Timing

g of AI Relative to
Behavioral Estrus and
S
Synchronized
h i d Ovulations
O l ti iin
Lactating Dairy Cows

Paul Fricke
Department of Dairy Science
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Behavioral Estrus in Dairy Cattle

PM Fricke, Ph.D.
 The AM/PM Rule
for Timing AI
ˆ A cow observed in estrus
in the morning (AM)
should receive AI 12 h
later (PM)
ˆ A cow observed in estrus
in the afternoon or
evening (PM) should
receive AI 12 h later the
next morning (AM)
Origin of the AM/PM rule
Trimberger & Davis,
Davis 1943
1943. Nebraska Agric
Agric. Exp
Exp. Sta
Sta. Bull
Bull. No
No. 129
129.

Conception Rate
Time of AI n
((%))
Start of Estrus 25 44
Middle of Estrus 40 82
End of Estrus 40 75
After estrus (h)
6 40 36
12 25 32
18 25 28
24 25 12
36 25 8
48 25 0
Paul M. Fricke, PhD
Once daily AI vs. the AM/PM rule
75 d Nonreturn Rate
Treatment # of cows (%)
a.m./p.m. rule 3659 60.1
Once Daily
y 3581 60.6
Nebel et al., 1994. J. Dairy Sci. 77:3185-3191.

O
Once-Daily
D il AI (0800 – 0900 h) vs. a.m./p.m.
/ rule
l
Conception Rate
Treatment # of heifers (%)
a.m./p.m. rule 132 62.9
Once Dailyy 129 62.0
Gonzalez et al., 1985. Theriogenology 24:495-500.
Paul M. Fricke, PhD
 Effect of time of AI relative to a
detected estrus on fertility
Interval (h) # of AI 75 d Nonreturn Rate (%)

0-6
0 6 1126
11 6 59.9a

6-12 2352 60.7a

12-18 2455 55.5b

18-24 962 53.4bc

24-30 99 49.6c
Nebel et al
al., 1994.
1994 J.
J Dairy Sci.
Sci 77:3185
77:3185-3191
3191
Heat Watch
When does ovulation occur in
relation to behavioral estrus?

ˆ 27.6 ± 5.4 h after the first standing

g event of
estrus
– Walker et al., 1996. J. Dairy Sci. 79:1555

Paul M. Fricke, PhD

Effect of interval from first standing
event of estrus on conception rate of
lactating dairy cows
Interval from 95%
onset of estrus Conception confidence
to AI (h) AI (no.) rate (%) Odds ratio interval
0 to 4 327 43.1 1.00 –

>4 to 8 735 50.9 1.35 1.03 – 1.77

>8 to 12 677 51.1 1.33 1.01 – 1.75

>12 to 16 459 46.2 1.12 0.83 – 1.50

>16 to 20 317 28.1 0.51 0.36 – 0.71

>20 to 24 139 31.7 0.57 0.37 – 0.87

>24 to
t 26 7 14 3
14.3 0 18
0.18 0 02 – 1.56
0.02 1 56
Dransfield et al., 1998. J. Dairy Sci. 81:1874-1882.
 Timing
g of AI to a Detected
Estrus – Conclusions
ˆ Make sure farm workers know the primary
sign of estrus behavior
ˆ It is not necessary to strictly adhere to the
AM/PM rule
The AM/PM rule works IF you could determine the
first standing event of estrus
Once daily y AI p
programs
g result in acceptable
p fertility
y
A cow that is observed in estrus can be
inseminated immediately rather than waiting 12 h
Problems with detection of estrus

Paul M. Fricke , Ph.D.

Duration of estrus in relation to milk production
Lopez et al., 2004; Anim. Reprod. Sci. 81:209-223
14.7
n=25
16.0
h)

~10% show heat but do not ovulate

on of estrus (h

14.0 ~10% ovulate but do not show heat

9.6
12.0
n=65
10.0
6.3
8.0 n=94 4.8 5.1
6.0 n=73
n 73 n=56 2.8
2 8
Duratio

4.0 n=37
2.0
0.0
55 66 77 88 99 111 122
Milk production (lbs/d)
•Analysis included all single ovulations (n=350) except first postpartum ovulations
•Average milk production during the 10 days before estrus
What percentage of dairy cattle are
not cycling at 65-
65-75 days in milk?
‰ 24% based on serum P4 (n = 600) Stevenson et al.,
24
2006; J. Dairy Sci. 89:2567–2578.

‰ 20 based on weekly ultrasound and serum

20%
P4 (n = 316) Gumen et al., 2003; J. Dairy Sci. 86: 3184-3194.
‰ 28
28% based on weekly ultrasound and serum
P4 (n = 267) Lopez et al., 2003; J. Dairy Sci. 87: 139-145.
‰ 24
24% based
b d on CL att 1st GnRH G RH off
Presynch/Ovsynch (n = 766) Sterry et al., 2006; J.
Dairy
y Sci. 89:2099-2109.

Paul M. Fricke, PhD

Between 5-30% of
all AI services to
observed estrus
are conducted at
the wrong stage
of the estrous
cycle.
cycle
(Appleyard & Cook, 1976;
Senger et al., 1988; Smith,
1982)
Synchronization Systems

Pursley & Wiltbank, 1995

Moreira et al., 2001

PM Fricke, Ph.D.
 Ovsynch Schedule

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

GnRH
PGF GnRH

Paul M. Fricke, Ph.D.

 20.0
Saline
GnRH
15.0
H (ng/ml)

10.0 Hours to Ovulation

LH

5.0 32 30.2 ± 1.1

0.0 30 29 0 ± 0.0
29.0 00
-6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
10.0
28
Saline
7.5
GnRH 26
E2 (pg/mL)

5.0
24
2.5
Saline GnRH
0.0
-6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
Hours from LH > 4.5 ng / ml
When does ovulation occur?
ˆ 27.6 ± 5.4 h after the first standing event of
estrus
– Walker et al., 1996. J. Dairy Sci. 79:1555
ˆ All cows (n=20) ovluated within 24 to 32 h
after the second GnRH injection of Ovsynch
– Pursley et al., 1995. Theriogenology 44:915
ˆ Thus, timing of ovulation is similar when
comparingi the
th interval
i t l tto ovulation
l ti from
f
the first standing event of estrus and the
second GnRH injection of Ovsynch
Paul M. Fricke, PhD
Experimental Design
Pursley et al., 1998. J. Dairy Sci. 81:2139-2144

G P G
7 days 2 days

AI AI AI AI AI
Ovulation
Oh 8h 16 h 24 h 32 h
(n=149) (n=148) (n=149) (n=143) (n=143)
Conception Rates of Lactating Cows
Receiving
R i i TAI att Various
V i IIntervals
t l ffrom
the Second GnRH Injection of Ovsynch
Pursley et al
al., 1998
1998. J
J. Dairy Sci
Sci. 81:2139-2144
81:2139-2144.
50 45%
41% 41%
40 37%
n Rate (%)

32%
30
Conception

20

10
C

0
0 8 16 24 32
Hours after 2nd GnRH Injection
Effect of AI to Ovulation Interval on
Embryo Quality

Paul M. Fricke, PhD

Comparison of variations of Ovsynch
P t l
Portaluppi
i & Stevenson.
St J.
J Dairy
D i Sci.
S i 88:914-921
88 914 921

ˆ All cows were presynchronized using two injections of PGF2α 14 d

apart and second PGF2α given 12 d before initiating 3 treatments
ˆ Cows were only bred to TAI even if detected in heat early

GnRH 7 Days PGF 48 h GnRH +TAI

GnRH 7 Days PGF 48 h GnRH 24 h TAI

GnRH
G RH 7 Days PGF 72 h G RH +TAI
GnRH
Conception rate at 40
40--41 d after TAI
Portaluppi & Stevenson. J. Dairy Sci. 88:914-921

Treatment
G48 G48 G72
Herd TAI 48 TAI 72 TAI 72 Overall
1 13 ((80)) 14 ((78)) 22 ((77)) 16 ((235))

2 28 (144) 29 (143) 36 (143) 31 (430)

Overall 23a (224) 24a (221) 32b (220) 26 (665)

a,bG48
G48+TAI48
TAI48and G48+TAI72
G48 TAI72 treatments combined differed (P
(P<0.05)
0.05) from the
G72+TAI72 treatment.
Effect of Timing of Cosynch on Fertility of
Lactating Holstein Cows after First Postpartum
and Resynch Timed AI Services
Sterry et al., 2007. Theriogenology 67:1211-1216.

Cosynch 48 Cosynch 72
Primi Multi Primi Multi
Presynch 34.1 27.5 40.6 33.6
(15/44) (28/102) (39/96) (37/110)

Resynch 39.6 25.0 33.3 28.1

(19/48) (47/188) (23/69) (43/153)

Overall 37.0 25.9 37.6 30.4

(34/92) (75/290) (62/165) (80/263)
No treatment effect: Presynch (p=0.13); Resynch (p=0.93); Overall (p=0.30)
Parity effect: Presynch (p=0.91); Resynch (p=0.09); Overall (p=0.01)
Paul M. Fricke, Ph.D.
Comparison among Cosynch and
Ovsynch 56 protocols
Brusveen et al., 2008. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1044-1052.

Cows were submitted for TAI after Presynch or as Resynch

treatment
1507 TAI in 927 lactating Holstein cows

GnRH PGF GnRH +TAI

7 Days 48 h

GnRH PGF GnRH TAI

7 Days 56 h 16 h

GnRH PGF GnRH +TAI

7 Days 72 h
Effect of Treatment on conception rate
andd pregnancy loss
l
Brusveen et al., 2008. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1044-1052.

Cosynch Ovsynch Cosynch

48 56 72
CR d 31-33 (%) 27 (494) 36 (494) 27 (494)

Least
east squares est. 29a 39b 25a
CR d 52-54 (%) 25 (493) 33 (494) 25 (494)

Least squares est. 27a 36b 23a

Preg. Loss (%) 5 (131) 5 (158) 7 (137)
a,b Within a row, treatments differ (P<0.05)
Effect of Treatment on Conception Rate
and Pregnancy Loss by AI Service Number
Brusveen et al., 2008. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1044-1052.

P
Presynch/Ovsynch
h/O h R
Resynch
h 32

Treatment 48 56 72 48 56 72

n 108 115 120 386 342 397

CR d 31-33
31 33 (%) 36a,b
ab 45a 25b 23y 33z 26y,z
yz

CR 52-54 (%) 34A,a,b 43a 22B,b 22y 30z 24y,z

Preg. Loss (%) 7 2 7 4.4 6.5 6.6

Values
V l with
ith diff
differentt superscripts
i t a,b
a b (for
(f first
fi t service)
i ) or y,z
y z (for
(f later
l t
services) within a row are different (P<0.05)
Values with different superscripts A,B (for first service)
 Effect of Treatment on Conception Rate
and Pregnancy Loss by Parity
Brusveen et al., 2008. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1044-1052.

Primiparous Multiparous
Treatment 48 56 72 48 56 72
n 167 184 225 327 273 292

CR d32-33 (%) 34a,b 41a 30b 23y 33z 25y

CR d53-54 (%) 31A,B 37A 28B 22y 31z 23y

Preg. Loss (%) 11 10 6 1Y 1Y 7Z

Values with different superscripts a,b (for primiparous) or y,z (for multiparous)
within a row are different (P<0.05)
Values with different superscripts A,B (for primiparous) or Y,Z (for multiparous)
within a row are different (P<0.1)
Comparison of first postpartum TAI
after Ovsynch 56 and Cosynch 72
protocols in lactating
p g dairy
y cows
Treatment
Parity Ovsynch 56 Cosynch 72 P-value

Primiparous 37 (134) 31 (148) 0 33

0.33

Multiparous 47 (204) 25 (253) <0.05

Overall 43 (338) 27 (401)
Nebel et al., 2008. J. Dairy Sci. 90(E-suppl. 1):248 (Abstr.)
Timingg of the 2nd GnRH
injection and TAI - Conclusions
ˆ Although Cosynch protocols are often
times easier to implement
p on dairies,
Timing of AI in relation to the timing of
ovulation is not optimized
ˆ Ovsynch 56 yields significantly greater
fertility than Cosynch 48 or Cosynch 72

ˆ STOP DOING COSYNCH!