Reproductive features and use of an anti-inflammatory drug in estrus-induced dairy goats artificially inseminated in a standing position with cervix immobilization

Abstract

This study evaluated reproductive features and role of Flunixin-Meglumine at timed artificial insemination (AI), using a new technique of standing position with cervix immobilization. In Experiment 1, 10 goats (n=5 nulliparous [Null] and 5 pluriparous [Plu]) were evaluated after estrus induction by recorded reproductive parameters to define the ideal time for AI. In Experiment 2, goats were artificially inseminated 51-54h after sponge removal with frozen-thawed semen. At AI, 1mL saline (CONTROL; 18 Null and 14 Plu) or 50mg Flunixin-Meglumine (FLUNIXIN; 15 Null and 18 Plu) was administered i.m. Location of semen deposition was recorded for both groups. In Experiment 1, all sexual behavior and ovulatory parameters were similar between Null and Plu for estrus response and ovulation (100%), interval from sponge removal to ovulation (∼64.2h), largest ovulatory follicle diameter (∼6.6mm), and number of ovulations (∼2.0). In Experiment 2, pregnancy rate was superior (P<0.01) for CONTROL (62.5%; 10 Null and 10 Plu) than FLUNIXIN (30.3%; 3 Null and 7 Plu) goats. Regardless of the treatment, intrauterine AI was more frequent (P<0.01) in Plu (100.0%; 32/32) than in Null (69.7%; 23/33) goats. Moreover, AI was more time-consuming (P<0.01) in Null (44±37s; 4-139s) than in Plu (21±19s, 4-78s) goats. Therefore, administration of Flunixin-Meglumine at the time of AI adversely affected pregnancy rate. High rates of intrauterine cervical penetration were obtained, achieving good pregnancy rates in goats not receiving Flunixin-Meglumine.

Evaluation of cervical mucus and reproductive efficiency of seasonally anovular dairy goats after short-term progestagen-based estrous induction protocols with different gonadotropins

“…In Experiment 2, eighty multiparous dairy goats with at least seven months of lactation (15 Alpine, 38 Saanen and 27 Toggenburg) were grouped by milk production, breed, BW, BCS and breeding methods, and then similarly allocated to one of the following gonadotropin treatments: pFSH (n = 26; BW: 45.1 ± 14.9 kg, BCS: 3.0 ± 0.4), eCG (n = 27; BW: 45.1 ± 12.4 kg, BCS: 3.0 ± 0.2) or hCG (n = 27; BW: 45.8 ± 14.2 kg, BCS: 3.0 ± 0.4). After MAP sponge removal, goats in estrus were either artificially inseminated (n = 22), in a standing position [18], at 22-24 h after the onset of estrus or naturally mated (n = 52) by fertile bucks at the onset of behavioral estrus and then every 12 h throughout estrus. AI utilized commercial frozen/thawed semen with a minimum of 45% progressive motility and 3 spermatic vigor (0-5 variation) from four bucks (two Saanen and two Alpine) aged 2-4 years, participating in the Brazilian progeny test -CapraGene (donated by Embrapa Goats and Sheep).…”

“…Evolution of cervical mucus can be performed when the cervical os is observed with the speculum inserted into the vagina, as described earlier [18]. The evaluation of mucus present in the vulva can also be accomplished.…”

“…Using transcervical AI (a.k.a. insemination through the cervical immobilization) [18], Siqueira et al [13] inseminated synchronized Toggenburg goats with cooled semen approximately 20 h after estrous detection and reported the higher conception rate (58%) when goats Table 4 Diameters of preovulatory follicle (mean ± SD; mm) according to the cervical mucus types observed in Toggenburg goats subjected to the estrous induction protocols with a 6day progestagen treatment plus d-cloprostenol and different gonadotropins administered 24 h before sponge removal (Experiment 1).…”

Effects of Gossypium spp., Balanites aegyptiaca, and Sesamum indicum seeds oils on quality of chilled and frozen-thawed ram semen

“…Artificial insemination using chilled and frozen semen can accelerate animal production in breeder farms, simultaneously increasing genetic progress. Indeed, numerous studies have already demonstrated the efficiency of artificial insemination in small ruminants [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. In a comparative study between extenders for freezing semen, a pregnancy rate of 54.55-63.64% was found in Rhamani ram [4], a lambing rate of 56.7-64.5% in Suffolk ewes [5], and a pregnancy rate of 46.2-71% of in Chios rams [6].…”

“…In a comparative study between extenders for freezing semen, a pregnancy rate of 54.55-63.64% was found in Rhamani ram [4], a lambing rate of 56.7-64.5% in Suffolk ewes [5], and a pregnancy rate of 46.2-71% of in Chios rams [6]. In goats, depending on the insemination protocol, fertility varied from 30.3% to 52.5% [7], 38-50% according to the frozen semen type used [8], 35-65% by the synchronization method used [9], 62-64.3% depending on the number of inseminations done [10], and 46-75% per time taken to inseminate a goat [11]. Most of the semen used is frozen in extenders containing animal substances such Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.14/June-2021/2.pdf as lecithin protein [8,12], increasing the risk of the spread of animal diseases.…”