Reproductive performance of heifers induced to oestrous asynchrony by suprabasal plasma progesterone levels

Abstract

Suprabasal progesterone concentrations around oestrus have induced disturbances in oestrous behaviour and ovulation. To determine whether fertility in such an altered oestrus can be maintained at normal levels with additional inseminations (AI) until ovulation, fertility was compared in heifers (n = 11) inseminated in normal oestrous cycles and thereafter in cycles in which the animals were treated with progesterone in order to create suprabasal concentrations after luteolysis. The treatment consisted of silicone implants containing 10.6 mg kg−1 of progesterone inserted subcutaneously on Day 8 of the oestrous cycle (day of ovulation designated Day 0) and removed on Day 25. Both in control oestrous cycles and oestrous cycles under progesterone treatment, growth of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation were determined by frequent ultrasound scanning. Blood was collected frequently for further analysis of progesterone, oestradiol-17β and luteinising hormone (LH). Insemination was performed 12 h after onset of standing oestrus. if ovulation did not occur 24 h after AI, heifers were inseminated again until ovulation. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound 25 days after ovulation. In control oestrous cycles, plasma progesterone decreased to 0.3 ± 0.3 nmol 1−1. Duration of oestrus was 22.9 ± 2.0 h, the interval from onset of oestrus to ovulation was 32.4 ± 2.3 h and the interval from LH peak to ovulation was 28.6 ± 1.4 h. The interovulatory interval was 20.7 ± 0.6 days. In oestrous cycles in treated heifers, progesterone decreased to 1.0 ± 0.3 nmol l−1 (P > 0.10) and the interovulatory interval was prolonged to 23.5 ± 1.0 days (P 0.10). The prolonged oestrus was associated with increased (P < 0.05) growth of the ovulatory follicle and higher (P < 0.05) release of oestradiol-17β. Conception rates were 90% and 46% (P < 0.05), and the numbers of AI per heifer were 1.1 ± 0.1 and 3.4 ± 0.6 (P < 0.01) for control oestrous cycles and after treatment, respectively. The induction of suprabasal concentrations of progesterone caused asynchronies similar to those observed in cases of repeat breeding. The repeated AI did not maintain fertility at normal levels. It is suggested that the extended growth of the ovulatory follicle may cause impaired oocyte maturation or it may alter the maternal milieu owing to the prolonged release of oestradiol.