Pregnancy rate after timed artificial insemination in early post-partum dairy cows after Ovsynch or specific synchronization protocols

The present study was designed to compare the reproductive performance of pre-synchronized post-partum dairy cows subjected, either to the Ovsynch protocol without screening for ovarian status (control group), or to a specific oestrous synchronization protocol applied according to their ovarian status, as determined by transrectal ultrasound (experimental group). The study was conducted on 428 lactating dairy cows. Cows in the Ovsynch group (n = 205) were synchronized and time inseminated after receiving the Ovsynch protocol treatment. Cows in the specific synchronization (Ssynch) group (n = 223) were weekly subjected to transrectal ultrasound exams for 4 weeks, or until AI or starting treatment, and divided into four subgroups according to their ovarian status: (i). corpus luteum (CL) subgroup (n = 130), cows with a CL; (ii). natural oestrus (NE) subgroup (n = 58), cows showing NE; (iii). anovulatory follicles (AF) subgroup (n = 26), cows considered to have AF; and (iv). ovarian cysts (OC) subgroup (n = 9), cows with OC. Cows in the Ssynch group were synchronized and time inseminated following a specific oestrous synchronization protocol, or inseminated at NE. Logistic regression analysis was carried out for the dependent variables ovulation and pregnancy rates to first and to second AI (second AI: first AI + return AI). Cows subjected to Ssynch were 2.1 times more likely to become pregnant at first and at second AI compared with those synchronized using the Ovsynch protocol (P < 0.0001). Our results show that the response of post-partum pre-synchronized cows to a specific oestrous synchronization protocol applied according to their ovarian status is more effective than the response to the Ovsynch protocol applied without taking into account the ovarian status of the animals.