The Journal of Reproduction and Development (Dec 2023)

Equine chorionic gonadotropin treatment and timed artificial insemination for dairy cow production under heat stress

  • Daisuke FUNAKOSHI,
  • Hidetoshi SHIOTANI,
  • Makoto SEKI

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2023-069
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 70, no. 1
pp. 30 – 34

Abstract

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This study investigated the effects of timed artificial insemination (TAI) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administration on lactating dairy cows under heat-stress conditions (average temperature-humidity index: 80). Timed artificial insemination was performed on the cows with (n = 57) or without (control, n = 41) supplementation with 500 IU of eCG at the day of PGF2α treatment using the CIDR-Ovsynch protocol. GnRH was administered, and a progesterone device (CIDR) was inserted on Day −10 of the treatment protocol. The CIDR was removed on Day −3, and the cows were treated with PGF2α. Two days later, a 2nd GnRH injection was administered. Subsequently, AI was performed on Day 0 (16–20 h after the 2nd GnRH injection), and pregnancy was diagnosed on Days 32 and 60. Plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations were measured after AI. Results showed that the eCG group had a higher pregnancy per AI (P/AI) than the control group (43.9 vs. 12.2%, P = 0.002), which was also accompanied by elevated P4 levels. Four cows in the eCG group had multiple calves, representing 7.0 and 16.0% of the group and pregnant cows, respectively. In conclusion, 500 IU of eCG combined with CIDR-Ovsynch in lactating dairy cows under severe heat stress conditions successfully improved fertility. However, the protocol may have a slight risk of multiple births.

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