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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163933
Title: ESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION OF REPLACEMENT BEEF HEIFERS BY USING GNRH, PROSTAGLANDIN F¿¿ (PGF), AND PROGESTERONE (CIDR): A MULTI-LOCATION STUDY.

Author
item LARSON, J - U OF MINNESOTA, GRAND RAP
item LAMB, G - U OF MINNESOTA, GRAND RAP
item Geary, Thomas
item STEVENSON, J - OHIO STATE U, COLUMBUS
item JOHNSON, S - OHIO STATE U, COLUMBUS
item DAY, M - OHIO STATE U, COLUMBUS
item KESLER, D - U OF ILLINOIS, CHAMPAIGN
item DEJARNETTE, J - SELECT SIRES, INC. OHIO
item LANDBLOM, D - ND STATE U, DICKINSON
item WHITTIER, D - VIRGINIA TECH, BLACKSBURG

Submitted to: Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2004
Publication Date: 3/1/2004
Citation: LARSON, J.E., LAMB, G.C., GEARY, T.W., STEVENSON, J.S., JOHNSON, S.K., DAY, M.L., KESLER, D.J., DEJARNETTE, J.M., LANDBLOM, D.G., WHITTIER, D. ESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION OF REPLACEMENT BEEF HEIFERS BY USING GNRH, PROSTAGLANDIN F2a(PGF), AND PROGESTERONE (CIDR): A MULTI-LOCATION STUDY. Kansas State Cattlemen's Day Proceeding / University of Minnesota Beef Cow/Calf Day Proceedings. p. 3-6. 2004.

Interpretive Summary: Estrus was synchronized in 2,077 replacement beef heifers from 12 locations with one of four treatments using CIDRs, GnRH, and PGF with breeding by estrus (EAI) and/or timed AI (TAI) only. The protocols used are described in the technical abstract. Although there were no differences in AI pregnancy rates among treatments, heifers that were inseminated in the EAI + TAI treatments had greater pregnancy rates than heifers in the TAI only treatments. While the addition of a GnRH injection at CIDR insertion did not influence pregnancy rates of heifers, the GnRH+EAI protocol that included TAI with GnRH at 84 h for heifers not detected in estrus most frequently produced the greatest pregnancy rates and provides a reliable alternative to the MGA/PGF protocol.

Technical Abstract: Our objectives were to determine whether a fixed-time insemination (TAI) protocol could yield similar pregnancy rates to a protocol requiring detection of estrus (EAI) and whether an injection of GnRH at CIDR insertion enhanced fertility. Estrus in 2,077 replacement beef heifers from 12 locations was synchronized and AI occurred after four treatments: 1) a CIDR for 7 d with 25 mg of PG on the day of CIDR removal, followed by detection of estrus and AI during 84 h. Heifers not detected in estrus by 84 h received 100 'g of GnRH and were inseminated (EAI; n = 517); 2) heifers were treated and inseminated as EAI heifers but also received GnRH at the time of CIDR insertion (GnRH+EAI; n = 504); 3) heifers received a CIDR for 7 d with PG on the day of CIDR removal, followed in 60 h by a second injection of GnRH and TAI (TAI; n = 531); and 4) heifers were treated and inseminated as TAI heifers but also received GnRH at CIDR insertion (GnRH+TAI; n = 525). Pregnancy was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography on d 30 to35 and blood samples were collected (d '17 and '7, relative to PG) to determine cycling status. Percentage of heifers cycling at initiation of estrus synchronization was 91%. Pregnancy rates among locations ranged from 78 to 100%. Overall pregnancy rates to AI among locations ranged from 38 to 74%. Pregnancy rates to AI were 57.3, 54.5, 53.1, and 49.1% for GnRH+EAI, EAI, GnRH+TAI, and TAI, respectively. Although no differences in pregnancy rates among treatments were observed, the GnRH+EAI treatment most consistently achieved the greatest pregnancy rates. In addition, the GnRH+TAI protocol provides an alternative to estrous synchronize heifers with TAI as an option without detection of estrus.