Effect of estrus synchronization protocols on plasma progesterone profile and fertility in postpartum anestrous Kankrej cows

Abstract

The study was aimed at induction/synchronization of estrus in postpartum anestrous Kankrej cows of zebu cattle maintained at an organized farm. The study included use of different hormone protocols, viz., Ovsynch, CIDR (controlled internal drug release), Ovsynch plus CIDR, and Heatsynch with estimation of plasma progesterone on days 0, 7, 9/11 (artificial insemination--AI) and on day 20 post-AI following fixed time insemination. Thirty selected anestrous animals were divided into five equal groups (four treatment and one control), and the findings were compared with the normal cyclic control group of six cows. All the protocols were initiated in cows with postpartum anestrous period of more than 4 months, considering the day of first GnRH injection or CIDR insertion as day 0. The animals were bred by fixed time artificial insemination. Pregnancy was confirmed per rectum on day 60 post-AI in non-return cases. The conception rates at induced/first heat in Ovsynch, CIDR, Ovsynch + CIDR, and Heatsynch protocols were 33.33, 66.66, 50.00 and 16.67%, respectively. The corresponding overall conception rates of three cycles post-treatment were 50.00% (3/6), 100.00% (6/6), 66.66% (4/6), and 50.00% (3/6). In normal cyclic and anestrous control groups, the pooled pregnancy rates were 83.33% (5/6) and 16.67% (1/6), respectively. The pooled mean plasma progesterone (nanograms per milliliter) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher on day 7 in Ovsynch (5.727 ± 1.26), CIDR (4.37 ± 0.66), Ovsynch plus CIDR (3.55 ± 0.34), and Heatsynch (5.92 ± 1.11) protocols as compared with their corresponding values obtained on days 0, 9/11 (AI), and on day 20 post-AI. In anestrous control group, the mean progesterone concentration at the beginning of experiment was 0.67 ± 0.33 ng/ml, which was at par with values of all other groups. The overall plasma progesterone levels on the day of initiating treatment were low in all groups, with smooth small inactive ovaries palpated per rectum twice at 10 days interval, suggesting that most of the animals used in the study were in anestrous phase. Mean (± SE) values of plasma progesterone (nanograms per milliliter) on day 20 post-AI were higher in conceived cows than the non-conceived cows of all the groups, but differed significantly (P < 0.05) only in normal cyclic group. These results suggest that use of different hormone protocols particularly Ovsynch, CIDR, and Ovsynch + CIDR may serve as an excellent tool for induction and synchronization of estrus and improvement of conception rate in postpartum anestrous Kankrej cows.

Effect of estrus synchronization on plasma progesterone profile and fertility response in postpartum suckled anestrous Kankrej cows*

“…Similar ovulatory response was reported with Ovsynch protocol by Deshmukh et al (2009), Mohan Krishna et al (2010) and Keskin et al (2011) in cattle. The findings with CIDR are in harmony with the results of Khade et al (2011) and Bhoraniya et al (2012) in Gir heifers and Kankrej cows. The conception rates obtained at induced, second and third estrus with overall conception rate with Ovsynch treatment was 16.66, 00.00, 20.00 and 33.33 per cent (2/6), respectively.…”

“…On the contrary, higher conception rates of 50-56 per cent each with Ovsynch and CIDR protocols were recorded by Khade et al (2011) and Bhoraniya et al (2012) in Gir heifers and Kankrej cows, respectively. The conception results of the present study with CIDR agreed with the findings of Ammu et al (2012 a ) in Gir cows of the same farm.…”

“…The ovarian status was assessed by gynaeco-clinical examinations per-rectum at least twice at 10 days interval beginning at day 70 postpartum in cows not expressing behavioral estrus to confirm anestrous (n=18) and cyclic (n=6 control) cows. The anestrous animals were subjected to one of the three estrus induction/ synchronization protocols viz., Ovsynch, CIDR and Ovsynch + CIDR (6 animals in each group) on day 90 postpartum with FTAI using good quality frozen thawed semen as explained by Bhoraniya et al (2012).…”

“…For economic dairy farming, dairy cows must calve regularly at every 12 to 14 months interval. Prolonged inter-calving period due to delay in onset of postpartum ovarian function is regarded as one of the major reproductive problems responsible for failure to maintain optimum reproductive efficiency, which in turn causes economic loss to the dairy farmers (Shamsuddin et al, 2006;Bhoraniya et al, 2012;Dhami et al, 2015). Kankrej cows have a majestic look and are a dual purpose zebu cattle breed of Gujarat, with prolonged postpartum subestrous and anestrous conditions.…”

“…Suckling as well as the hot-humid climate of tropical countries like India enhances postpartum infertility problems in dairy animals. Fixed time AI (FTAI) protocols such as Ovsynch, CIDR and Cosynch have been developed to decrease reliance on detection of estrus in reproductive management programmes to establish sustainability in the dairy industry (Mohan Krishna et al, 2010;Keskin et al, 2011;Bhoraniya et al, 2012;Nakrani et al, 2014). The present study was therefore, focused to evaluate postpartum plasma progesterone profile till day 90 and to assess whether the reproductive performance of postpartum anestrous suckled Kankrej cows could be improved using different estrus induction/synchronization protocols.…”