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The effects of raising post-oestrus progesterone concentrations on luteal activity in post-partum dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

A. O. Darwash ,
G. L. Ward ,
G. E. Lamming  and
J. A. Woolliams
A. O. Darwash
Affiliation:
Cattle Fertility Research Group, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD
G. L. Ward
Affiliation:
Cattle Fertility Research Group, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD
G. E. Lamming
Affiliation:
Cattle Fertility Research Group, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD
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Abstract

In order to investigate the rationale of manipulating post-ovulation progesterone (P4) concentrations, luteal activity was measured in 10 Holstein-Friesian cows treated with a progesterone-releasing device (CIDR, 1·9 g P4) inserted on the morning of day 2 post-oestrus for a period of 7 days and compared with 10 untreated control animals. Milk samples were collected daily during afternoon milking from 7 days pre- to 24 days post-oestrus and P4 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The milk P4 profiles were used to assess the effects of early post-oestrus P4 elevation on five intervals of the luteal phase. In the treated (T) and control (C) animals, the mean interval from oestrus to P4 rise (≥3 μg/l), was 2·38 (s.e. 0·18) and 4·90 (s.e. 0·28) days, respectively, (P < 0·01). The mean interval from oestrus to the attainment of peak P4 concentrations was not significantly different (P > 0·05) between the T (14·75 (s.e. 1-62) days) and С (14·30 (s.e. 0·70) days) animals, with cows in the T group showing a more variable (F7 9 = 4-30, P < 0·05) interval to the occurrence of the peak. The interval from peak P4 to corpus luteum (CL) regression (when P4 fell below ≥3 μg/l) was not significantly different between the T (4·13 (s.e. 1·30 days) and С (5·60 (s.e. 0·88) days) groups. Furthermore, CIDR insertion did not alter luteal phase length, number of days with P4 concentrations ≥3 μg/l (T = 16·50 (s.e. 0·80) v.C = 15·00 (s.e. 0·47) days) or the interval from oestrus to CL regression (T = 18·88 (s.e. 0·79) v.C = 19·90 (s.e. 0·41) days). We conclude that treatment with CIDR 2 days after oestrus successfully increased the availability of P4 to cows without significantly affecting luteal phase characteristics.

Keywords

dairy cowsluteolysisoestrous cycleprogesterone
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , April 1999 , pp. 527 - 532
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

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