Estrus Synchronization in Cattle

Abstract

Keep in mind that, Neither success nor failure is ever final.

Roger W Babson

Estrus is the period during which animal stand and accept the advances of male for mating. The series of event that occur between two successive estrus is called estrus cycle. These events are: Day O: Female in heat & have dominant
follicle on one of her ovaries. E2

Day 1: Rupture of dominant follicle (~28hr)

& rupture follicles start to luteinize . E2 P4 Illustration of estrus cycle of a cow

Day 5: Functional CL. P4

Gonadotropin

releasing

hormone

(GnRh), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone

(FSH) allow final maturation of new follicles on the ovaries. Estrogen results in +ve feedback mechanism.

Progesterone blocks this mechanism.

Fig: Hormonal regulation of reproduction in cattle
Source: Intervet

Estrus Synchronization involves in manipulating the estrous cycle within a herd to express estrus approximately at the same time.

A labor saving breeding management

tool effective in artificial insemination and embryo transfer program. Success depend upon a producer's understanding of how it works.

1.

Shorten the AI breeding season.

Cows or heifers are in estrus during a
predictable interval that facilitates AI.
Reduce time and labor required to detect

estrus.

2.

Result in more cows and heifers becoming pregnant early during the breeding season.
Progestin-based programs can induce
estrous cyclicity in anestrous cows and prepubertal heifers. 7

Basic approach is to control the timing of the onset of estrus is by controlling the length of the estrous cycle. Various

approaches for controlling estrus cycle length are:

1. Administration of prostaglandin to regress the corpus luteum

of the animal before the time of natural luteolysis.

2. Administration of progesterone or synthetic progestin's to

temporarily suppress the ovarian activity.

3. Using gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)which causes

ovulation of a large follicle. This help in synchronizing estrous cycle in anoestrous female.

One Shot Prostaglandin

Inject all females with prostaglandin on Day 0 and check for estrus & breed 12 hours after standing estrus. 75% of the cycling females would be expected to display estrus during the next 2 to 5 days. Anestrous cows, will not respond to this prostaglandin protocol because they do not have a CL present on the ovary

Check for estrus & breed all females in standing estrus for the 1st 5 days of the breeding season.

Inject all females with prostaglandin not

previously bred at the end of day 5 and breed after 12hr of standing heat. Cyclic cow display estrus within 2 to 5 days after

the prostaglandin injection.

Result >90% of cyclic females being inseminated during the first 10 days of the breeding season.

Two Shot Prostaglandin

Inject prostaglandin to all cows . 75% of the cyclic females come to heat after one injection within next 5 days and inseminate after 12hrs. The females not detected in heat and bred after the first injection should receive a second prostaglandin injection 11 or 14 days later and be bred 12 hours after they display standing estrus.

Two injections of prostaglandin are given 10-12days apart. Detection of estrus is not required before or between injections. All cyclic cows should respond to the second injections regardless of what stage of the estrous cycle they were in when the first injection was administered. Second injection 14 days after the first injection has resulted in more females exhibiting estrus.

10

Synchronization of estrus with progestogens maintain high levels of progesterone in the females system, even after the regression of the corpus luteum.

Synchrony of estrus occurs 2-5 days following progestin removal.

Commercial product that fall into this category are Melengesterol Acetate (MGA, oral feeding), Syncro-Mate-B (Ear Implant) and CIDR

(Intra-vaginal device).
Estrus was synchronized in only 48 % of the cows treated on d 3 , but the synchronization was 100 %when treated on d 9 of the estrous cycle. Longer the progestin was administered to cattle, the higher rate of estrus synchronization, but the lower the fertility of the synchronized animals.
11

MGA is fed at .5 mg/head/day for 14 days.

Exhibit estrus 2-5 days after withdrawal of the MGA. The estrus that occurs immediately after MGA feeding subfertile so not to breed female. A single injection of prostaglandin is administered 17 (or 19 days) days after the MGA has been removed from the feeding program. Exhibit estrus 48 - 72 hours after the PGF2a

injection.
Inseminate females 12 hours after standing estrus. Inducing estrous cycles in some non cyclic female. 12

CIDR contains 1.38 g progesterone.

Day 0:
Designed to maintain elevated blood concentration of progesterone to at least 2ng/ml for up to 10days. Removal CIDR decrease plasma PGF, triggering estrus within 3-4 days. Detect heat & inseminate from days 8 to 11. The progestin CIDR induce estrous cycles in anestrous cows & advance puberty in heifers. The majority of the females that respond to this protocol will exhibit estrus between 25 and 72 hours after the prostaglandin injection.

Placing CIDR in vagina Inject 5ml prostaglandin

Day 6:

Day 7:

Remove CIDR

Days 8 - 11: Detect heat & inseminate

13

Recently developed protocol GnRh causes regression or ovulation of the dominant follicle and initiates the emergence of a new wave of follicular growth in avg. 2.5 d following treatment. Control time of ovulation more exactly and allow a single timed insemination without the need for of estrus detection.
Day 8: Day 1: GnRH used to program
follicle females ovulation females. PGF used to induces growth and in in to cyclic induce anestrous

regression of CL that are present to cause a decline in progesterone.

Four system for synchronization of estrus

with GnRH-PG combinations are

Day 10-11: GnRH induces ovulation of

dominant follicles by that the 14 pre-programmed

OVSYNCH, COSYNCH, SELECT SYNCH and

HYBRID SYNCH.

first GnRH treatment.

 Estrus following GnRH is fertile and cows can be inseminated. The prostaglandin injection is not

Day 0:
growth in

Inject GnRH to program follicle

cyclic females and to induce

ovulation in anestrous females.

Day 7:

Inject

PGF

used

to

induces

necessary in cows that have already

regression of CL

exhibited estrus and not yet bred, but will

not cause any harm, either. Do not inject prostaglandin in females that have been bred after the GnRH injection. Timed insemination is not recommended when using this protocol.

Day 6-13: Check for estrus and inseminalte.

15

 The protocol builds on the basic GnRH-PGF format by adding a second GnRH injection 48 hours after the PGF injection. This second GnRH injection induces ovulation of the dominant follicle recruited injection. All cows are mass inseminated without estrous detection at 8 to18 hours after the second GnRH after the first GnRH

Day 0:
Day 7: Day 9: Day 11:

Inject GnRH Inject PGF Inject GnRH (after 48 hrs.) Timed insemination 8 18 hr after the 2nd GnRH injection.

injection.

16

MGA-GnRH-PG protocol:
Administered MGA orally for 14

days.
Inject GnRH 12 days after the withdrawal of MGA.

Inject PGF2a 7d after the GnRH

injection. 80% of the cows showed estrus within 48 to 96 hrs after PGF2a injection.
17

1. The most common use of the CIDR with GnRH based systems involves insertion of the CIDR on day 1, and withdrawal of CIDR on day 8. 2. An injection of GnRH on day of CIDR insertion. 3. The CIDR is kept in Sutu for seven days. 4. On the day of CIDR withdrawal, an injection of prostaglandin is given. 5. The second GnRH injection is given after two days of prostaglandin injection.

6. Time breed 52- 56 hrs after PG

18

Advantage of CIDR to GnRH Based protocol

1. Exposure to progesterone during the period between day 1 and day 8, result in normal cycle in previously anestrous cow. 2. Withdrawal of a progestin induce on set of cycles in some anestrous females. So, the likelihood of an ovulation is enhanced.

3. Early heat inherent to these systems are prevented. The

progesterone released by the CIDR will prevent estrus and ovulation between days 1 and 9.
19

Females exhibiting regular estrous cycles. Good health and program. good nutrition

A willingness by producers to learn

how to use the product and program. Accurate and thorough detection of

estrus.
Individual identification and accurate record keeping system.
20

R. Islam. Synchronization of Estrus in Cattle: A Review. Vet World. 2011; 4(3): 136-141 N. E. David, P. J. timothy and C. W. Gary. 2001. Arthurs Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics. Harcourt (India) Pvt. Ltd. 8th edition. Thatcher W.W, Moreira F, Santos J.E.P, et al: Effects of Hormonal Treatments on Reproductive Performance and Embryo Production. Theriogenology 55:75-89,

2001.
L.E. Mc Donald.1989. Veterinary Endocrinology and Reproduction. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, London. 4th edition: 545-547

http://www.jarvm.com/articles/volllssl/LOPEZ.DJVN.htm
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeefcowsymp/150 http://beef.unl.edu
21

22

1.

Does prolong use of hormone have got any adverse effect on the health of animal? Ans: Yes, hormone have got adverse effect on the health of animal if use in high dose
for prolong period . Example: if progesterone is use for prolonged period give rise to persistent estrogen secreting follicle , premature resumption of meiosis of ova, etc.

23