54 or 66 h after administration of the CO-Synch + controlled internal drug-release (CIDR) protocol. Cows (n = 851) at 2 locations over 2 yr (yr 1, n = 218 and 206; and yr 2, n = 199 and 228 at the 2 locations, respectively) were stratified by age, BCS, and days postpartum to 1 of 2 FTAI intervals. Cows were administered GnRH (100 mug, i.m.) and were equipped with a CIDR insert (1.38 g of progesterone) on d 0. Controlled internal drug-release inserts were removed 7 d later at the time PGF(2alpha) (25 mg, i.m.) was administered (d 7). Continuous estrus detection was performed at location 2 by using the HeatWatch Estrus Detection System; the transmitters were fitted at the time of PGF(2alpha) and removed at the time of AI. Artificial insemination was performed at predetermined fixed times [54 h (FTAI 54; n = 424) or 66 h (FTAI 66; n = 427) after PGF(2alpha)] and all cows were administered GnRH (100 mug, i.m.) at AI. Two blood samples were collected on d -10 or -8 and immediately before treatment initiation to determine the pretreatment estrous cyclicity status of cows [progesterone >/=0.5 ng/mL (FTAI 54, 288/424 = 68%; FTAI 66, 312/427 = 73%; P = 0.07)]. Pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.01) among cows that exhibited estrus than among those that did not (123/163 = 76% and 150/270 = 56%, respectively). There were no treatment x location interactions within year (P > 0.10) for age, days postpartum, or BCS; thus, the results were pooled for the respective treatments. Pregnancy rates were greater for FTAI 66 than FTAI 54 (P = 0.05; 286/426 = 67% vs. 257/424 = 61%, respectively). Pregnancy rates resulting from FTAI did not differ between year (P = 0.09), farm (P = 0.80), AI sire (P = 0.11), or technician (P = 0.64). There was no difference between pregnancy rates resulting from FTAI based on pretreatment cyclicity status (P = 0.30), and there was no difference between treatments in final pregnancy rates (P = 0.77). In summary, pregnancy rates resulting from FTAI following CO-Synch + CIDR at 66 h were greater than those resulting from FTAI at 54 h.

Comparison of protocols to synchronize estrus and ovulation in estrous-cycling and prepubertal beef heifers

The objective of the experiment was to compare follicular dynamics, ovulatory response to GnRH, and synchrony of estrus and ovulation among estrous-cycling and prepubertal beef heifers synchronized with a controlled internal drug-release (CIDR)- based or GnRH-PGF(2alpha) (PG) protocol. Estrous-cycling beef heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (C1, C2, C3, C4), and prepubertal beef heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments (P1, P2) by age and BW. Blood samples were taken 10 and 1 d before treatment to confirm estrous cyclicity status (progesterone > or =0.5 ng/mL estrous cycling). The CIDR Select (C1, n = 12; P1, n = 14)-treated heifers received a CIDR insert (1.38 g of progesterone) from d 0 to 14, GnRH (100 microg, i.m.) on d 23, and PG (25 mg, i.m.) on d 30. Select Synch + CIDR (C2, n = 12; P2, n = 11)-treated heifers received a CIDR insert and GnRH on d 23 and PG at CIDR removal on d 30. The CIDR-PG (C3, n = 12)-treated heifers received a CIDR insert on d 23 and PG at CIDR removal on d 30. Select Synch (C4, n = 12)-treated heifers received GnRH on d 23 and PG on d 30. HeatWatch transmitters were fitted at CIDR removal (C1, C2, C3, P1, and P2) or at GnRH administration (C4) for estrus detection. Ultrasound was used to determine the response to GnRH and the timing of ovulation after estrus. Among the estrous-cycling heifers, ovulatory response to GnRH and estrous response did not differ (P > 0.05). Among the prepubertal heifers, more (P = 0.02) P1 heifers responded to GnRH than P2 heifers, but estrous response did not differ (P > 0.05). Among the estrous-cycling heifers, variance for interval to estrus after PG was reduced (P < 0.05) for C1 compared with each of the other treatments, and C3 [corrected] was reduced (P < 0.05) compared with C2 [corrected] Variance for interval to ovulation after PG was reduced (P < 0.05) for C1 compared with each of the other treatments. Among the prepubertal heifers, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in variance for interval to estrus or ovulation. Results from C1 and P1 (T1) and C2 and P2 (T2) were combined to compare T1 and T2 among mixed groups of estrous-cycling and prepubertal heifers. Response to GnRH was greater (P < 0.01; 81% T1 and 39% T2), and variances for interval to estrus and ovulation for T1 were reduced (P < 0.01) compared with T2. In summary, CIDR Select improved (P < 0.01) the synchrony of estrus and ovulation compared with Select Synch + CIDR.

Control of Estrus and Ovulation in Beef Heifers

Expanded use of artificial insemination (AI) and/or adoption of emerging reproductive technologies for beef heifers and cows require precise methods of estrous-cycle control. New protocols for inducing and synchronizing a fertile estrus in replacement beef heifers and postpartum beef cows in which progestins are used provide new opportunities for beef producers to synchronize estrus and ovulation and to facilitate fixed-time AI. This article reviews the various estrous synchronization protocols currently available for use in replacement beef heifers. New methods of inducing and synchronizing estrus now create the opportunity to significantly expand the use of AI in the United States cowherd.

The 9-day CIDR-PG protocol: Incorporation of PGF2α pretreatment into a long-term progestin-based estrus synchronization protocol for postpartum beef cows

A pilot experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that administration of PGF2α before progestin treatment would allow for a reduced duration of progestin treatment in a long-term progestin-based estrus synchronization protocol. A modified presynchronization treatment was compared with a standard long-term controlled internal drug release (CIDR) treatment, and treatments were compared on the basis of ovarian follicular dynamics, estrous response rate, synchrony of estrus expression, and pregnancy rates resulting from timed artificial insemination (TAI) in postpartum beef cows. Estrous was synchronized for 85 cows, with cows assigned to one of two treatments based on age, days postpartum, and body condition score. Cows assigned to the 14-day CIDR-PG protocol received a CIDR insert (1.38xa0g progesterone) on Day 0, CIDR removal on Day 14, and administration of PGF2α (25xa0mg im) on Day 30. Cows assigned to the 9-day CIDR-PG protocol received PGF2α concurrent with CIDR insertion on Day 5, PGF2α concurrent with CIDR removal on Day 14, and administration of PGF2α on Day 30. In both treatments, split-time AI was performed based on estrous response. At 72xa0hours after PGF2α (Day 33), cows having expressed estrus received TAI; cows that failed to express estrus by 72xa0hours received TAI 24xa0hours later (96xa0hours after PGF2α on Day 34), with GnRH (100xa0μg im) administered to nonestrous cows. Estrus-detection transmitters were used from CIDR removal until AI to determine onset time of estrus expression both after CIDR removal and after PGF2α. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed at CIDR removal on Day 14, PGF2α on Day 30, and AI on Days 33 or 34. At CIDR removal on Day 14, diameter of the largest follicle present on the ovary was similar between treatments. The proportion of cows expressing estrus after CIDR removal tended to be higher (Pxa0=xa00.09) among cows assigned to the 9-day CIDR-PG treatment (93%; 40 of 43) than among cows assigned to the 14-day CIDR-PG treatment (81%; 34 of 42). After PGF2α, a significantly higher proportion (Pxa0=xa00.02) of cows expressed estrus after synchronization with the 9-day CIDR-PG treatment (91%; 39 of 43) than the 14-day CIDR-PG treatment (69%; 29 of 42). Consequently, pregnancy rate to TAI tended to be increased (Pxa0=xa00.09) among the 9-day CIDR-PG treatment (76.7%; 33 of 43) compared with the 14-day CIDR-PG treatment (59.5%; 25 of 42). In summary, a long-term CIDR-based estrous synchronization protocol for postpartum beef cows was enhanced through administration of PGF2α at CIDR insertion and CIDR removal.

Rebuilding the US Beef Herd: Rethinking the Way Industry Develops Replacements

Use of existing and emerging management technologies enable beef producers to improve breeding performance of heifers during the first breeding season and during subsequent calving and rebreeding periods as 2 year olds. These practices ensure that heifers that enter the herd as raised or purchased replacements contribute to the general performance and productivity of an entire cowherd immediately, and cumulatively long-term. Rebuilding the US cowherd requires careful consideration and use of these newer management technologies. Veterinarians will play a crucial role in influencing the technologies used during the rebuilding process.

Determination of the Value of Minimum Sire Accuracy Traits

Using Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers Inc. sale data, this article uses hedonic modeling to assess the marginal implicit values of physical and genetic characteristics, expected performance characteristics of calves, and market factors to bred heifer price. In 2008, a higher quality standard, known as Tier II, was created combining minimum expected progeny difference (EPD) accuracies for a heifer’s sire with previous heifer standards. Heifer characteristics and market factors as well as yearling and carcass weight EPDs were found to significantly influence heifer price. Results suggest that Tier II heifers receive a premium compared with traditional Show-Me-Select heifers.

Management Strategies for Adding Value to Replacement Beef Heifers: A Working Model

This article provides an overview of the Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program, and is included to provide an example of a working model for the collective considerations that relate to beef heifer development presented in this issue. This program expanded services provided by veterinarians to cow-calf producers, making veterinary practitioners a more integral part of the overall reproductive management of beef herds in their practice areas.

Management Considerations in Beef Heifer Development and Puberty

The US beef industry finds itself confronted with a significant long-term decline in cattle numbers driven in part by record input costs and severe drought conditions in many of our nation’s major cattle-producing states. These recent challenges only add to longterm issues the industry has faced, which include an aging producer population, increased global competition, weaker domestic demand for beef, increased competition from other meat proteins, and a perceived lack of economic incentives to expand the cattle herd. Coincident with the downturn in cattle numbers, there now exists an array of technologies currently available or emerging that offer the potential to expedite genetic progress, enhance efficiencies of production, and add value to beef cattle produced in the United States. As the US cattle industry moves to rebuild its declining numbers, the focus of much of the industry will turn to heifer retention and appropriate practices related to beef heifer development. Veterinarians can and should contribute to this process. Dr Scott Poock, contributing author in this issue, encourages the veterinary community to consider opportunities related to incorporation of heifer development programs (scheduled vaccination programs; pre-breeding reproductive examinations, including reproductive tract scoring and pelvic measurement; estrous synchronization and artificial insemination; early pregnancy diagnosis with ultrasound, including fetal aging and fetal sexing, etc) into a veterinary practice. These services afford veterinarians the opportunity to interact with clients beyond pulling calves or treating sick animals. Collectively, these skills create avenues for veterinarians to become more actively involved in management and resulting profitability of beef cattle operations. Likewise, training of veterinary students will be enhanced by supporting students in developing these skills as part of the veterinary curriculum. Veterinary colleges will be well served by establishing a large enough client base (especially

Influences of sire conception rate on pregnancy establishment in dairy cattle.

Abstract Establishment of pregnancy in cattle is complex and encompasses ovulation, fertilization, blastocyst formation and growth into an elongated conceptus, pregnancy recognition signaling, and development of the embryo and placenta. The objective here was to investigate sire influences on pregnancy establishment in cattle. First, 10 Holstein bulls were classified as high or low fertility based on their sire conception rate (SCR) value. In a field trial, pregnancy at first timed insemination was not different between high and low SCR bulls. Next, 5 of the 10 sires were phenotyped using in vitro and in vivo embryo production. There was no effect of SCR classification on in vitro embryo cleavage rate, but low SCR sires produced fewer day 8 blastocysts. In superovulated heifers, high SCR bulls produced a lower percentage of unfertilized oocytes and fewer degenerated embryos compared to low SCR bulls. Recipient heifers received three to five in vivo produced embryos from either high or low SCR sires on day 7 postestrus. Day 16 conceptus recovery and length were not different between SCR groups, and the conceptus transcriptome was not appreciably different between high and low SCR sires. The reduced ability of embryos from low SCR bulls to establish pregnancy is multifactorial and encompasses sperm fertilizing ability, preimplantation embryonic development, and development of the embryo and placenta after conceptus elongation and pregnancy recognition. These studies highlight the importance of understanding genetic contributions of the sire to pregnancy establishment that is crucial to increase reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle. Summary Sentence The sire influences preimplantation embryonic development and postelongation establishment of pregnancy in dairy cattle.