Acta Vet. Brno 2021, 90: 15-20

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202190010015

The ovulatory response to human chorionic gonadotropin administration on day 4 post timed artificial insemination improved fertility in repeat breeder cows

Gulnaz Yilmazbas-Mecitoglu1, Ahmet Gumen1, Ebru Karakaya-Bilen2, Abdulkadir Keskin1, Baris Guner3, Rabia Cakircali1

1University of Bursa Uludag, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bursa, Turkey
2University of Siirt, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Siirt, Turkey
3University of Balıkesir, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Balıkesir, Turkey

Received June 11, 2020
Accepted February 24, 2021

This study focused on determining the success of inducing endogenous progesterone source (by formation of accessory corpus luteum) by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on day 4 post timed artificial insemination (TAI) and on evaluating the effect of the day of hCG administration (day 4 or 5 post TAI) on pregnancy rates in repeat breeder cows according to their responses to hCG administrations. Non-pregnant cyclic lactating Holstein dairy cows with more than three services despite no clinical reproductive abnormalities were enrolled in the study. All cows (n = 192) received the Ovsynch protocol (GnRH-7d-PGF-56h-GnRH-16/18h-TAI) and hCG administration (1500 IU, i.m.) was performed in group hCG4 (n = 64) on day 4 and in group hCG5 (n = 68) on day 5 post TAI. The control group (CON, n = 60) did not receive any hCG treatment. The responses (ovulation rate) to hCG (~64%) were similar on days 4 and 5 post TAI. Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) at 31 days was similar among the groups (48.3% in CON, 48.4% in hCG4, and 42.6% in hCG5). Regardless of the day of the treatment (hCG4 + hCG5), the cows had an ovulatory response to hCG (54.1%), and a greater P/AI (P = 0.007) at 31 days than those without a response (29.8%). The administration of hCG on either day 4 or 5 post TAI did not increase overall pregnancy rates, however, the ovulatory response to the post TAI hCG administration on day 4 improved fertility in repeat breeder cows. Further studies are needed with a larger number of animals to reveal this potentiallly beneficial effect.

Funding

Dr. Gulnaz Yilmazbas-Mecitoglu was supported by the TUBITAK–BIDEB 2219 International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program. This study was also supported by University of Bursa Uludag, Scientific Research Projects Council, Grant No. KUAP(V)-2019/1.

References

26 live references