Sire effect on the pregnancy outcome in beef cows synchronized with progesterone based Ovsynch and CO-Synch protocols

Anim Reprod Sci. 2008 Feb 1;104(1):1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.01.003. Epub 2007 Jan 10.

Abstract

The objective was to determine the sire effect on the pregnancy outcome in beef cows in which stage of estrus was synchronized with progesterone based fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) protocols. Three Angus sires with more than 300 breedings were evaluated for differences in pregnancy outcome from 1868 inseminations. Angus cross beef cows (N=1868) were synchronized with Ovsynch-CIDR or CO-Synch-CIDR protocols for fixed-time AI. Cows in both groups that showed estrus on day 9 before 1500 h were designated to Selectsynch-CIDR group and were inseminated according to AM-PM rule. Results indicated that Sire 2 had lower fixed-time AI pregnancy rate compared to Sire 3 (48.1% versus 58.7%; P=0.01). Significant sirexsynchronization program and sirexlocation interactions were observed for fixed-time AI (P<0.05). Sire 2 had a lesser fixed-time AI pregnancy in both Ovsynch-CIDR and CO-Synch-CIDR groups compared to Sire 3. In two of four locations, Sire 2 had a lesser fixed-time pregnancy rate compared to Sire 3. No sire differences were observed in AI pregnancy for cows in Selectsynch-CIDR group. In conclusion, evidence in this study suggest that there are differences in sire fertility when they were used in fixed-time AI protocols, possibly due to the sire differences in sperm capacitation process. Further studies are needed to investigate association of the sire differences in fixed-time AI protocols with sire differences in the sperm capacitation process.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle*
  • Dinoprost / administration & dosage
  • Dinoprost / pharmacology*
  • Drug Implants
  • Estrus Synchronization / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / administration & dosage
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Animal / drug effects
  • Pregnancy, Animal / physiology*
  • Progesterone / administration & dosage
  • Progesterone / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Drug Implants
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Progesterone
  • Dinoprost