Abstract |
Effects of body weight, condition score, ovarian cyclic status and insemination regimen on pregnancy rates were investigated in 164 Bos indicus heifers synchronised with norgestomet- oestradiol and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). Oestrus detection techniques were also compared. Heifers were inseminated at either a fixed time (group 1, n = 83) of 48.0 +/- 0.2 h (mean +/- SEM) after implant removal or at 8.9 +/- 0.5 h after oestrus was detected (group 2, n = 81). Group 2 heifers that were not detected in oestrus by 72 h after implant removal were inseminated at that time. Oestrus was detected for the purpose of insemination using heatmount detectors. Tail-paint and oestrogen treated, chin-ball harnessed steers were used to compare the efficiency of oestrus detection. The probability of ovarian cyclicity increased with increasing body weight and condition score (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of heifers that were acyclic at the commencement of treatment, compared with cyclic heifers, were detected in oestrus at the time of insemination in the fixed-time inseminated group (P < 0.01). Analysis of covariance revealed that intervals from implant removal to oestrus were influenced by ovarian cyclic status (P < 0.01) and insemination group (P < 0.05). A higher pregnancy rate (% +/- SEM) was obtained in acyclic compared with cyclic heifers in the group 1 heifers (50.0 +/- 10 vs 28.1 +/- 6; P = 0.055) but not among the group 2 heifers (45.8 +/- 10 vs 49.1 +/- 7; P = 0.787). The probability of pregnancy was found to be associated negatively with body weight (P = 0.01) while a higher pregnancy rate was obtained in the group 2 compared with group 1 heifers (48.2% vs 34.9%; P = 0.093). The efficiency of oestrus detection was highest using heatmount detectors compared with tail-paint and chin-ball harnessed steers (90.7% vs 37.0% and 23.5%, respectively; P < 0.0001). We conclude that pregnancy rates can be increased in extensive environments when insemination follows oestrus detection using heatmount detectors compared with a fixed-time insemination. The fertility of heifers inseminated at a fixed time is influenced by ovarian cyclic status due to its influence on oestrus-to-insemination intervals.
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Authors | J Cavalieri, L A Fitzpatrick |
Journal | Australian veterinary journal
(Aust Vet J)
Vol. 72
Issue 12
Pg. 441-7
(Dec 1995)
ISSN: 0005-0423 [Print] England |
PMID | 8825307
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Gonadotropins, Equine
- Pregnenediones
- Progesterone Congeners
- norgestomet
- Progesterone
- Estradiol
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Topics |
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Body Weight
(drug effects, physiology)
- Cattle
(blood, physiology)
- Estradiol
(pharmacology)
- Estrus
(physiology)
- Female
- Fertility
(drug effects, physiology)
- Gonadotropins, Equine
(pharmacology)
- Insemination, Artificial
(methods, standards, veterinary)
- Male
- Ovary
(drug effects, metabolism, physiology)
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Rate
- Pregnenediones
(pharmacology)
- Progesterone
(blood)
- Progesterone Congeners
(pharmacology)
- Random Allocation
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