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novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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can occur with<strong>in</strong> 2-3 days, but if there is no dom<strong>in</strong>ant follicle this could<br />

take longer (Disk<strong>in</strong> et al., 2002).<br />

Conception rates <strong>in</strong> heifers undergo<strong>in</strong>g synchronisation treatment <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

heifers <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ated at natural <strong>oestrus</strong> have been reported <strong>to</strong> be<br />

unimpaired by treatment with no difference between the two groups<br />

(Macmillan <strong>and</strong> Day, 1982). However conception rates <strong>in</strong> lactat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>dairy</strong><br />

<strong>cows</strong> can differ. Some workers report<strong>in</strong>g lower conception rates <strong>in</strong> <strong>cows</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ated at natural <strong>oestrus</strong> (Macmillan <strong>and</strong> Day, 1982) while others<br />

reported higher conception rate at detected <strong>oestrus</strong> compared <strong>to</strong><br />

synchronized <strong>cows</strong> (Xu <strong>and</strong> Bur<strong>to</strong>n, 2000). Furthermore, pregnancy rate<br />

was <strong>of</strong>ten greater <strong>in</strong> <strong>cows</strong> synchronised due <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>detection</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

submission rates (Xu <strong>and</strong> Bur<strong>to</strong>n, 2000;Ryan et al., 1995).<br />

Emergence <strong>of</strong> new follicular waves can be controlled by exogenous GnRH<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiate a new follicular wave which aids the<br />

synchronisation <strong>of</strong> oestrous cycles. GnRH adm<strong>in</strong>istration will cause<br />

ovulation if a dom<strong>in</strong>ant follicle is present <strong>and</strong> a new follicular wave will<br />

occur with<strong>in</strong> 3-4 days (Webb et al., 1992;Twagiramungu et al., 1995).<br />

GnRH analogues have been implemented <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> a follicular <strong>and</strong> luteal phase<br />

synchronisation treatment, entitled the Ovsynch pro<strong>to</strong>col, which controls<br />

emerg<strong>in</strong>g follicle waves <strong>and</strong> CL regression (Thatcher et al., 1989). This<br />

pro<strong>to</strong>col uses timed <strong>in</strong>jections; GnRH adm<strong>in</strong>istered on day 0 results <strong>in</strong><br />

ovulation followed by the <strong>in</strong>itiation <strong>of</strong> a new follicular wave. PGF 2α<br />

treatment is adm<strong>in</strong>istered 7 days later caus<strong>in</strong>g CL luteolysis, with a second<br />

GnRH dose 36-48 hours later <strong>in</strong>duc<strong>in</strong>g ovulation. AI is then carried out at a<br />

fixed time (Pursley et al., 1995;Stevenson et al., 1999b;Stevenson et al.,<br />

1999a;Thatcher et al., 1989). This pro<strong>to</strong>col is advantageous because fixed<br />

timed AI elim<strong>in</strong>ates the need for heat <strong>detection</strong>, which is cost effective, but<br />

heat <strong>detection</strong> is required if the first <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation fails (Disk<strong>in</strong> et al., 2002).<br />

However, as <strong>in</strong>dicated previously with luteolytic <strong>in</strong>duc<strong>in</strong>g agents, GnRH +<br />

PGF 2α methods <strong>of</strong> synchronization do not <strong>in</strong>crease conception rates when<br />

compared <strong>to</strong> AI at observed <strong>oestrus</strong> (Stevenson et al., 1999a).<br />

The Ovsynch pro<strong>to</strong>col can also be accompanied by the ‘Presynch’ pro<strong>to</strong>col<br />

<strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g two <strong>in</strong>jections <strong>of</strong> PGF 2α 14 days apart followed by commencement<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Ovysnch pro<strong>to</strong>col 14 days after the second PGF 2α <strong>in</strong>jection (Akoz et<br />

al., 2008). Another variation on the Ovsynch pro<strong>to</strong>col is Heatsynch;<br />

substitut<strong>in</strong>g the f<strong>in</strong>al GnRH <strong>in</strong>jection 48 hours after PGF 2α treatment with an<br />

<strong>in</strong>jection <strong>of</strong> oestradiol cyprionate <strong>in</strong>tramuscularly at 24 hours after PGF 2α<br />

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