Female Reproduction

Anatomy and Physiology

Ryon Walker
PhD Grad Student,
CSU Dept. of
Animal Sciences

Cows Reproductive Cycle

Follicles and
New Corpus
Luteum

Reproductive
Tract

Mature Corpus
Luteum

Ovary
Female Gonad (sex
gland)
Site of Action for LH,
FSH, PGF2alpha
Transient Organs
Follicle
Corpus Luteum

Ovary

Graffian Follicle (dominant follicle)

-

Fluid filled sac oocyte develops

Oocyte surounded by theca and granulosa cells
Ovulation

Corpus Luteum (yellow body)

-

Develops at site of ovulation

Luteal cells develop from theca and granulosa
cells
Remains if female is pregnant

Ovarian Structures

Hormones
Hypothalamus
Gonadtropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

Posterior Pituitary
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Ovary
Estrogen
Progesterone

Uterus
Prostaglandin F2 (PG)

Estrous Cycle
Alternating domination of either:
- estrogen from follicle
- Progesterone from corpus luteum

Follicle Production
Pituitary gland releases:
- FSH for initiating growth of follicles
- LH for steroid hormone production from
follicle
Graffian follicle produces Estrogen
Corpus Luteum produces Progesterone

Estrous Cycle
Luteal Phase (d 1-18)
Follicular Phase (d 18-21)

Estrous Cycle
Estrus (d 0)
Ovulation (d 1)
Metestrus (d 1-5)
Diestrus (d 5-17)
Proestrus (d 17-21)
Estrus (d 0).

Follicular
Luteal
Follicular

Estrus (day 0)
Follicle matures
Estrogen increases as follicle matures
Increase estrogen = increase GnRH
Increase GnRH = increase LH
LH surge
Estrus (standing heat)
Ovulation

Ovulation (day 1)
Oocyte (egg) release
Induced by LH surge
28 hours after first heat

Metestrus (day 1 5)
Corpus luteum formation
Growth and development of follicular wave
Increase in progesterone production

Non responsive to PG
Prepares uterus to accept fertilized egg
Maintains pregnancy and prevents heat
Presence of fetus keeps CL alive

Diestrus (day 5 17)

Mature Corpus Luteum
Maximal progesterone production
GnRH inhibited by progesterone
Maternal recognition of pregnancy
Unfertilized cow:
PG kills CL and stops producing progesterone
around day 16 - 18

Proestrus (day 17 21)

Prostaglandin production by uterus
Luteolysis
Decreased progesterone production
CL regresses

GnRH no longer inhibited

Final maturation of dominant follicle
Increased estrogen

..Estrus (d 0) Ovulation (d 1)..

Estrous Cycle
New CL
Forming

Fol. Size
& CL Size

Mature CL Present

Hormone Level

Progesterone (P4)

Estradiol (E2)
0

10

12

14

Day of Estrous Cycle

16

18

20

Sperm Activity

Sperm travels and waits in oviduct (ampulla)

- Sperm life span in female tract (24 hrs.)
- Need sperm in tract hours before egg
released
- Egg life span in female tract after release
(8 - 12 hrs.)
- Ovulation occurs 28 hours after heat

Approximately 6% of beef cattle

(cows) in Colorado are artificially
inseminated.
About 18% of heifers in the US are
artificially inseminated.
Why?
According to a national survey the #1
reason for not using synchronization or
AI Time and Labor.

Obstacles
- Lack of producer
education.
- Economics of
time and labor.
- Inadequate Facilities
- Cost
- Relative poor conception rates.
- Lack of information

Benefits of Synchronization
Tighter breeding and calving season
Decreased time needed for estrous
detection
Improved calf uniformity.
Increased time for post partum recovery
Inducement of estrous cycles, anestrous
cows
Increased calf performance.

Classes of Synchronization
Drugs
1) Prostaglandins
2)Progestins
3) GnRH

Prostaglandins
PGF2
Causes regression of the corpus luteum
Stops progesterone block on estrogen and
LH release so follicle can mature and
ovulate.

Prostaglandins
Cattle with a functional CL at time of PG
injection will exhibit estrus 2 to 7 days later.
Will only affect cattle in diestrus or the
luteal phase.

Progestins
Synthetic progesterone - prevents estrus
from occurring.
Most cows exhibit estrus 2-5 days after
removal of progestins.
Administration:
Oral administration (MGA)
Intravaginal insert (CIDR)
Implant (Syncro-Mate B)

GnRH
Causes release of LH and FSH.
LH and FSH act on the ovary to stimulate
follicular
development and
ovulation or
regression of
dominant follicle.

Manipulation of dominant follicle

with MGA Select Synch

Follicle Study
Dominant Follicle

Corpus Luteum

Follicle Study
Dominant Follicle

Corpus Luteum

Red Cow Left Ovary

22
20

Size (mm)

18
16

Follicle I
Follicle II
Follicle III
Follicle IV

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 0

1 2

4 5

6 7

Day of Estrous

8 9 10 11 12 13

Synchronization Study
SJBRC 2003
Objective
Synchronize heifers to increase fertility with a
new progestin (CIDR)

Heifers from three locations

San Juan Basin Research Center (CO; 39 head)
Beef Improvement Center (WY; 125 head)
Quinn Cattle CO (SD; 211 head)

Protocol
Control (CON) - Give nothing at breeding
Treatment (Trtmt) - Give GnRH at breeding

CIDR Insert
GnRH

CIDR Removal
PG

54 h Mass Mate
CON
Trtmt

CIDR Insert

Day 0

Day 7

Day 9

CIDRs
T shaped device (insert)
Wings collapse to form
a rod and inserted into
the applicator.
Nylon backbone
Progesterone
impregnated into
silicone skin.
1.38 g progesterone

CIDR Application
CIDR is applied into the vagina with an
applicator gun and released
CIDR is removed by pulling on tail.
Progesterone levels rise dramatically within 1 hour.

Follicle Study SJBRC 2003

Objective
Measure dominant follicles at breeding
Determine if ovulation occurs

Pregnancy Results
70

Pregnancy Rate TAI, %

60

a
52.6 %

a
55 %

a
54 %

a
56.5 %

50

a
54.2 %

b
40.4 %

CON
TRMT

40
30
20
10
0

Colorado (CO)

Wyoming (WY)

South Dakota (SD)

Follicle Results
Follicle Size at Breeding
100
90
Pregnancy Rate, %

80
70
60

Follicle
Diameter

50
40
30
20
10
0

10 - 11.9
mm

12 - 13.9
mm

14 - 15.9
mm

16 - 18 mm

Follicle Results
Ovulation

Pregnancy Rate, %

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Ovulation, %
Pregnancy Rate, %

Control

Treatment