Preventive effects of CIDR-based protocols on premature ovulation before timed-AI in Ovsynch in cycling beef cows

Ovsynch is a program developed to synchronize ovulation for timed breeding. In this paper, the authors investigate whether controlled internal drug release (CIDR)-based protocols prevent premature ovulation before timed-artificial insemination (AI) when Ovsynch is started a few days before luteolysis in cycling beef cows. Nine beef cows at 16 days after oestrus were treated with (1) Ovsynch, i.e. gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue on day 0, prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) analogue on day 7 and GnRH analogue on day 9 with timed-AI on day 10, (n=3); (2) Ovsynch+CIDR (Ovsynch protocol plus a CIDR for 7 days from day 0, n=3), or (3) oestradiol benzoate (OB)+CIDR+GnRH (OB on day 0 in lieu of the first GnRH treatment, followed by the Ovsynch+CIDR protocol, n=3). In the Ovsynch group (1) plasma progesterone concentrations fell below 0.5 ng/mL earlier (day 5) than in both CIDR-treated groups (2) and (3), where this occurred on day 8. Plasma oestradiol-17beta concentrations peaked on day 8 in the Ovsynch group and on day 9 in both CIDR-treated groups. The dominant follicle ovulated on day 10 in the Ovsynch group and on day 11 in both CIDR-treated groups. Thus, both CIDR-based protocols prevented premature ovulation before timed-AI in Ovsynch when the protocol was started a few days before luteolysis. This reflects the fact that progesterone levels remained high until the beef cattle were treated with PGF(2alpha).     

Fertility of Holstein cows and heifers submitted to timed artificial insemination and receiving one or two doses (12 h apart) of semen

The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the effect of receiving a single (n = 50,285) or double (n = 4392) artificial insemination (AI), 12 h apart, within a timed artificial insemination protocol on pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in nulliparous heifers (inseminated with either sex-sorted or conventional semen) and pluriparous Holstein cows in a commercial dairy herd. Also, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between temperature-humidity index (THI) and time of the first AI and fertility. Fertility of cows receiving two AI with normothermia (THI <68) was higher (p < .05) than cows receiving a single AI (42.9% vs. 36.4%). P/AI of cows receiving two AI with severe heat stress (THI >85) was higher (p < .05) than cows receiving a single AI (21.0% vs. 12.6%). Regardless of heat stress conditions, applying the first AI in the morning increased (p < .05) P/AI in cows with double AI than in cows whose first AI occurred in the afternoon (38.4 vs. 33.3%). With moderate heat stress, and sexed-sorted semen, P/AI to timed AI was higher (65.0 vs. 51.9%; p < .05) in heifers receiving double AI than those serviced once. It was concluded that double AI, 12 h apart, enhanced fertility at timed AI than herd mates with a single AI, particularly with heat stress at breeding.     

应用Ovsynch技术促进奶牛产后卵巢周期活动恢复的研究

[目的]确定奶牛产后卵巢周期活动恢复的最佳方案。[方法]应用诱导促排卵（Ovsynch）技术GnRH＋PG、GnRH＋CIDR＋PG及2次PG方法对产后20·d体况评分为2．75～3．50、子宫复1日较好、卵巢无明显卵泡和黄体活动的奶牛进行处理,比较不同处理奶牛产后卵巢开始活动的时间、产后第1次发情时间、产后第1次配种时间、空胎天数等。[结果]GnRH＋CIDR＋PG及2次PG处理可显著缩短奶牛产后卵巢开始活动的时间、产后第1次配种时间和空胎天数;3个处理奶牛产后第1次发情时间无显著差异。[结论]GnRH＋CIDR＋PG及2次PG处理对奶牛产后卵巢周期活动恢复具有明显的促进作用。     

牛程序化人工授精技术研究进展

本文介绍了目前应用于生产实践的几种程序化人工授精技术的处理方法、理论基础及其应用情况。Ovsynch法和CIDR-EB-PGF2α法是较先进的两种程序化人工授精技术。尤其是Ovsynch法，受胎率高，普及率高，文章对其在实际应用中存在的问题也进行了深入的分析，并讨论了今后的研究方向。     

Reproductive efficiency in grazing lactating dairy cows under a programmed reproductive management system

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a reproductive management program consisting of combinations of Ovsynch/TAI and prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) treatments in Holstein dairy cows under a pasture-based dairying system. DESIGN: Field trial. PROCEDURE: A total of 1177 cows in 8 commercial dairy farms were randomly allocated to control and treatment groups. Treatment group cows received one of two interventions depending upon the number of days postpartum (DPP) before the planned start of breeding. Cows more than 50 DPP by the planned start of breeding received the Ovsynch/TAI treatment, consisting of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) - PGF(2alpha)- GnRH plus timed artificial insemination. Cows between 40 and 50 DPP received a PGF(2alpha) treatment followed by oestrus detection and, if the cow was not seen in oestrus, the cow received a second PGF(2alpha) 14 days later. Control cows were submitted to twice a day heat detection followed by artificial insemination. The experimental period was the start of the breeding season plus 21 days for cows over 50 DPP at the start of breeding, and was 40-61 DPP for cows that calved later and passed their voluntary waiting period after the start of the breeding season. RESULTS: Submission rate was higher for the treated group than for the control group (84.9% vs. 55.1%; P < 0.0001), as was the conception rate (51.0% vs. 46.1%; P < 0.03). Due to farm variations, pregnancy rate was similar in both groups (38.5% vs. 28.2%; P > 0.1). Within the treated group, conception rate and pregnancy rate of the cows inseminated after a PGF(2alpha) were higher than for timed artificial inseminated cows (51.4% vs. 32.6%; P < 0.001), and (37.8% vs. 32.6%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A programmed reproductive management protocol may improve reproductive efficiency in dairy farms with seasonal breeding, by increasing submission and conception rates at the beginning of the breeding season and/or at the end of the voluntary waiting period. Fertility of cows bred after a PGF(2alpha) synchronised heat was greater than after an Ovsynch/TAI protocol.     

Ovsynch Plus protocol improves ovarian response in anovular Murrah buffaloes in low‐breeding season

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of ovarian response and pregnancy rate in anovular buffaloes following Ovsynch and Ovsynch Plus protocols. Buffaloes (n = 55) were divided into two groups: Ovsynch group (n = 26): GnRH (10 μg, GnRH1) on Day 0, PGF₂α (25 mg) on Day 7, GnRH (10 μg, GnRH2) on Day 9; Ovsynch Plus group (n = 29): 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) 72 hr (day ?3) prior to Ovsynch protocol, followed by fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) 6 and 24 hr after GnRH2 injection in bot groups. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed daily, that is, from day 0 and ?3 in Ovsynch and Ovsynch Plus group, respectively for ovarian response and pregnancy diagnosis at day 30 post‐insemination. In Ovsynch Plus group, administration of eCG prior to GnRH1 increased (p < .001) the diameter (mm) of dominant follicle (DF) from 10.15 ± 0.26 to 12.23 ± 0.34 within 72 hr of treatment resulting higher ovulatory response to GnRH1. Ovulation after GnRH1 was higher (p < .01) in Ovsynch Plus group (96.6%) than Ovsynch group (61.5%). However, ovulation rate to GnRH2 was similar (p > .05) between groups (Ovsynch group: 76.9% vs. Ovsynch Plus group: 70.0%). Mean DF diameter (mm) that ovulated to both GnRHs was higher (p < .01) than non‐ovulated counterparts in both groups (Ovsynch group: 10.80 ± 0.27 vs. 8.47 ± 0.53; Ovsynch Plus group: 11.99 ± 0.24 vs. 9.5 ± 0.63). Pregnancy was established in buffaloes which responded to both GnRHs, irrespective of groups, being higher (p = .52) in Ovsynch Plus group (34.5%) than Ovsynch group (23.1%), though non‐significant. In summary, this study showed that eCG inclusion prior to Ovsynch regimen improves ovulatory response in anovular buffaloes during low‐breeding season.     

奶牛“同期发情-定时输精”技术综述

奶牛发情鉴定在规模化奶牛养殖中是一个难题,容易因发情鉴定不及时而错过配种期,延长产犊间隔,降低繁殖效率。使用同期发情、同期排卵和定时输精技术可以有效地克服这一缺点,提高繁殖效率,便于配种员的操作。本文对同期发情-定时输精技术的原理和国内外在奶牛上的研究作一综述,供奶牛场有关技术人员参考。     

Changes in endocrine profiles during ovsynch and ovsynch plus norprolac treatment in Murrah buffalo heifers at hot summer season

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in hormonal profiles during ovsynch and ovsynch plus norprolac treatment in Murrah buffalo heifers following timed artificial insemination (TAI) at stressful summer months, through intensive endocrine analysis. The norprolac (an anti-prolactin drug) at the dose rate of 10.0 mg/animal /day effectively suppressed the level of prolactin upto 30 hours. The hormones quantified in blood plasma samples collected before, during and after ovsynch and ovsynch plus norprolac treatment were LH, prolactin, progesterone, estradiol–17β and total estrogens. The plasma prolactin and progesterone concentrations were negatively correlated (r = − 0.24) during summer estrous cycle, which indicated prolactin-induced suppression of progesterone secretion through poor luteal development. The ovsynch treatment reduced the incidence of anestrous from 45% before treatment to only 18% after treatment. The norprolac induced prolactin suppression improved the efficiency of ovsynch treatment upto 100% cyclicity after treatment in comparison to 36% acyclicity before treatment. In both the treatments 45% and 55% of animal became pregnant after TAI, respectively. The high prolactin secretion contributed to poor fertility by lowering gonadal hormones (estradiol-17β, total estrogens and progesterone) production in summer months. This finding of endocrine changes suggests that ovsynch protocol for estrus synchronization has potential application for improvement of fertility in repeat breeding buffaloes even during extreme summer months through suppression of prolactin secretion.     

牦牛人工授精生产西杂犏牛试验

2009年8月在青海省贵南县塔秀乡用Ovsynch/TAI模式处理母牦牛18头,按隔年产母牛和当年产母牛分为两组,用西门塔尔细管冻精进行人工授精,翌年5月6日开始生产,共生产犏牛3头,情期受胎率为16.67%,总受胎率为66.67%。