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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #162732
Title: FERTILITY IN BEEF HEIFERS SYNCHRONIZED USING A MODIFIED CO-SYNCH PLUS CIDR PROTOCOL WITH OR WITHOUT GNRH AT TIMED AI

Author
item WALKER, R - SAN JUAN BASIN RES CENTER
item ENNS, R - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item Geary, Thomas
item WAMSLEY, N - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item DOWNING, E - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item MORTIMER, R - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item LASHELL, B - SAN JUAN BASIN RES CENTER
item ZALESKY, D - SAN JUAN BASIN RES CENTER

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Walker, R.S., Enns, R.M., Geary, T.W., Wamsley, N.W., Downing, E.R., Mortimer, R.G., Lashell, B.A., Zalesky, D.D. 2004. Fertility in beef heifers synchronized using a modified co-synch plus cidr protocol with or without gnrh at timed ai. Journal of Animal Science Supplement 82(2):117.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine if a second injection of GnRH at timed AI (TAI) increases the percentage of induced ovulations and improves pregnancy rates in beef heifers synchronized with the CO-Synch plus CIDR protocol. Nulliparous crossbred beef heifers (n = 375, BW = 362.7 kg, body condition score, BCS = 5.6) from three locations (Colorado [CO], Wyoming [WY] and South Dakota [SD]) were stratified by BW and BCS and randomly allotted to one of two treatments. All heifers received 100 µg of GnRH with a CIDR insert on day 0, followed by CIDR removal and 25 mg of PGF2' on day 7. At 54 hours post PGF2', heifers in the control (CON) and treatment (TRMT) groups were mass mated and heifers in the treatment (TRMT) group were given a second injection of GnRH at that time. Blood samples were collected in heifers at d -10 and 0 to determine cyclicity status at CO and WY. Ultrasonography was used to classify follicle diameter at TAI and determine percentage of heifers ovulating 40 h after TAI at the CO and WY locations. Cyclicity rates were higher (P < 0.01) for heifers at CO (97.4 %) vs WY (46.4 %). Pregnancy rates were similar (P > 0.10) between treatment groups and for cycling and non-cycling heifers at CO and WY; however, pregnancy rates were higher (P < 0.05) for heifers in the TRMT (54.2 %) vs CON group (40.4 %) at SD. Body weight did not affect pregnancy rates for either treatment group across all locations (P > 0.10); however, pregnancy rates tended to decrease (P = 0.08) for heifers with body weights greater than 409.1 kg (39 %) vs heifers with body weights less than 409.1 kg (53.2 %). The percentage of heifers ovulating were similar (P > 0.10) between CO and WY and ovulation rates tended to be higher (P = 0.10) for heifers in the TRMT (81.3 %) vs CON (62.5 %) groups. We conclude that synchronizing beef heifers with a modified Co-Synch plus CIDR protocol induces ovulation in cycling and non-cycling heifers and produces acceptable pregnancy rates at 54 h TAI. The value of incorporating a second injection of GnRH at timed AI remains questionable.