Original Scientific Article
External progesterone supplementation during the Ovsynch protocol reduces the incomplete luteolysis in dairy cows under heat stress
Boris Stojanov ,
Branko Atanasov * ,
Juraj Grizelj ,
Silvijo Vince ,
Ksenija Ilievska ,
Martin Nikolovski ,
Toni Dovenski ,
Marko Samardžija

Mac Vet Rev 2024; 47 (1): 45 - 50

10.2478/macvetrev-2024-0015

Received: 26 December 2023

Received in revised form: 18 February 2024

Accepted: 24 February 2024

Available Online First: 27 February 2024

Published on: 15 March 2024

Correspondence: Branko Atanasov, batanasov@fvm.ukim.edu.mk
PDF HTML

Abstract

The present study aimed to determinate the effect of external progesterone (P4) supplementation on luteolysis in cows under heat stress. Forty-eight (n=48) dairy cows in the period from July September 2018 were part of and at day 35±3 postpartum scored for BSC, synchronized using PG-3-G + Ovsynch protocol and randomly allocated into two treatments: PRID group (n=27) treated with external P4 device between G1 and PGF and CON group (n=21) left without treatment. Collection of blood samples to assess P4 concentrations was done at Pre-PG, at G1, at PGF, at 72 h after PGF (at timed artificial insemination TAI) and at d 21 after TAI. The pregnancy diagnosis was done at d 21 and d 30 after TAI by ultrasound. The average temperature humidity index (THI) was 79.5±0.6. At G1, the P4 was significantly lower in the PRID group (1.84±0.99 ng/mL) in comparison to the CON group (2.97±1.82 ng/mL). In contrast, at PGF, there was a tendency (p=0.09) of increased P4 concentration in PRID group compared with the CON group (4.26±1.68 and 3.74±2.39 ng/mL), respectively. At TAI, more PRID cows (p=0.0001) had a lower P4 (0.06±0.03 ng/mL), in comparison to CON (1.28±2.41 ng/mL). At d 21 and d 30 after TAI, more PRID cows were predicted and diagnosed pregnant (16/27 or 59.25% and 13/27 or 48.14%) compared with the CON group (11/21 or 52.38% and 8/21 or 38.08%) respectively, but without any significant differences. Supplementation of the P4 during the Ovsynch protocol increases the P4 before TAI and reduces the incomplete luteolysis in heat stressed dairy cows.

Keywords: cows, heat stress, Ovsynch, luteolysis, PRID


References

1. Hansen, P.J. (2011). Managing reproduction during heat stress in dairy cows.In C.A. Risco, P. Melendez Retamal (Eds.) Dairy production medicine, First Edition (pp. 153-164). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470960554.ch13 
2.Wolfenson, D., Roth, Z., Meidan, R. (2000). Impaired reproduction in heat - stressed cattle: basic and applied aspects. Anim Reprod Sci. (60 - 61): 535-547. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00102-0 PMid:10844222
3. López-Gatius, F., Santolaria, P., Martino, A., Delétang, F., De Rensis, F. (2006). The effects of GnRH treatment at the time of AI and 12 days later on reproductive performance of high producing dairy cows during the warm season in northeastern Spain. Theriogenology 65(4): 820-830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.07.002 PMid:16112722
4. Mendonça, L.G.D., Mantelo, F.M., Stevenson, J.S. (2017). Fertility of lactating dairy cows treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone at AI, 5 days after AI, or both, during summer heat stress. Theriogenology. 91, 9-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.11.032 PMid:28215691
5. Denicol, A.C., Lopes Jr., G., Mendonça, L.G.D., Rivera, F.A., Guagnini, F., Perez, R.V., Lima, J.R., et al. (2012). Low progesterone concentration during the development of the first follicular wave reduces pregnancy per insemination of lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 95(4): 1794-1806. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4650 PMid:22459828
6. Bisinotto, R.S., Chebel, R.C., Santos, J.E.P. (2010). Follicular wave of the ovulatory follicle and notcyclic status influences fertility of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 93(8): 3578-3587. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3047 PMid:20655426
7.Wiltbank, M.C., Pursley, J.R. (2014). The cow as an induced ovulator: timed AI after synchronization of ovulation. Theriogenology 81(1): 170-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.09.017 PMid:24274420
8. Atanasov, B., Hostens, M., Celeska, I., Ilieska, K., Opsomer, G., Dovenski, T. (2015). Follicular dynamics following induced luteolysis and transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of the largest follicle in dairy cows. Vet Arhiv. 85(3): 247- 260.
9. Wiltbank, M.C., Souza, A.H., Carvalho, P.D., Cunha, A.P., Giordano, J.O., Fricke, P.M., Baez, G.M., Diskin, M.G. (2014). Physiological and practical effects of progesterone on reproduction in dairy cattle. Animal 8 (Suppl. 1): 70-81. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114000585 PMid:24703103
10. Pulley, S.L., Keisler, D.H., Stevenson, J.S. (2015). Concentrations of luteinizing hormone and ovulatory responses in dairy cows before timed artificial insemination. J Dairy Sci. 98(9): 6188-6201. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9473 PMid:26142861
11. Stevenson, J.S. (2016). Physiological predictors of ovulation and pregnancy risk in a fixed-time artificial insemination program. J Dairy Sci. 99(12): 10077-10092. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11247 PMid:27720155
12. Giordano, J.O., Wiltbank, M.C., Fricke, P.M., Bas, S., Pawlisch, R., Guenther, J.N., Nascimento, A.B. (2013). Effect of increasing GnRH and PGF2α dose during Double-Ovsynch on ovulatory response, luteal regression, and fertility of lactating dairy cows. Theriogenology 80(7): 773-783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.07.003 PMid:23932174
13. Wiltbank, M.C., Baez, G.M., Cochrane, F., Barletta, R.V., Trayford, C.R., Joseph, R.T. (2015). Effect of a second treatment with prostaglandin F2α during the Ovsynch protocol on luteolysis and pregnancy in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 98(12): 8644-8654. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9353 PMid:26433418
14. Atanasov, B., Dovenski, T., Celeska, I., Stevenson, J. S. (2021). Luteolysis, progesterone, and pregnancy per insemination after modifying the standard 7-day Ovsynch program in Holstein-Friesian and Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci. 104(6): 7272-7282. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19922 PMid:33773782
15. Ferguson, J.D., Galligan, D.T., Thomsen, N. (1994). Principal descriptors of body condition score in Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci. 77(9): 2695-2703. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(94)77212-X PMid:7814740
16. Stevenson, J.S., Sauls, J.A., Mendonça, L.G.D., Voelz, B.E. (2018). Dose and frequency of PGF2α administration to lactating dairy cows exposed to pre-synchronization and either five- or seven day Ovsynch protocols: ovulation, luteolysis, and pregnancy rates. J Dairy Sci. 101(10): 9575-9590. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-14653 PMid:30100501
17. Dovenski, T., Atanasov, B., Ilievska, K., Stojanov, B., Jasari, B. (2016). Implementation of “on-farm” method for early detection of non- pregnant cows by a single ultrasonographic examination of the ovaries on day 21 after artificial insemination. Reprod Domest Anim. 51(S2): 73.
18. Vitali, A., Segnalini, M., Bertocchi, L., Bernabucci, U., Nardone, A., Lacetera, N. (2009). Seasonal pattern of mortality and relationships between mortality and temperature-humidity index in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 92(8): 3781-3790. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2127 PMid:19620660
19. Bisinotto, R.S., Santos, E.P. (2011). The use of endocrine treatments to improve pregnancy rates in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev. 24(1): 258-266. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD11916 PMid:22394967
20. Martins, J.P.N., Policelli, R.K., Neuder, L.M., Raphael, W., Pursley, J.R. (2011). Effects of cloprostenol sodium at final prostaglandin F2α of Ovsynch on complete luteolysis and pregnancy per artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 94(6): 2815-2824. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3652 PMid:21605751
21. Bisinotto, R.S., Castro, L.O., Pansani, M.B., Narciso, C.D., Martinez, N., Sinedino, L.D.P., Pinto, T.L.C., et al. (2015). Progesterone supplementation to lactating dairy cows without a corpus luteum at initiation of the Ovsynch protocol. J. Dairy Sci. 98(4): 2515-2528. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-9058 PMid:25682137
22. Xu, Z.Z., Burton, L.J., MacMillan, K.L. (1997). Reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows following estrus synchronization regimens with PGF2α and P4. Theriogenology 47(3): 687-701. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(97)00027-7 PMid:16728021
23. Cunha, A.P., Guenther, J.N., Maroney, M.J., Giordano, J.O., Nascimento, A.B., Bas, S., Ayres, H., Wiltbank, M.C. (2008). Effects of high vs. low progesterone concentrations during Ovsynch on double ovulation rate and pregnancies per AI in high producing dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 91 (Suppl. 1): 246.
24. Silvia, W.J., Lewis, G.S., McCracken, J.A., Thatcher, W.W., Wilson, Jr. L. (1991). Hormonal regulation of uterine secretion of prostaglandin F2α during luteolysis in ruminants. Biol Reprod. 45(5): 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod45.5.655 PMid:1756203
25. Souza, A.H., Silva, E.P.B., Cunha, A.P., Gumen, A., Ayres, H., Brusveen, D.J., Guenther, J.N., Wiltbank, M.C. (2011). Ultrasonographic evaluation of endometrial thickness near timed AI as a predictor of fertility in high-producing dairy cows. Theriogenology 75(4): 722-733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.10.013 PMid:21196031
26. Atanasov, B., Adamov, N., Celeska, I., Ilievska, K., Angjelovski, B., Trbogazov, Z., Davkov, F., et al. (2020). Modification of the standard 7-day Ovsynch protocol to increase the luteolytic and synchronization risks in dairy cows. Mac Vet Rev. 43(2): 161-167. https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2020-0028 


Copyright

© 2024 Stojanov B. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential lict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 47, Issue 1, Pages 45-50, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI: 10.2478/macvetrev-2024-0015