Luteal Presence and Ovarian Response at the Beginning of a Timed Artificial Insemination Protocol for Lactating Dairy Cows Affect Fertility: A Meta-Analysis.

Stefan Borchardt,Alina Pohl,Wolfgang Heuwieser

doi:10.3390/ani10091551

Stefan Borchardt, Alina Pohl + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091551

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Abstract

Progesterone (P4) concentration during follicular growth has a major impact on fertility response in timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols. Luteal presence at the beginning of a TAI protocol and ovarian response after the first gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection (G1) affect P4 concentration and subsequently pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI). A systematic review of the literature and meta-analytical assessment was performed with the objective of evaluating the magnitude of the effect of luteal presence and ovarian response at the beginning of a TAI protocol on P/AI in lactating dairy cows. We considered only studies using synchronisation protocols consisting of GnRH and prostaglandin F 2α. The time interval between G1 and prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α) had to range from 5 to 7 d. The time interval between the PGF 2α injection and G2 had to range from 48 to 72 h. We used 28 controlled experiments from 27 published manuscripts including 16,489 cows with the objective of evaluating the effect size of having a functional corpus luteum (CL) at G1 on P/AI. Information regarding ovulatory response after G1 was available for 5676 cows. In a subset of cows (n = 4291), information was available for luteal presence and ovulatory response at the initiation of the TAI protocol. A functional CL at G1 increased (p < 0.001) the relative risk of conceiving (RR (relative risk) = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.21-1.45) in lactating dairy cows. Ovulation after G1 increased (p < 0.001) the relative risk of conceiving (RR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.20-1.38) in lactating dairy cows. The effect of ovulatory response on P/AI after G1 was affected by luteal presence at G1. In summary, there was a clear benefit on P/AI for cows starting a TAI protocol with a functional CL (+10.5 percentage units) and cows ovulating at the beginning of a TAI protocol (+11.0 percentage units).

Highlights

The widespread adoption of synchronisation protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI)in the dairy industry has improved reproductive performance [1]
There was a clear benefit on per artificial insemination (P/AI) for cows starting a TAI protocol with a functional corpus luteum (CL) (+10.5 percentage units) and cows ovulating at the beginning of a TAI protocol (+11.0 percentage units)
There were 28 manuscripts available with a controlled study design including 16,489 TAI to evaluate the effect of having a functional CL at G1 on P/AI on d 32 after TAI

Summary

Introduction

The widespread adoption of synchronisation protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI)in the dairy industry has improved reproductive performance [1]. The most common TAI protocol is a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandin F 2α [2] These protocols increase the insemination risk without affecting the risk of conception [3]. Providing an optimum progesterone (P4) environment during the preovulatory follicle growth phase is important for fertility [5] and can be obtained by luteal presence at G1 and/or ovulation after G1 This can be achieved when cows were at specific stages of the estrous cycle at the beginning of the TAI protocol [6], which is the rationale for presynchronisation protocols. These protocols can be implemented to increase the proportion of cows in early diestrus at the first GnRH injection of the timed AI protocol for achieving the maximum conception risk [7]

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