Inseminations at estrus induced by presynchronization before application of synchronized estrus and ovulation

Abstract

A controlled field study examined conception rates after 2 timed artificial insemination (TAI) breeding protocols conducted on 2 commercial dairy farms. Estrous cycles in postpartum lactating cows were presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF2α given 14 d apart (Presynch) and then, after 12 d, the standard Ovsynch protocol (injection of GnRH 7 d before and 48 h after an injection of PGF2α, with one TAI at 12 to 16 h after the second GnRH injection) or Heatsynch protocol [injection of GnRH 7 d before an injection of PGF2α, followed 24 h later by 1 mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP) and one TAI 48 h after ECP] was applied. Experimental design allowed artificial insemination to occur anytime after the second Presynch injection and during the designed breeding week when estrus was detected. Of the 1846 first services performed, only 1503 (rate of compliance = 81.4%) were performed according to protocol. Numbers of cows inseminated, logistic-regression adjusted conception rates, and days in milk (DIM) were for inseminations made: 1) during 14 d after first Presynch injection (n = 145; 22.6%; 54 ± 0.4 DIM); 2) during 12 d after second Presynch injection (n = 727; 33%; 59 ± 0.2 DIM); 3) during 7 d after the first GnRH injection of Ovsynch or Heatsynch (n = 96; 32.1%; 74 ± 0.5 DIM); 4) after estrus as part of Heatsynch (n = 212; 44.6%; 76 ± 0.3 DIM); 4) after TAI as part of Heatsynch (n = 154; 21.1%; 76 ± 0.4 DIM); 5) after estrus as part of Ovsynch (n = 43; 48.7%; 77 ± 0.7 DIM); and 6) after TAI as part of Ovsynch (n = 271; 24.4%; 77 ± 0.3 DIM). Conception rates when AI occurred after one Presynch injection were less than when AI occurred after 2 Presynch injections. Conception rates for those inseminated after either Presynch injection did not differ from those inseminated after combined Heatsynch + Ovsynch. Cows in the Ovsynch and Heatsynch protocols inseminated after estrus during the breeding week had greater conception rates than those receiving the TAI, but overall conception rates did not differ between protocols. Among cows inseminated after detected estrus, conception was greater for cows in the Heatsynch + Ovsynch protocol (77 ± 0.4 DIM) than for those inseminated after either Presynch injection (54 ± 0.4 or 59 ± 0.2 DIM). We concluded that conception rates after Heatsynch and Ovsynch were similar under these experimental conditions, and that delaying first AI improved fertility for cows inseminated after detected estrus.