Effect of galectin-1 administration on pregnancy rate and its economic viability in TAI procedures in beef cattle

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the reproductive efficacy and the economic impact of a complementary tool to the TAI (timed artificial insemination) protocols - the administration of a single dose of recombinant human galectin-1 (rHGAL1) during the insemination procedure. GAL-1 can be considered as a modulator of the pregnancy development process. Reproductive efficacy was verified through the pregnancy rate in the first service, by ultrasonography (at 28-35 days) in contemporary groups (YG) of cows subdivided into 02 experimental groups (Control Group, composed of cows inseminated in a conventional and Treated group, composed of cows inseminated with rHGAL-1 administration following the deposition of the semen dose). Ninety YG were formed, grouping cows under identical conditions (inseminator, farm/lot, breed, animal category, semen/bull variables). The experiment was conducted in 15 farms, with 3,125 cows (Nellore and crossbred), all multiparous and with calf at foot (from 60 to 100 days old) and who maintained a body score (BSC) between 3.5 and 2.5 in the act of the TAI protocol and in the pregnancy diagnosis. It was demonstrated, by the proposed statistical method, that the “rHGAl-1 dose” effect was significant, increasing the probability of obtaining pregnancy by 8.38 percentage points (p < 0.0001). Based on the construction of a hypothetical model, the economic profitability that can be obtained were compared. Using the average increase obtained by 8.38 percentage points more in the pregnancy rate, it was possible to increase productivity, adding, almost U$ 2 thousand to profitability for each 100 cows worked.