Increasing AI Efficiency Using Ultrasound Kevin McSweeney, DVM Bovine Reproductive Specialists, LLC

Problems with Dairy Cattle Reproduction Poor heat expression/detection Genetics, housing, fewer employees Poor conception rates to estrous bred cattle Secondary signs, anovular/cystic cows, poor follicular turnover Poor conception to timed AI Compliance, refractory cysts/ pyometras,synch program not started at the right time during cow’s estrous cycle

Ways to Incorporate Ultrasound into Reproduction Identify non-synchronized cows within timed AI and apply protocols to improve CR Screen cows identified in estrus prior to breeding to eliminate mistakes and maximize CR

Benefits of Utrasound Ultrasound provides complete visualization of uterus and ovarian structures Gives better idea of where a cow is in her cycle Allows us to identify cows that are not synchronized, in heat or pregnant

Timed Breeding Synchronization Programs Allow 100% HDR for first service Used with early open diagnosis can rebreed cows sooner Compensate for fewer employees and poor heat detection/ heat expression Resolve cysts Ovulate old follicles/ old oocytes. Start new follicular wave

Ovsynch Protocol For Timed AI created in mid-90’s 7 days 48-56 hours 16 to 18 h GnRH, 100 μg PGF2 , 25 mg GnRH, 100 μg Timed AI

CIDR-Synch Progesterone priming can induce cyclicity and resolve cysts

More Synchronization Programs Presynch-Ovsynch G6G Double Ovsynch

Progesterone Levels at Prostaglandin Only 3.6% (26/721) of the cows were truly acyclic when 2nd P4 was done 2 weeks later 31.3% P4<2ng 68.7% P4>2ng N=721

Presence/Absence of Corpus Luteum at Prostaglandin and Conception Rate

Effect of Day of Estrous Cycle at Onset of Ovsynch on Pregnancy Rate Vasconcelos, et al., 1997. J Dairy Sci. 80(Suppl 1):178 72 34

Day 32 Open Cow Findings N=30,414

The Estrous Cycle in Cattle LH 1st Progesterone 2nd Wave Wave Hormone Concentration Estradiol FSH 5 10 15 Estrus Estrus Days Relative to Estrus

THE OVSYNCH/TAI PROTOCOL 8 6 P4, ng/ml 4 P4 2 d 5 to d 12 PGF2a GnRH TAI GnRH +7 d +9 d +9.75 d HIGH

Cow Synchronized on the Day Of Prostaglandin

Initiation of the Ovsynch/TAI protocol at late diestrus (d 13-17 of the estrous cycle) 8 P4 6 Plasma P4 (ng/ml) 4 2 PGF2a Ovulation d 0 GnRH d 7 PGF2a d 9 GnRH d 10 TAI HIGH LOW

Cow Started in Later Diestrus on the day of Prostaglandin

Initiation of the Ovsynch/TAI protocol at metestrus (d 1 to d 4 of the estrous cycle) 8 6 Plasma P4 (ng/ml) 4 P4 2 Ovulation d 7 PGF2a d 0 GnRH d 9 GnRH d 10 TAI LOW HIGH

The Estrous Cycle in Cattle LH 1st Progesterone 2nd Wave Wave Hormone Concentration Estradiol FSH 5 10 15 Estrus Estrus Days Relative to Estrus

Size of Preovulatory Follicle Affects Conception Rates Perry, et al., 2007

Follicle Size on Day of PGF2α and Conception Rate

Cow started in Metestrus on the Day of Prostaglandin

How can we use this information to make management decisions?

Ovsynch Protocols for First Service and Open Cows Good CL/diestrus uterus Give GNRH No CL/Follicular Cyst Give GnRH Scan 7 days later Scan 7 days later No CL/Follicular Cyst Insert CIDR Start CIDR-synch Good CL/diestrus uterus Give GNRH Good CL & Follicle-PGF Give PGF Good CL & Follicle-PGF Give PGF No CL/Follicular Cyst Give GnRH Good CL & Poor Follicle-PGF Insert CIDR Start CIDR-synch Continue in Ovsynch to AI Scan 7 days later Scan 7 days later No CL/Follicular Cyst Insert CIDR Start CIDR-synch Good CL-PGF Give PGF Follow same path as Good CL/diestrus uterus cows Continue in Ovsynch to AI Continue in Ovsynch to AI

Conception Rates to This Program

Alternative Protocols when Reproductive Exams Occur Less than Once a Week Give GnRH injection to all cows week prior to pregnancy check Open cows in diestrus and with at least one good follicle (13-20mm) are given PGF2α and continue in TAI Open cows not in diestrus or without good follicle are started on CIDR-synch TAI

Incorporating Ultrasound into Heat Detection

Incorporating Ultrasound into Heat Detection Eliminate breeding diestrus/pregnant cows studies measuring P4 have found 5-30% chalk bred cows are not in estrous Identify fertile heats more accurately (by using follicle size and dslh criteria) Cows that fail to meet criteria for breeding, but are obviously open are started in TAI-synch program

Estrus Uterus

Estrus But Late

Diestrus Uterus

Summary of Ultrasound Benefits Ultrasound can improve CR when used to screen cows for synchrony within TAI programs Can reduce errors in heat detection and improve CR when used to screen cows prior to AI