W. B. Rodrigues

Different protocols using PGF2α as ovulation inducer in Nelore cows subjected to estradiol-progesterone timed AI based protocols

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a PGF2α-analogue (PGF) on ovulation and pregnancy rates after timed artificial insemination (TAI) in cattle. In Experiment 1 cows received an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR) plus 2 mg im of estradiol benzoate (EB) on Day 0. The CIDR devices were removed on Day 8, and all cows received 150 μg im of d-cloprostenol (PGF2α-analogue), 300 IU of eCG and 1 mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP) im. On Day 9, cows were randomly assigned into two groups: 1) ECP Group (n = 17), that did not receive any further treatment; and 2) ECP-PG Group (n = 14) that were given 150 μg of d-cloprostenol (PGF) as adjuvant stimulus for ovulation. No difference between groups was detected in interval for ovulation (P = 0.5), and in the proportion of cows ovulating (P = 0.09). In Experiment 2, multiparous suckling crossbred Aberdeen Angus cows (n = 260), were treated into two groups, similarly as Experiment 1; ECP group (n = 122), and ECP-PG group (n = 138). All females were TAI on Day 10. The proportion of cows treated with ECP that became pregnant was 54.9% (67/122), and cows treated with ECP plus PGF was 55.1% (76/138; P = 0.9). In Experiment 3, 686 Nelore cows, 40 to 50 days postpartum, were treated as Experiment 1 (ECP group), however, on Day 8 cows were divided into 3 groups: ECP Group (n = 216); PGF-SC Group (n = 228), in which cows did not receive ECP and were given an additional subcutaneous injection of PGF on Day 8; and PGF-IM Group (n = 242), in which cows also did not receive ECP on Day 8 and were given an additional injection of PGF im on Day 9. On Day 10, estrus was evaluated at timed AI (TAI). There was no difference in the diameter of the dominant follicle at CIDR removal and at TAI, and pregnancy per AI among groups (P > 0.05). However, the proportion of cows that displayed estrus between CIDR removal and TAI was higher in ECP group than in PGF-SC and PGF-IM groups (P < 0.001). Cows that displayed estrus has higher P/AI than cows that did not (P = 0.008). In conclusion, these results suggested that intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of PGF2α could be successfully used to induce ovulation in cattle undergoing TAI, with similar pregnancy rates when compared with ECP. The subcutaneous injection of PGF on the same day of CIDR removal could be an interesting alternative due it reduces cattle management to obtain similar results.

Efficiency of mating, artificial insemination or resynchronisation at different times after first timed artificial insemination in postpartum Nellore cows to produce crossbred calves

The objective of this trial was to evaluate different post-timed artificial insemination (TAI) reproductive managements in postpartum beef cows to produce crossbred calves from artificial insemination (AI). Nellore cows (n = 607), with 45 days postpartum, were inseminated at a fixed time, using a protocol that included an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device along with oestradiol benzoate, prostaglandin, equine chorionic gonadotropin, and oestradiol cypionate, followed TAI 48 h post-device removal. Four post-TAI treatments were evaluated: in CONTROL (T1, n = 161), cows were exposed to Nellore clean-up bulls until the end of the breeding season (75 days). In OBSERVATION (T2, n = 132), heat detection was performed for 15–25 days post-TAI, followed by AI. In RESYNC22 (T3, n = 157) and RESYNC30 (T4, n = 157), resynchronisation started after 22 or 30 days, following second TAI at Day 32 or 40 days after first TAI. In T2, T3 and T4, after the second AI, cows were exposed to Nellore clean-up bulls until the end of the breeding season (75 days). The pregnancy rate (PR) for the first TAI did not differ (54.6%, 53.0%, 59.2%, and 51.6% for CONTROL, OBSERVATION, RESYNC 22, and RESYNC 30, respectively; P = 0.66), and no difference was observed for the second TAI (RESYNC 22 = 45.31% and RESYNC30 = 46.05%; P = 0.137), in the PR at the end of the breeding season (86.33%, 86.36%, 78.98%, and 81.52%, P = 0.43), or embryonic losses (4.54%, 2.85%, 6.45% and 7.40%, respectively; P = 0.61), but the percentage of crossbred pregnancy was higher in groups with resynchronisation (RESYNC22 and RESYNC30) than CONTROL and OBSERVATION (98.38%, 90.62%, 63.30%, 78.95%, P < 0.001). In conclusion, resynchronisation programs of 22 or 30 days are more efficient to produce AI products, and the final pregnancy rate is similar among the treatments, differing only in the amount of calves produced by AI.