Reproductive parameters of Sindhi cows (Bos taurus indicus) treated with two ovulation synchronization protocols

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive parameters of Sindhi cows aiming to improve the efficiency of fixed-time artificial insemination protocols in this breed. For this purpose, sixteen Sindhi cows were divided into two groups: in group I (EB, n = 8) animals received an intravaginal P4 implant and an application of 2 mg of estradiol benzoate on day 0. On day 8 the implant was removed and 10 mg of Dinoprost were applied; on day 9, 1 mg of estradiol benzoate was applied, and animals were fixed-time artificially inseminated 36 hours later; in group II (EB + eCG, n = 8) animals were subjected to same treatment, and on day eight 400 IU of eCG were applied. From day 0 animals were examined daily by a trans-rectal ultrasound device, where in each assessment the largest follicles of each day were measured. The reproductive parameters observed for groups I and II were: emergence of follicular wave, 4.5±1.4 and 3.8±0.3 days; interval between wave emergence and ovulation, 5.8±1.4 and 7.1±0.3 days; interval between wave emergence and implant removal, 3.5±1.4 and 4.1±0.3 days; interval between implant removal and ovulation, 74.0±11.8 and 82.5±4.2 hours; diameter of the dominant follicle (DF) at the time of implant removal, 7.5±2.5 and 6.6±1.5 mm; maximum diameter of DF, 10.47±8.85 and 3.7±1.2 mm; growth rate of DF, 0.90±0.83 and 0.7±0.6 mm/day; ovulation rate, 75% and 100%; and pregnancy rate, 0% and 50%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups. We observed that eCG was not efficient in improving the reproductive parameters analyzed in this breed.

Keywords

• eCG
• follicular growth
• reproduction
• zebu