Effects of Method of Presynchronization and Source of Selenium on Uterine Health and Reproduction in Dairy Cows

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2008-09, Vol.91 (9), p.3323-3336
• Main Authors: Rutigliano, H.M., Lima, F.S., Cerri, R.L.A., Greco, L.F., Vilela, J.M., Magalhães, V., Silvestre, F.T., Thatcher, W.W., Santos, J.E.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Veterinary; Animal productions; Animals; artificial insemination; Biological and medical sciences; Body Constitution; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - physiopathology; dairy cow; dairy cows; Dairying - methods; dietary mineral supplements; dietary minerals; dietary nutrient sources; Dietary Supplements; Endometritis - physiopathology; Endometritis - veterinary; estrus synchronization; Estrus Synchronization - methods; Female; female fertility; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gonadotropin-releasing hormone; hormone supplements; methodology; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; Ovsynch; ovulation; Pregnancy; pregnancy rate; Presynch; presynchronization; Random Allocation; reproduction; Reproduction - drug effects; reproductive efficiency; Risk Factors; selenium; Selenium - administration & dosage; Selenium - pharmacology; Sodium Selenite - administration & dosage; Sodium Selenite - pharmacology; Terrestrial animal productions; uterine diseases; uterus; Uterus - drug effects; Vertebrates; Yeasts - chemistry
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2008-1005

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of method of presynchronization and source of supplemental Se on uterine health and reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows. Holstein cows (n=512) were assigned randomly to 2 methods of presynchronization, Presynch (2 PGF2a given 14 d apart) or CIDR-PS (controlled internal drug releasing inserted for 7 d with an injection of PGF2a at removal) and 2 sources of Se, sodium selenite (SS) or selenized yeast (SY) supplemented at 0.3 mg/kg from 25 d before calving to 80 d in milk (DIM) arranged in a 2×2 factorial. Cows were inseminated following the Ovsynch protocol (d 0 GnRH, d 7 PGF2a, d 9 GnRH, timed artificial insemination (AI) 12h after the final GnRH) starting at 12 and 3 d after Presynch and CIDR-PS, respectively. Cows were diagnosed for pregnancy at 28, 42, and 56 d after AI. Source of Se did not influence uterine health and resumption of cyclicity, but fewer CIDR-PS than Presynch cows were cyclic at the beginning of the Ovsynch, although differences in the proportion cyclic may have been caused by the timing when corpus luteum evaluations were performed in the different pre-synchronization treatments. Ovulatory responses were not influenced by source of Se. However, the CIDR-PS increased ovulation to the first GnRH, double ovulation to the final GnRH, and size of ovulatory follicle at PGF2a and final GnRH of the Ovsynch, but did not influence ovulation at the final GnRH of the Ovsynch. Concentrations of estradiol during the Ovsynch increased with follicle diameter and were greater for cows receiving CIDR-PS than Presynch, but they were not influenced by source of Se. Pregnancy per AI on d 28 (32.7%), 42 (28.5%), and 56 (25.9%) after AI, and pregnancy loss (20.5%) from 28 to 56 d were not influenced by source of Se or method of presynchronization. Although cows receiving CIDR-PS had an increased incidence of ovulation to the first GnRH (73.2 vs. 57.8%) and double ovulation to the final GnRH of the Ovsynch (18.7 vs. 9.0%), both of which enhanced pregnancy, the CIDR-PS protocol did not improve pregnancy per AI or reduce pregnancy loss compared with presynchronization with PGF2a alone.