13 Pre-synchronization by Induction of a Dominant Follicle Using a Progesterone Device in a GnRH-Based-Ovulation Synchronization Protocol in Lactating Dairy Cows

The objective was to compare a pre-synchronization protocol by induction of a dominant follicle using a progesterone intravaginal device before an Ovsynch protocol (Presynch) with Double-Ovsynch in lactating dairy cows. Lactating Bos indicus × Bos taurus crossbred cows (n = 440) were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatments (all IM injections): (1) Double-Ov (n = 228): GnRH (Day –17), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) 7 days later (Day –10) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 3 days later (Day –7) followed by an Ovsynch protocol 7 days later (GnRH on Day 0, PGF2α on Day 7, GnRH on Day 9); (2) Presynch (n = 212): insertion of a sustained release progesterone intravaginal device (Day –10), 10 days later (Day 0), an Ovsynch protocol was initiated with progesterone device withdrawal on Day 7. All cows were artificially inseminated 15 to 20 h after the second GnRH injection of the Ovsynch protocol and were pregnancy checked by ultrasonography 30 and 60 days later. On a subsample (n = 102), ultrasonography was performed on Days 0, 7, 9, and 24 of the experimental period. On another subsample (n = 42), blood samples for progesterone analysis were taken on Days 0, 7, and 24. There were no differences between pre-synchronization methods on synchronization parameters [presence of a follicle >12 mm on D0, Double-Ov 94.2% (49/52) and Presynch 92.0% (46/50); P = 0.66], follicular diameter on the 1st GnRH (Double-Ov 17.2 ± 0.7 mm and Presynch 18.6 ± 0.9 mm; P = 0.28), ovulation rate to the 1st GnRH [Double-Ov 86.3% (44/51) and Presynch 81.2% (39/48); P = 0.50], synchronization rate [Double-Ov 84.6% (44/52) and Presynch 86.0% (43/50); P = 0.84], follicular diameter on the 2nd GnRH (Double-Ov 17.5 ± 0.6 mm and Presynch 18.0 ± 0.5 mm; P = 0.48), ovulation rate to the 2nd GnRH [Double-Ov 90.9% (40/44) and Presynch 86.0% (37/43); P = 0.48] and CL diameter on Day 24 (Double-Ov 27.9 ± 0.7 mm and Presynch 29.4 ± 0.9 mm; P = 0.19). Corpus luteum presence on Day 0 was different (P = 0.03) between treatments [Double-Ov 57.7% (30/52) and Presynch 36.0% (18/50)]. Moreover, there was no difference (P = 0.85) between pregnancy rates on Day 30 [Double-Ov 39.0% (89/228) and Presynch 40.1% (85/212)] or Day 60 after AI [Double-Ov 34.8% (79/227) and Presynch 38.7% (82/212); P = 0.41] and gestational loss between 30 and 60 days after AI [Double-Ov 7.9% (7/88) and Presynch 3.5% (3/85); P = 0.13]. Proportion of cows with P4 1 ng mL−1 on Day 7 [Double-Ov 77.3% (17/22) v. Presynch 95.0% (19/20); P = 0.14] and P4 concentration on Day 24 (Double-Ov 4.7 ± 0.6 v. P4-Ov 5.9 ± 0.9; P = 0.84) were similar between treatments. In conclusion, pre-synchronization by induction of follicular persistence using a sustained-release progesterone device before Ovsynch yielded similar results to the Double-Ovsynch protocol on follicular development and regression patterns and on the fertility of lactating dairy cows.