Treatment with an intravaginal progestagen and estradiol to prevent prolonged anestrus in crossbred zebu cows under tropical conditions

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 39 - 46
• Main Authors: Palomares-Naveda, R. A, Portillo-Martinez, G, Gutierrez-Añez, J. C, De Ondiz-Sanchez, A, Goicochea-Llaque, J, Gonzalez-Fernandez, R, Perea-Ganchou, F, Soto-Belloso, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Administration, Intravaginal; Anestrus - drug effects; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cattle; Cattle - physiology; Crossbred cows; Dairying; Estradiol - administration & dosage; Estradiol-17β; Estrus Synchronization - physiology; Female; Fertility; Insemination, Artificial - veterinary; Life Sciences; Male; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - administration & dosage; Original Paper; postpartum interval; Pregnancy; Progestagen; Progesterone Congeners - administration & dosage; Random Allocation; Reproduction; Tropical Climate; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Crossbred cows; Estradiol-17β; Postpartum anestrus; Progestagen
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-007-9051-z

To study the effectiveness of a treatment with an intravaginal progestagen in combination with estradiol-17β (E-17β) on estrus induction, prevention of prolonged anestrus and fertility in noncycling crossbred zebu cows, a trial was conducted in a farm in Zulia state, Venezuela. Fifty noncycling suckled crossbred cows (B. taurus x B. indicus) with 60 dpp were randomly allotted to one of the following treatments: MAP+E-17β (n = 22), intravaginal device (250 mg of MAP) during 7 days + 50 mg of MAP and 5 mg of E-17β im (day 0) and 1.5 mg of E-17β im (day 8) (Pregnaheat-E®; VIATECA-Venezuela); CG (n = 28), control group without hormonal treatment. The MAP+E-17β group showed higher (P < 0.05) estrus and synchronization rates (59.1 and 36.4 %) than CG (25.0 and 3.5 %). Cows receiving MAP had higher (P < 0.05) overall pregnancy rate than CG (45.5 and 17.8 %, respectively). A decreased (P < 0.05) anestrus rate was observed in MAP+E-17β (31.8%) compared to CG (57.1%). Calving-conception interval was shorter (P < 0.05) in MAP+E-17β (132.5 ± 16.8 days) than in CG (178.9 ± 14.7 days). In conclusion, treatment with MAP+E-17β at 60 days postpartum was effective to induce estrus, prevent prolonged anestrus, and reduce the calving-conception interval, improving reproductive performance in dual purpose crossbred Zebu cows.