Influence of stage of oestrous cycle on time of oestrus [formula omitted

Abstract

The first of 2 injections of 0.5 mg cloprostenol (PG1 and PG2) eleven days apart was given to 19 Friesian-Hereford cross heifers between days 8–14 of their cycle (Treatment A) and 16 similar animals between days 0–4 (Treatment B). Oestrus show was monitored by Kamar Heat Mount detectors and vasectomised bulls with chin-ball markers. Blood samples taken at PG1, six days later, at PG2 and four days later were assayed for progesterone to confirm that luteolysis had occurred as expected. Four hourly rectal examinations of the ovaries were carried out from 56–112 hours after PG2 and four hourly blood samples from 36–96 hours after PG2 were collected for FSH and LH assay. Mean time in hours from PG2 to oestrus onset, LH peak and ovulation respectively was 57.4 ± 2.9, 60.2 ± 2.0, 91.7 ± 1.8 for Treatment A and 64.9 ± 4.1, 68.9 ± 2.4, 96.7 ± 1.3 for Treatment B. Treatment A animals showed significantly higher (p<0.01) FSH levels at PG2 than Treatment B. Time from PG2 to LH peak was significantly shorter in animals treated either on days 7 and 8 (p<0.01) or days 15–16 (p<0.05) of their cycle compared with treatment on days 12–14 and it is suggested that these shorter response times correspond to an early and late cycle wave of follicular growth. Secondary FSH peaks some 28 hours after that occurring synchronously with the pre-ovulatory LH peak were observed to be significantly (p<0.01) higher at oestrus associated with the early cycle follicular growth wave as compared with that later in the cycle which may argue a difference in endocrine control of the two periods of follicular maturation.