Conception Rate and Reproductive Hormone Secretion in Holstein Cows Immunized against Inhibin and Subjected to the Ovsynch Protocol
Open Access
- 17 February 2020
- Vol. 10 (2), 313
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020313
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of improving fertility in dairy cows via immunization against inhibin. Thirty-two cows were divided into Control (n = 11), Low-dose (n = 10) and High-dose (n = 11) groups. The High-dose and Low-dose cows were treated with 1 and 0.5 mg of the inhibin immunogen, respectively. All the cows were subjected to the Ovsynch protocol from the day of antigen administration and were artificially inseminated. Blood samples were serially collected over a 24-day period from the start of the Ovsynch protocol to 14 days after insemination. The results showed that immunization against inhibin dose-dependently increased the plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and activin A, but decreased progesterone (P4) concentrations in the luteal phase. Immunization also increased the plasma interferon (IFN)-τ concentrations in pregnant cows on day 14 after initial insemination. The conception rates in High-dose (45.5%) and Low-dose (40%) cows marginally increased compared to that in Control cows (27.3%), but the increases were not significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, a single immunization against inhibin has the potential to improve conception rates, despite impaired luteal development. To further improve the reproductive performance of dairy cows, additional luteal-stimulating treatments are suggested in combination with immunization against inhibin and Ovsynch techniques.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (31802066)
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Short communication: Field fertility in Holstein bulls: Can type of breeding strategy (artificial insemination following estrus versus timed artificial insemination) alter service sire fertility?Journal of Dairy Science, 2016
- Factors affecting the size of ovulatory follicles and conception rate in high-yielding dairy cowsTheriogenology, 2016
- Pregnancy losses in cattle: potential for improvementReproduction, Fertility and Development, 2016
- Hormonal treatment before and after artificial insemination differentially improves fertility in subpopulations of dairy cows during the summer and autumnJournal of Dairy Science, 2014
- Induction of successive follicular waves by gonadotropin-releasing hormone and prostaglandin F2α to improve fertility of high-producing cows during the summer and autumnJournal of Dairy Science, 2011
- Trends in Reproductive Performance in Southeastern Holstein and Jersey DHI HerdsJournal of Dairy Science, 2002
- Reproductive Loss in High-Producing Dairy Cattle: Where Will It End?Journal of Dairy Science, 2001
- Nutritional interactions with reproductive performance in dairy cattleAnimal Reproduction Science, 2000
- Reproductive Management of Lactating Dairy Cows Using Synchronization of OvulationJournal of Dairy Science, 1997
- Corpus luteum insufficiency and fertility: a matter of controversyHuman Reproduction, 1987