Effects of carprofen and/or CIDR administration on pregnancies per artificial insemination around pregnancy recognition in lactating dairy cows

Abstract

Effect of carprofen and/or CIDR on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) 14 days after artificial insemination (AI) in lactating cows were investigated. Following detection of corpus luteum (CL) by ultrasonography (USG) 14 days after AI, cows (n=853) were randomly allocated to CARP (carprofen, 1.4 mg/kg; Rimadyl®XL), CIDR (progesterone, 1.38g, for seven days), CARP+CIDR and CONT (control) groups. CL was re-determined with USG 21 days after AI to monitored the maintenance of CL. Rates of maintenance of CL did not differed among CARP (79.6% [168/211]), CIDR (86.0% [196/228]), CARP+CIDR (80.0% [172/215]) and CONT (74.9% [149/199]) groups; however, the interaction effect of treatment by body condition score (BCS) at AI (P<0.05) were existed. In this matter, among cows with BCS≤2.5, chances of maintenance of CL was lower in CONT (70.7%, [111/157]) group compared to those in CARP (81.7%, [125/153]), CIDR (83.6%, [153/183]) and CARP+CIDR (80.1%, [129/161]) groups. Whereas, among cows with BCS>2.5, chances of maintenance of CL were lower in CARP (74.1%, [43/58]) and CARP+CIDR (79.6%, [43/54]) groups compared to those in CONT (90.5%, [38/42]) and CIDR (95.6%, [43/45]) groups. For the P/AI at 28-32 days after AI, there was no difference among CARP (48.8% [103/211]), CIDR (50.9 [116/228]), CARP+CIDR (47.4% [102/215]) and CONT (44.7% [89/199]) groups. Pregnancy losses between 28-32 and 55-60 days did not differ among CARP (3.9%, [4/103]), CIDR (4.3%, [5/116]), CARP+CIDR (5.9%, [6/102]) and CONT (6.7%, [6/89]) groups. However, there was a significant (P<0.05) interaction effect of treatment by the number of services on pregnancy losses. In this regard, pregnancy losses were higher in cows inseminated thrice and four or more times in CONT (11.8% and 16.7%) group compared to those in CARP (0% and 4.8%), CIDR (0% and 6.9%), CARP+CIDR (0% and 11.1%); respectively. Consequently, no effects of carprofen or CIDR around pregnancy recognition on P/AI were observed despite a higher maintenance rate of CL in lactating cattle. Furthermore, fewer pregnancy losses in cows following three or more services could indicate the beneficial carry-over effects of carprofen and/or CIDR administration around maternal recognition of pregnancy.

A Critical Overview on Prostaglandin Inhibitors and Their Influence on Pregnancy Results after Insemination and Embryo Transfer in Cows

“…The conclusion was that administration of CAR on the 14th Day after insemination to cows who could not conceive for a long time after parturition may be effective in increasing the rate of conception [ 46 ]. In the latest experiment of Abay et al [ 47 ], CAR administration 14 days after AI improved chances ( p < 0.05) of maintaining the CL in females with body condition score (BCS) ≤ 2.5 (81.7 vs. 70.7% respectively for CAR and control group), whereas for animals with BCS > 2.5 CAR treatment decreased CL maintaining chances compared to the control (74.5 vs. 90.5%, respectively, p < 0.05). However, a positive effect of CAR has been found by the number of services on pregnancy losses.…”

“…However, a positive effect of CAR has been found by the number of services on pregnancy losses. Pregnancy losses 28–32 and 55–60 days after insemination were higher in cows inseminated thrice or four and more times in the control group (11.8% and 16.7%, respectively) compared to those treated with CAR (0% and 4.8%, respectively) [ 47 ]. Conversely, subcutaneous administration of CAR (1.4 mg/kg body weight (BW)) did not have a positive effect on the results of calving in cows, while intrauterine administration with a special catheter had a negative effect on the results of the first insemination [ 16 , 48 ].…”