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novel approaches to expression and detection of oestrus in dairy cows

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treatment, followed by AI 48 hours later. However, pregnancy rates did not<br />

differ between Ovsynch <strong>and</strong> Heatsynch pro<strong>to</strong>cols (Pancarci et al., 2002).<br />

Progestagens can also be used <strong>to</strong> synchronise <strong>oestrus</strong> <strong>in</strong> cattle by use <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>ternal releas<strong>in</strong>g devices; PRID (progesterone-releas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>travag<strong>in</strong>al<br />

device) <strong>and</strong> CIDR (controlled-<strong>in</strong>ternal drug release) are progesterone<br />

releas<strong>in</strong>g devices <strong>in</strong>serted <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the vag<strong>in</strong>a. Other devices are implanted <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong><br />

the ear, such as Norges<strong>to</strong>met or are feed additives such as MGA<br />

(Melengestrol acetate; Yavas <strong>and</strong> Wal<strong>to</strong>n, 2000). Progesterone<br />

supplementation ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s progesterone concentration above 1ng/ml<br />

which suppresses <strong>oestrus</strong> <strong>and</strong> the LH surge, block<strong>in</strong>g ovulation (Lucy et al.,<br />

2004). Progesterone treatments are particularly useful for treat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

an<strong>oestrus</strong>; by decreas<strong>in</strong>g LH <strong>in</strong>itially then <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g LH pulsatility by<br />

prim<strong>in</strong>g hypothalamic centres <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>duce <strong>oestrus</strong> <strong>and</strong> then ovulation (Yavas<br />

<strong>and</strong> Wal<strong>to</strong>n, 2000). Progesterone can also overcome cystic ovaries <strong>in</strong> <strong>cows</strong><br />

with a persistent dom<strong>in</strong>ant follicle that will not ovulate because <strong>of</strong><br />

cont<strong>in</strong>uous exposure <strong>to</strong> high frequency LH pulses (Garverick, 1997).<br />

Adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>of</strong> GnRH will can also remove the cystic structure by<br />

lute<strong>in</strong>isation (Garverick, 1997). Progesterone devices were <strong>in</strong>itially used for<br />

14-21 days <strong>and</strong> upon removal <strong>oestrus</strong> occurred with<strong>in</strong> 3 days <strong>in</strong>curr<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

high <strong>oestrus</strong> response (Macmillan <strong>and</strong> Peterson, 1993), although<br />

conception rates <strong>in</strong> <strong>cows</strong> treated for long periods with progesterone are 10-<br />

15% lower than those us<strong>in</strong>g short term pro<strong>to</strong>cols such as 7-9 days (Lucy et<br />

al., 2004). Here short progesterone treatments are now used with a<br />

luteolytic dose <strong>of</strong> PGF 2α 0-2 days before device removal (Lucy et al., 2004).<br />

If PGF 2α is adm<strong>in</strong>istered before progesterone withdrawal there is a higher<br />

degree <strong>of</strong> synchrony (Macmillan <strong>and</strong> Peterson, 1993) due <strong>to</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> any<br />

function<strong>in</strong>g CL. Overall reproductive efficiency is still reportedly low <strong>in</strong><br />

animals treated with both PGF 2α analogues <strong>and</strong> progesterone; calv<strong>in</strong>g rate<br />

was no different between treated (52%) <strong>and</strong> control (43%) <strong>cows</strong> (Roche,<br />

1976). Furthermore, <strong>cows</strong> bred at a detected <strong>oestrus</strong> compared <strong>to</strong> fixed<br />

timed AI after prior progesterone synchronisation treatments have similar<br />

calv<strong>in</strong>g rates (Roche et al., 1977).<br />

Oestrous synchronisation has merit for synchronis<strong>in</strong>g whole herds <strong>in</strong> block<br />

calv<strong>in</strong>g systems, remov<strong>in</strong>g the need for oestrous <strong>detection</strong> as fixed time AI<br />

can be used (Lucy et al., 2004) <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>tensity <strong>and</strong> duration <strong>of</strong><br />

oestrous symp<strong>to</strong>ms as more <strong>cows</strong> are <strong>in</strong> oestrous at the same time (Hurnik<br />

et al., 1975;Van Vliet <strong>and</strong> Van Eerdenburg, 1996). Synchronisation also<br />

14

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