Factors associated with fertility outcomes in cows treated with protocols to synchronize estrus and ovulation in seasonal-calving, pasture-based dairy production systems

Abstract

Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with fertility outcomes in cows treated with protocols to synchronize estrus and ovulation. Lactating dairy cows (n=1,538) were enrolled in a completely randomized block design study to evaluate synchronization treatments. Within each herd (n=8), cows were divided into 3 calving groups: early [≥42d in milk (DIM) at mating start date (MSD); n=1,244], mid (21 to 41DIM at MSD; n=179), and late (0 to 20DIM at MSD; n=115), based on DIM at MSD. Cows in the early-, mid-, and late-calving groups were synchronized to facilitate estrus or timed artificial insemination (TAI) at MSD (planned breeding 1; PB1), 21d (PB2), and 42d (PB3) after MSD, respectively. For each PB, cows in the relevant calving group were stratified by parity and calving date and randomly assigned to (1) d −10 GnRH (10μg i.m. of buserelin) and CIDR [controlled internal drug release insert, 1.38g of progesterone (P4)]; d −3 PGF2α (25mg i.m. of dinoprost); d −2 CIDR out and AI at observed estrus (CIDR_OBS); (2) same as CIDR_OBS, but GnRH 36h after CIDR out and TAI 18h later (CIDR_TAI); (3) same as CIDR_TAI, but no CIDR (i.e., Ovsynch); or (4) untreated controls (CTRL). Use of a CIDR-based ovulation synchronization protocol (i.e., CIDR_TAI) increased synchronization rates in anovular cows. Both CIDR_OBS and CIDR_TAI animals without a corpus luteum (CL) had increased likelihood of conception at first service compared with Ovsynch animals without a CL. Animals with low body condition score (BCS) treated with CIDR_OBS had an increased likelihood of conceiving at first service compared with low-BCS animals treated with CIDR_TAI, Ovsynch, or CTRL. Animals <60d in milk (DIM) treated with CIDR_OBS and CIDR_TAI had increased likelihood of conceiving at first service compared with animals treated with Ovsynch. Treatment with CIDR_TAI increased synchronization rate in cows categorized as low BCS, anovulatory, and <60DIM compared with both CIDR_OBS and Ovsynch, and increased submission rate compared with CIDR_OBS. Conception rate in cows within these categories, however, was greatest for CIDR_OBS, resulting in minimal differences in actual pregnancy rates between CIDR_OBS and CIDR_TAI treatments, both of which were superior to Ovsynch. Treatment differences in the response variables investigated were minimal in cows categorized as medium or high BCS, ovulatory, and >60DIM, indicating that CIDR-based protocols could be targeted at particular cows, and all other cows could be synchronized using Ovsynch.