2001, Number 4
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Vet Mex 2001; 32 (4)
Conception failure in dairy cattle: evaluation of hormone therapies
Hernández CJ, Morales RJS
Language: English/Spanish
References: 65
Page: 279-288
PDF size: 85.50 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Dairy cattle fertility has suffered a significant decrease over the past 40 years associated with a simultaneous increase in milk production. Currently, the conception rate (CR) in the first service is around 35%. Early embryonic death is the main cause of pregnancy failure in bovines, particularly in repeat-breeding cows, where close to 50% of the embryos die during the first 16 days after fertilization. Etiology of embryonic mortality is diverse. Abnormalities of corpus luteum function have been mentioned as an important cause of infertility, although this information is contradictory. However, studies reviewed here were unable to find differences in corpus luteum function between fertile and non-fertile animals, nor between pregnant and non-pregnant ones. Besides, those studies, where either progesterone was supplemented or an accessory corpus luteum induced, show contradictory results. Under field conditions, no effects with the hCG treatment on days 6 or 7 post-insemination were found. Results of GnRH or hCG treatments at the time of insemination were variable even though global results indicate that these two improve CR; no evidence was found in this study regarding this phenomenon. Maternal recognition of pregnancy is a crucial time for embryonic survival. Higher conception rates were associated with smaller diameter of the largest follicle on days 12-14 post-insemination. However, follicle luteinization caused by hormonal treatments on day 12-14 post-insemination reported variable results, and have globally not shown a favorable effect. The injection of growth hormone (bST) at the time of insemination improved the CR in repeat breeder cows, and decreased embryonic abnormalities in superovulated repeat breeder ones.
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