Evaluation of short estrus synchronization methods in dairy cows

Abstract

In the present study, two new short estrus synchronization methods have been developed for lactating dairy cows. The study was completed in three consecutive phases. In experiment (Exp) 1, 32 cows, that were not detected in estrus since calving between the 50th and 84th post-partum days, were treated with PGF2 alpha (PGF, D-Cloprostenol, 0.150 mg), estradiol propionate (EP, 2 mg) and GnRH (lecirelina, 50 mu g) at 24 h intervals, respectively, and timed artificial insemination (TAI) was performed 48 h after PGF. Different from Exp 1, EP and GnRH were given at 48 and 60 h, respectively after PGF in Exp 2 (n = 20), instead of 24 and 48 h. Ovulations were investigated by ultrasound for 7 days starting from the day of PGF treatment, and ovulation rates were compared with the ones obtained in Exp 1. In Exp 3, cows were given the same treatments as Exp 2, but treatments started at certain estrus stages. Cows detected in estrus and with a confirmed ovulation (n = 27) after the second PGF given 11 days apart were assigned to three treatment groups. Treatment was initiated at Day 3 (group metestrus, n = 9), Day 12 (group diestrus, n = 9) and Day 18 (group proestrus, n = 9) after ovulation. All cows included in Exp 3 were TAI between 16 and 20 h after GnRH treatment. In Exp 2 and 3, blood samples were obtained once every 2 days, starting from Day 0 to the 10th day after GnRH injection, and once every 4 days between the 10th and the 22nd days after GnRH to examine post-treatment luteal development. During the study, animals exhibiting natural estrus were inseminated and served as controls (n = 85). The rate of estrus was found to be significantly higher in cows with an active corpus luteum (CL) at the start of Exp 1 (72.7% vs. 30.0%, P 0.05).