Relationship Among Follicular Growth, Oestrus, Time of Ovulation, Endogenous Estradiol 17β and Luteinizing Hormone in Bos Indicus Cows After a Synchronization Program

To determine the pattern of follicular growth during oestrus and the relationship with estradiol and luteinizing hormone in ovulating and non-ovulating cows, three groups of (n = 10), thirty cyclic, Bos indicus cows were synchronized with CIDR, consecutively at 9-day intervals. Twenty-four hours after implant withdrawal, all cows synchronized in the same group with other cows displaying estrous behaviour after implant withdrawal were subjected to an intensive period of ultrasonographic observations (every 6 h for 120 h). Blood samples were taken to evaluate LH surge and 17-beta estradiol. No differences were observed in follicular growth, ovulatory diameter and growth average in the three groups of synchronized cows. Cows ovulating (CO) had a better growth average in comparison with the group of cows not ovulating (CNO) (1.4 +/- 0.7 mm vs 0.7 +/- 0.5 mm, p < 0.06). The average time from estradiol release to LH surge was 39.3 +/- 24.6 h. Differences were also observed between CO and CNO with respect to both the first concentration (27.7 +/- 5.2 vs 58.6 +/- 31.9, p < 0.004) and last concentration (79.3 +/- 23.3 vs 99.2 +/- 27.3, p < 0.05) of estradiol above 5 pg/ml. The average time from overt signs of oestrus to LH release was 8.4 +/- 7.7 h. In the CNO, the increase in LH concentration was never above two SD from the basal average. In conclusion, there is a wide variability in follicular growth and ovulatory diameter between CO and CNO, which can affect the intervals of LH release, estradiol peak and ovulation. Yet, LH surge might be a good marker for timing ovulation in Zebu cows.