Conception rates in repeat-breeders and dairy cattle with unobserved estrus after prostaglandin F 2 alpha and gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Abstract

In Experiment 1, cows with a history of at least two previous unsuccessful inseminations were allocated to four groups. At the repeated estrus (third or greater service), some of the cows were inseminated according to the a.m.-p.m. rule (Controls, n = 83), or received i.m. 100 μg gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH, n = 32) within 30 sec after insemination. Ovaries of the remaining cows to be treated were palpated during the anticipated ensuing luteal phase to determine the presence of a corpus luteum. Cows found to have luteal tissue received i.m. 25 mg prostaglandin F 2-alpha (PGF 2-alpha) and were inseminated after detected estrus or at 72 and 96 h after PGF 2-alpha in the absence of estrus. Cows given PGF 2-alpha either received no further treatment (PGF 2-alpha, n = 40) or were given i.m. 100 μg GnRH (PGF 2-alpha + GnRH, n = 29) after insemination or at 72 h after PGF 2-alpha in the absence of estrus. Conception rate of control cows (39%) was similar to that of cows given PGF 2-alpha (40%) or PGF 2-alpha + GnRH (43%), but it tended to be lower (P = 0.13) than that of cows given only GnRH at insemination (54%). In Experiment 2, cows with unobserved estrus and diagnosed not pregnant (palpation) were palpated to detect a corpus luteum. Cows with luteal tissue received i.m. PGF 2-alpha (n = 52) or PGF 2-alpha + GnRH (n = 45) and were inseminated as described above. Conception rates were similar (39% vs 33%, respectively). In Experiment 3, cows in a large commercial dairy with (n = 93) or without (n = 420) previous reproductive problems were given i.m. 100 μg GnRH after insemination (n = 169) or were left untreated (n = 344) at repeat services (third and fourth services). Treatment with GnRH improved (P < 0.05) conception in normal (47% vs 36%) and abnormal (25% vs 12%) repeat-breeding cows. Treatment with PGF 2-alpha alone or in conjunction with GnRH failed to further improve conception rates and only delayed intervals to rebreeding when administered during the luteal phase after the repeated estrus. The use of GnRH failed to reduce intervals from treatment to insemination or improve conception in cows with unobserved estrus compared to treatment with PGF 2-alpha alone.