In dairy farm management economic losses resulting from cystic ovarian degeneration are well known. In spite of this, neither the definition nor the aetiopathology of
ovarian cysts are clear and agreed upon. Also the usual classification in luteal and
follicular cysts, requiring ultrasound examination together with assessment of P4 to be accurate, is not very helpful in field conditions. Consequently a single treatment is often provided for both types of
cysts, and since the 1970s treatments with
GnRH and its analogues have been considered very useful. Nevertheless differences in recovery rates after
GnRH treatment in animals with either luteal or
follicular cysts are reported. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate recovery rate, recovery time and conception rate
after treatment with
buserelin (
GnRH-analogue) in cows with ovarian luteal or
follicular cysts. In a 5 years period, 150 cows with
cysts out of a total of 990 animals, were detected and treated intravenously between 45 and 60 days PP with 20μg
buserelin. No statistically significant differences were found in recovery rates and in conception rates between the two types of
cysts. Comparison of recovery times showed significantly shorter recovery for cows with luteal
cysts. The results emphasise the usefulness of
GnRH to treat
ovarian cysts regardless of their type, in relation to both recovery and conception rates. Intervals from treatment to resumption of ovarian activity were affected by the characteristics of
ovarian cysts, with a faster recovery for the luteal type.