Ultrasonographic evaluation of the reproductive tract as predictors of pregnancy in Girolando heifers submitted to Timed Artificial Insemination

Lara Nogueira Silenciato,Helcimar Barbosa Palhano,Osvaldo Almeida Resende,Andressa Ferreira Da Silva,Otávia Reis E Silva,Marco Roberto Bourg De Mello,Joaquim Esquerdo Ferreira,Samuel Rodrigues Bonamichi Do Couto

doi:10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm104220

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the degree of uterine and ovarian development on the pregnancy rate of Girolando heifers submitted to Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI). Fifty-six heifers, representing 100% of the category in the herd studied, were evaluated. The heifers were submitted to a gynecological evaluation, prior to hormonal treatment, with ultrasonography, in order to measure the diameter of the uterine horns and ovaries, as well as evaluate the presence of corpus luteum (CL) and antral follicles. According to the values found for the uterine and ovarian diameters, the animals were classified into scores from one to three. After the gynecological evaluation, all animals were submitted to TAI. There was no statistical difference (P>0.05) in pregnancy rates between the different uterine and ovarian scores, as well as in relation to ovarian structures. However, a statistical difference (P<0.05) was observed in the percentage of animals in anestrous within ovarian scores one, two and three (83.3%, 37.5% and 42.8%, respectively). The conclusion was that uterine and ovarian development did not interfere in the pregnancy rate of Girolando heifers in the herd studied.

Highlights

General evaluations of the female reproductive tract, including the diameter and tone of the uterine horns and the ovarian structures, have been used as predictors of fertility in beef (Andersen et al, 1991; Gutierrez et al, 2014) and dairy heifers (Stevenson et al, 2008).Young et al (2017) developed a system to evaluate the reproductive tract of dairy cows, using scores according to the size and position of the uterine horns
The objective of the present study was to evaluate, with the aid of ultrasonography, the influence of uterine and ovarian development on the pregnancy rate of Girolando heifers submitted to Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI)
The relationship between the uterine score and pregnancy rate is presented in Table 1 and shows the total number of animals, the uterine evaluation score and the respective pregnancy rates of Girolando heifers submitted to TAI

Summary

Introduction

General evaluations of the female reproductive tract, including the diameter and tone of the uterine horns and the ovarian structures (corpus luteum and antral follicles), have been used as predictors of fertility in beef (Andersen et al, 1991; Gutierrez et al, 2014) and dairy heifers (Stevenson et al, 2008).Young et al (2017) developed a system to evaluate the reproductive tract of dairy cows, using scores according to the size (small, medium and large) and position (pelvic or abdominal) of the uterine horns. General evaluations of the female reproductive tract, including the diameter and tone of the uterine horns and the ovarian structures (corpus luteum and antral follicles), have been used as predictors of fertility in beef (Andersen et al, 1991; Gutierrez et al, 2014) and dairy heifers (Stevenson et al, 2008). Characteristics that are indicative of fertility require systematic evaluation and a good RMS (Reproduction Management System) to avoid any financial losses by helping the technician responsible making correct decisions while carrying out the reproduction work in herds (Patterson et al, 2000; Cammack et al, 2009; Parker Gaddis et al, 2017).

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