Reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows following estrus synchronization regimens with PGF2α and progesterone

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of lactating cows in seasonal dairy herds after estrus synchronization with PGF2α (PG) with or without supplementation with progesterone (P4). In Trial 1, synchronized cows (S1; n = 521) were compared with untreated control cows (C; n = 518) in 5 herds. Estrus of cows in the S1 group was synchronized with 2 treatments of PG (Lutalyse) 13 d apart. The breeding season started 2 d after the second PG. Cows were first bred by AI for 7 wk and then herd sires were used. Compared with C cows, estrus synchronization in the treated cows reduced the conception rate to first AI (61.1 vs 70.5%; P < 0.01) and the intervals from start of the breeding season to conception for cows conceiving to AI (11.0 vs 14.6 d; P < 0.05) or to both AI and natural mating (16.5 vs 18.4 d; P < 0.05). There was no effect on conception rate to second AI (68.8%), on pregnancy rate by Day 24 (72.3%) or Day 49 (86.3%) of the breeding season, or on the percentage of cows not pregnant at end of the breeding season (5.0%). In Trial 2, effects of P4 supplementation before the second PG on reproductive performance were evaluated in 4 herds. Estrus of each cyclic cow was synchronized with PG as in Trial 1. Half of the cows in each herd were treated with an intravaginal P4 device (CIDR) for 5 d before the second PG (S2+P4, n = 608), whereas the remaining half received no CIDR treatment (S2, n = 593). Compared with S2 cows, P4 treatment increased the estrous response rate to the second PG (89.6 vs 82.9%; P < 0.01), the conception rate to first AI (65.1 vs 59.7%; P = 0.07), the pregnancy rate by Day 6 of the breeding season (59.3 vs 49.0%; P < 0.001), and reduced the intervals from start of the breeding season to conception for cows conceiving to AI (8.6 vs 10.4 d; P < 0.10) or to both AI and natural mating (12.7 vs 16.4 d; P < 0.01). Treatment with a used CIDR from Days 16 to 21 after start of breeding to resynchronize returns to service had no effect on conception rate to first or second AI but may decrease the conception rate to second AI in cows previously treated with CIDR. In conclusion, estrus synchronization with the double PG system can reduce fertility, while P4 supplementation for 5 d before the second PG can improve estrous response and overall reproductive performance. Stage of the estrous cycle at the time of the second PG can affect fertility following synchronization.