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J. Dairy Sci. 90:1139-1148
© American Dairy Science Association, 2007.

Synchronization of Estrus and Pregnancy Risk in Anestrous Dairy Cows After Treatment with a Progesterone-Releasing Intravaginal Device

R. B. Walsh*,1, S. J. LeBlanc*, T. D. Duffield*, D. F. Kelton*, J. S. Walton{dagger} and K. E. Leslie*

* Department of Population Medicine, and
{dagger} Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1

1 Corresponding author: rwalsh{at}uoguelph.ca

Lactating Holstein cows (located in 4 dairy herds) that had failed to display estrus as defined by increased pedometer activity by 63 ± 3 d in milk, were enrolled to investigate the effect of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID, n = 268) relative to a placebo intravaginal device (PID, control, n = 266) on days from device removal to artificial insemination (AI), the probability of pregnancy at first AI, and days from device removal to pregnancy. Cows were assigned randomly to receive a PRID or PID for 7 d and an injection of PGF2{alpha} at device removal. Upon device removal, a vaginitis score was assigned and AI occurred at observed estrus. Cows failing to display estrus within 14 d of device removal were subjected to a subsequent reproductive exam and were treated with PGF2{alpha}. Two percent of PRID-treated cows and 11% of control cows displayed estrus during the 7-d exposure period. Among the remaining cows, 93% of the devices were present at the scheduled removal. Cows treated with the PRID were 60% less likely to have purulent debris on the device than control cows. Vaginal reaction, however, was not associated with any of the reproductive outcomes. Investigation of the reproductive outcomes revealed a treatment x parity interaction. Progesterone-treated primiparous cows were inseminated 17 d earlier, with no significant change in the probability of pregnancy at first AI (30.3 vs. 42.0%), and no difference in median time from device removal to pregnancy (52 vs. 53 d) relative to control primiparous cows. Conversely, PRID-treated multiparous cows were inseminated 8 d earlier, with no change in probability of pregnancy at first AI (24.6 vs. 18.8%); however, median time from device removal to pregnancy was reduced by 20 d (67 vs. 87 d). These results support the efficacy of a PRID to induce estrus in previously anestrous cows. The reason, however, for the variable response between primiparous and multiparous cows was not clear.

Key Words: progesterone-releasing intravaginal device • synchronization • fertility • time to pregnancy






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