Pregnancy Rates After Timed AI of Heifers Following Removal of Intravaginal Progesterone Inserts

Abstract Reproductive performance of dairy heifers was compared for each of 2 synchronization protocols: The first group of 54 heifers was synchronized using intravaginal progesterone inserts (CIDR) plus estradiol cypionate (ECP) on d 0, PGF 2α on d 7, and ECP again on d 8 (CIDR-ECP); a second group of 56 heifers was synchronized using CIDR and ECP on d 0, PGF 2α on d 7, and GnRH on d 9 (CIDR-GnRH). All heifers received timed artificial insemination (TAI) at 48, 56, or 72h after CIDR removal on d 7. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted by ultrasonography 32±1 d post AI to confirm pregnancy and at 60±1 d post AI to determine embryo survival. Ovaries were monitored by ultrasonography daily from d 0 to 7 and twice daily from d 8 to ovulation to examine emergence of a new wave of follicles, size of the ovulatory follicle, and timing of ovulation on 15 heifers per protocol. New follicular development was detected 3.7±0.2 d after CIDR insertion. Heifers receiving CIDR-ECP had a shorter interval from CIDR removal to ovulation than heifers receiving CIDR-GnRH (63.8±3.0 vs. 71.6±2.3h, respectively); however, ovulation occurred 39.8±3.0h after ECP or 23.6±2.3h after GnRH. Diameters of ovulatory follicles did not differ between treatments. Overall pregnancy rate for synchronized heifers was 60.1%, and embryo survival was 98%. Pregnancy rate for heifers synchronized with CIDR-ECP was 63.0% and similar to that in heifers synchronized with CIDR-GnRH (57.1%). Pregnancy rate was affected by time of AI for heifers synchronized using CIDR-ECP but not for those synchronized with CIDR-GnRH. Heifers in the CIDR-ECP group that were inseminated 56h after CIDR removal had a higher pregnancy rate (81.0%) compared with heifers inseminated 48 (66.7%) or 72h (50.0%) after CIDR removal. Either ECP or GnRH used in a CIDR-based TAI program in dairy heifers can achieve acceptable reproductive performance.