Influence of a CIDR prior to bull breeding on pregnancy rates and subsequent calving distribution

Abstract

We determined whether insertion of a CIDR for 7 days prior to the breeding season enhanced pregnancy rates and altered the date of conception in suckled beef cows mated naturally. Suckled beef cows ( n = 2033) from 15 locations were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: (1) cows received a CIDR 7 days prior to the breeding season for 7 days (CIDR; n = 999); (2) cows received no treatment (Control; n = 1034). On the first day of the breeding season bulls were introduced to herds at a rate of 15–25 cows per yearling bull or 20–30 cows per mature bull. Pregnancy status and the date of conception were determined via transrectal ultrasonography at 56 and 120 days after initiation of the breeding season. Overall pregnancy rates ranged from 59.3 to 98.9% among the 15 locations. The percentage of cows becoming pregnant during the first 30 days of the breeding season was similar between CIDR (68.2%) and Control (66.7%) cows, and overall pregnancy rates were similar between CIDR (88.9%) and Control (88.6%) cows. The average day of conception after initiation of the breeding season was shorter ( P < 0.01) for CIDR (20.1 ± 0.8 days) compared to Control cows (23.2 ± 0.8 days). Of cows conceiving during the breeding season, more ( P < 0.05) CIDR cows (35.9%) conceived during the first 10 days of the breeding season than Control cows (30.8%). Neither body condition score and nor parity affected pregnancy rates or days to conception, whereas pregnancy rates and days to conception were affected ( P < 0.01) by location and days postpartum. Days to conception were greater for cows that calved within 40 days (31.6 ± 1.2 days) of initiation of the breeding season compared to cows calving between 40 and 50 days (25.3 ± 1.2 days) prior to initiation of the breeding season, which were greater than those cows calving between 50–60 days (20.0 ± 0.8 days) and 60–70 days (21.3 ± 1.0 days) prior to initiation of the breeding season. Cows calving greater than 70 days (17.3 ± 1.5 days) from initiation of the breeding season had the shortest interval to conception. We concluded that insertion of a CIDR prior to the breeding season failed to increase overall pregnancy rates, but did influence the average day of conception.