Dr. Julio Giordano Follicle Corpus Luteum
LH FSH E2 Hypothalamic hormones Gonadotropin releasing hormone () Hormone Concentration CL LH (ng/ml) 12 10 8 6 4 2 LH Response Cows Treated with 28 h (22-36) 0-3 -2-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 5 10 15 Days Control LH synthesis and release Time (h) Hypothalamic hormones Gonadotropin releasing hormone () Control LH synthesis and release 1. Regular dose is 100 µg (2 cc or 1 cc) 1. Treatment with in pregnant cows neither detrimental nor beneficial for current pregnancy 2. Greatest detriment to function is progesterone level LH (ng/ml) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 High P4 Env Low P4 Env (370/962) 100 μg of P4 Env P < 0.001 Time P < 0.001 P4 Env X Time P < 0.001 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 Time after Injection (h)
Ovulatory Response to G1 (%) 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 a b (n = 981) (n = 956) (134/227) (115/302) (33/211) c P <0.05 >90% cows fol 10 mm Uterine hormones Prostaglandin F2α (PGF) 0 Low Medium High concentration at G1 Giordano et al., 2013 Causes luteal regression Exogenous PGF is responsible for triggering rather than causing luteolysis Endogenous pulses of PGF Prostaglandin F2α (PGF) Natural form of PGF Dinoprost 25 mg (5 cc or 2 cc) Synthetic form of PGF Cloprostenol 500 µg (2 cc) Causes luteal regression
Main secretion of the CL Multiple functions: Regulates gonadotropin (mostly LH) secretion Blocks estrus and Promotes development of healthy (fertile oocyte/egg) Corpus Luteum Hormone Concentration LH FSH E2 CL UT PGF 5 10 15 Days Consistent and systematic implementation of estrus detection method Heifers DO NOT present same limitations to estrus expression as cows No milk production Less metabolically challenged Fewer health issues Key factors for success Good nutrition Good health Reasonable environmental conditions 27.6 ± 5.4 h after the first standing event of estrus (Walker et al., 1996) 4 to 12 h of the onset of estrus Sperm needs to be ready to fertilize before oocyte is released PM Fricke, Ph.D.
PGF-based programs Only effective in cyclic animals (CL present) Heifer expected to regress CL, show estrus, and ovulate Timing of ovulation not as tightly controlled 11 or 14 d P4-based programs Only synchronizes estrus blocks ovulation and may favor follicular wave turnover Heifer expected to regress CL, show estrus, and ovulate (unless is used at the end) 7 d Critical events for successful AI are those closer to the time of AI critical to respect timing!!! 7 days 56 h 16 h 7 days 56 h 16 h TAI TAI Pursley et al. 1995 Pursley et al. 1995
~8 d fol. growth device PGF PGF + TAI 5 days 1 d 2 d ~6 d fol. growth Expected P/AI = ~50-65% Rabaglino et al., 2010, Lima et al., 2013; Santos et al., 2011 with conventional semen ± device PGF PGF 5 days 1 d 2 d Expected P/AI = ~50-65% + TAI 1X PGF vs. 2X PGF = ~3-4-percentage points -??? vs No = ~4-5-percentage points with conventional semen Rabaglino et al., 2010, Lima et al., 2013; Santos et al., 2011 device PGF PGF 5 days 1 d 2 d Expected Highest P/AI = 60-65% Rabaglino et al., 2010, Lima et al., 2013; Santos et al., 2011 with conventional semen + TAI
device PGF + TAI 5 days 3 d Expected Lowest P/AI = 50-55% Rabaglino et al., 2010, Lima et al., 2013; Santos et al., 2011 with conventional semen 21d-Service detection TAI interbreeding interval Health Environmental conditions 21d-Preg Conception AI Tech Sexed Semen Male factors (semen) AI # Synch protocol Nutrition Housing Age 21d-Service 21d-Preg Conception Individual (or subgroup) heifer VWP Does the actual AGE at the first inseminations match the stated VWP? 13.3 months 11.7 months Using AIDAT item ideal for herds that do use AGE to determine end of VWP Not using AIDAT in these herds artificially reduces 21d-Pregnancy
Successful repro program: 1. proactive, systematic, and consistent Thank you! 2. conducted by committed personnel - prioritizes attention to detail 3. Healthy animals! Julio Giordano http://blogs.cornell.edu/giordano/ jog25@cornell.edu