Evaluation of different protocols for prostaglandin synchronization to improve reproductive performance in dairy herds with low estrus detection efficiency

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 1997-11, Vol.80 (11), p.2766-2774
• Main Authors: Heuwieser, W, Oltenacu, P.A, Lednor, A.J, Foote, R.H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animals; APLICACIONES DEL ORDENADOR; APPLICATION DES ORDINATEURS; Biological and medical sciences; BREAK-EVEN POINT; BREEDING METHODS; CALVING INTERVAL; Cattle - physiology; CHOIX DE LA DATE; CICLO ESTRAL; COMPUTER APPLICATIONS; COMPUTER SIMULATION; Corpus Luteum; Cost-Benefit Analysis; COSTOS DE PRODUCCION; COUT DE PRODUCTION; CYCLE OESTRAL; DAIRY COWS; DIAGNOSIS DE LA GESTACION; DIAGNOSTIC DE GESTATION; Dinoprost - administration & dosage; ELECCION DE LA EPOCA; ENSAYO; Estrus Detection - economics; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; INTERVALLE ENTRE PARTURITION; INTERVALO ENTRE PARTOS; LAIT; LECHE; METHODE D'AMELIORATION GENETIQUE; METODOS DE MEJORAMIENTO GENETICO; MILK; Milk - chemistry; MODELE DE SIMULATION; MODELOS DE SIMULACION; OESTROUS CYCLE; OESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION; Palpation; PARTURITION INTERVAL; PRECIOS; Pregnancy; PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS; PRICES; PRIX; PRODUCTION COSTS; PROFITABILITY; PROGESTERONA; PROGESTERONE; Progesterone - analysis; PROSTAGLANDINAS; PROSTAGLANDINE; PROSTAGLANDINS; RECTAL PALPATION; Rectum; RENTABILIDAD; RENTABILITE; REPEAT BREEDERS; REPLACEMENT RATE; Reproduction; RETURNS; SIMULACION; SIMULATION; SIMULATION MODELS; SINCRONIZACION; SINCRONIZACION DEL CELO; SYNCHRONISATION; SYNCHRONISATION DE L'OESTRUS; SYNCHRONIZATION; Terrestrial animal productions; TESTAGE; TESTING; TIMING; VACAS LECHERAS; VACHE LAITIERE; Vertebrates
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(97)76239-8

The objective of this study was to evaluate different PGF2 alpha protocols against control protocols for herds with estrus detection efficiencies of 35, 55, and 75% using modeling and simulation: (1) PGF2 alpha treatments based on the presence of a corpus luteum diagnosed by rectal palpation, (2) PGF2 alpha treatments based on the presence of a corpus luteum diagnosed by an on-farm milk progesterone enzyme immunoassay, and (3) PGF2 alpha treatments based on a 14-d fixed treatment schedule without prior screening for ovarian status. After the start of each protocol, estrus detection efficiency was 75% for 7 d after treatment and 35 or 0% for the following week. For the third protocol, an additional modification at estrus detection efficiencies of 85 and 55%, respectively, in the 1st and 2nd wk after treatment was evaluated to establish a protocol for best case assumptions. All protocols improved reproductive performance relative to that of controls with estrus detection efficiencies of 35 and 55%. The mean number of days open was reduced from 124.3 d in the control herd to 95.9, 95.0, and 92.7 for the protocols based on rectal palpation, milk progesterone test, and the fixed treatment schedule, respectively. The protocols based on a fixed treatment schedule were superior to protocols based on rectal palpation and on-farm milk progesterone tests and resulted in better reproductive performance and a higher increase in net return per cow per year. Relative to a control herd with an estrus detection efficiency of 55%, it was cost effective to spend up to $10 per dose of PGF2 alpha, $9 per milk progesterone test, and $6 per rectal palpation