110 Pregnancy rate and embryo viability in response to chorionic gonadotrophins given for oestrus induction and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 5 days after timed laparoscope-aided insemination of lactating and non-lactating goats

Abstract

Gonadotrophins are included in oestrous/ovulation synchronization (E/OS) regimens when breeding early in the transitional phase to promote follicular development. However, the time of use has been a matter of debate. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine whether equine and human chorionic gonadotrophins (eCG and hCG, respectively) given 24h before or 24h after concurrent removal of intravaginal progestagen (P4) and prostaglandin (PGF2α) delivery influences pregnancy rate (PR) and/or embryo viability (EV). Relatedly, the influence of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 5 days post-breeding (dpb) on PR and/or EV was also considered. A prospective randomised control trial was conducted using lactating and non-lactating Alpine breed goats of different parity, average±s.e. age, and bodyweight (3.7±2.6), and (52.5±7), respectively. Goats were time-bred at 48h after P4 removal by laparoscopy (LAI; n=75) or by natural service (NS; n=29) during the early transitional breeding phase in mid-September through mid-December (corresponding to 12:12h daylight/darkness). E/OS used an intravaginal device containing 300mg of P4 for 12±1d. At P4 removal, 2mL of PGF2α was administered IM. Twenty-four hours before (E) or 24h after (L) P4 removal, an IM dose of 1.5mL containing 120IU of eCG and 60IU of hCG was given. A third control (C) group (n=38) was not exposed to gonadotrophins. GnRH analogue was given (n=51) 5 days after insemination, and the remaining goats (n=53) received an IM dose of 2mL of saline solution. PR was evaluated at 18 to 24 (dpb) by non-return to oestrus (NRE), at 30 dpb by pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB), and at 40 dpb by ultrasound imaging (UI). EV was determined from the difference between pregnancy outcomes for NRE and PSPB, and PSPB and UI. Statistical analysis (JMP/SAS vs.11; SAS Institute Inc.) were obtained using logistic regression. All concomitant variables (i.e. parity, bodyweight, days of P4 exposure, and lactation were not influenced by PR or EV; P>0.07). The overall PR was 71% for LAI and 69% for NS and, as shown in Table 1, was similar (P>0.49) at all times (at 18 to 24, 30, and 40 dpb). Likewise, the breeding procedure did not influence the levels of EV at 30 or 40 dpb. E/OS protocol or the use of GnRH 5 dpb did not affect PR or EV at any of the time points evaluated. Table 1. Main effect mean comparisons and logistic model probabilities for pregnancy rate (PR) and embryo viability (EV) by main treatment effect Response variable (days post-breeding) Breeding procedure E/OS Protocol Gonadotrophin LAI NS P> Control Early Late P> GnRH Placebo P> PR at 18–24 77 72 0.49 76 73 78 0.83 78 74 0.49 PR at 30 68 66 0.65 66 65 70 0.82 71 64 0.43 PR at 40 69 69 0.78 66 69 73 0.77 73 66 0.43 EV at 30 89 90 0.94 86 94 90 0.65 92 87 0.46 EV at 40 88 95 0.42 86 89 94 0.73 92 87 0.43