Comparison of three reproductive management strategies for lactating dairy cows using combination of estrus detection or ovulation synchronization and Fixed-Timed Artificial Insemination

Vazquez Belandria, R. , Denholm, K. , Pepler, P. T. , Cook, J. G., Pinho, P., Randi, F. and Viora, L. (2023) Comparison of three reproductive management strategies for lactating dairy cows using combination of estrus detection or ovulation synchronization and Fixed-Timed Artificial Insemination. Animal Reproduction Science, 257, 107331. (doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107331) (PMID:37717491)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows submitted to first AI after combination of estrus detection and fixed timed AI (FTAI) and FTAI only. Cows were randomly assigned to receive AI at detected estrus between 50 and 70 d in milk (DIM), if not detected in estrus, were enrolled in either Ovsynch (ED-Ov, n = 485) or PRIDsynch (ED-PR, n = 505) protocols; or received FTAI at 80 DIM after Double-Ovsynch protocol (DO, n = 501). Cows were body condition scored (BCS) at calving and at 43 DIM; and evaluated for postpartum disorders within 7 d postpartum; clinical mastitis, lameness and bovine respiratory disease were recorded until first AI. Ovarian cyclicity was monitored at 43 and 50 DIM, and at 70 and 77 DIM. Pregnancy diagnoses (PD) were performed at 32 and 63 d after AI. Overall prevalence of postpartum anovulation was 7.8%. Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) did not differ between reproductive strategies at 32 d PD (ED-Ov = 43.2%; ED-PR = 41.7%; DO= 45.3%). Primiparous cows had greater P/AI than multiparous cows (53.7% vs 36.8%). Cows on farm 1 had lower P/AI compared with their counterparts on farm 2 (42.1% vs 45.4%). Cows with BCS > 2.5 at 43 DIM had greater P/AI compared with cows with BCS ≤ 2.5 (44.5% vs 34.7%). Similar P/AI for cow’s receiving AI at detected estrus and FTAI, low prevalence of disease anovulation may have contributed to the similar performance of ED-Ov, ED-PR and DO.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors thank Ceva Sante Animale (Libourne, France) for co-funding this study in conjunction with the University of Glasgow and the donation of the Ovarelin®, Enzaprost®, and PRID® Delta devices. P. T. Pepler was funded by the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division, as part of the Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks (EPIC).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vazquez, Mr Richard and Pepler, Dr Theo and Denholm, Mrs Katie and Viora, Dr Lorenzo

Creator Roles

Vazquez, R.: Conceptualization, Methodology, Project administration, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing, Visualization
Denholm, K.: Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing, Methodology, Formal analysis, Visualization
Pepler, T.: Formal analysis, Data curation, Validation, Supervision, Writing – review and editing, Resources
Viora, L.: Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing, Methodology, Resources, Project administration, Supervision, Visualization, Funding acquisition

• Authors: Vazquez Belandria, R., Denholm, K., Pepler, P. T., Cook, J. G., Pinho, P., Randi, F., and Viora, L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Animal Reproduction Science
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0378-4320
• ISSN (Online): 1873-2232
• Published Online: 15 September 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 Crown Copyright
• First Published: First published in Animal Reproduction Science 257:107331
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license