Ovarian dynamics and fertility in beef cows administered a 5-day or 6-day CO-Synch protocol for timed artificial insemination.

The 5-day CO-Synch is an extensively used TAI protocol; however, it requires multiple administrations of prostaglandin F2a (PGF). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of increasing progesterone (P4) device insertion from 5 to 6 days during a TAI protocol on ovarian dynamics and fertility in beef cows. Suckled beef cows (n = 867) at six locations were randomly assigned to either a 5-day or 6-day CO-Synch. Cows received an intravaginal P4 device (CIDR, Zoetis) and 100 µg of gonadorelin acetate (GnRH, Parnell) on d-9 (6-day) or d-8 (5-day). On d-3 CIDR's were removed, an estrus detection patch applied (Estrotect, Rockway Inc.) and either one (6-day) or two (5-day) doses of PGF (500 µg of cloprostenol sodium, Estroplan, Parnell) was administered. On d0 (72 h after CIDR removal) all cows received 100 µg of GnRH, estrus expression was evaluated, and AI was performed. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography 34 days after TAI. Ovarian dynamics were evaluated in a subset of animals (n = 20) between d-3 and d7 to determine preovulatory follicle size, time of ovulation and corpus luteum (CL) size. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (SAS 9.4). Cows in the 6-day group tended (P = 0.09) to have a larger maximum follicle diameter (16.2±0.4mm) than cows in the 5-day group (15.0±0.6mm). In addition, CL volume on d7 was greater (P = 0.01) in the 6-day (4302±495mm3) than 5-day (2406±455mm3) group. There were, however, no differences (P = 0.15) in the interval between CIDR removal and ovulation. Cows assigned to the 6-day group had greater (P < 0.05) estrus expression [56.1% (215/385) vs 41.5% (161/388)] and pregnancy rate [54.6% (236/438) vs 47.4% (207/435)] than cows in the 5-day group. In conclusion, extension of the period of P4 device insertion in a prolonged proestrus protocol increases preovulatory follicle size, estrous expression, and fertility to TAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]