Reproductive Management of Dairy Cattle Based

on Synchronization of Estrous Cycles z

Y. FOLMAN, M. KAIM, Z. HERZ, and MIRIAM ROSENBERG

Institute of Animal Science
Agricultural Research Organization
The Volcani Center
P.O.B. 6
Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

ABSTRACT at 100 days after calving, 57, 75, and

High-yielding dairy cows (199) were 65%. A system of reproductive manage-
allotted to a control group or one of two ment is proposed in which observations
groups for synchronization of estrus. Syn- for estrous behavior and inseminations
chronization of estrus was accomplished are only during 6 days out of each 3 wk.
by either insertion of a progesterone-
releasing intravaginal device (progesterone INTRODUCTION
coil) for 7 days with .5 mg of the prosta-
Long intervals between calvings decrease
glandin analogue cloprostenol (Estru-
milk production (1, 12, 14) and hamper genetic
mate) administered 1 day before removal
progress of the dairy herd (15). Increased inter-
of the progesterone coil, or by adminis-
vals between calvings are mainly due to silent
tration of .5 mg of Estrumate followed
ovulations or undetected estrous periods and
13 days later by a progesterone coil in-
low conception rates (2, 5, 13, 15). Because of
serted for 9 days. Following each estrous
the short duration of many estrous periods (6,
synchronization regimen, cows were in-
10, 11), signs of estrus should be observed three
seminated during a fixed 6-day period (in-
or four times daily, and inseminations should
semination week). Into one-half of the
be once a day. On many farms, especially in
cows of each treatment group, a second
large herds containing 200 cows or more, there
progesterone coil was inserted 12 days
are many difficulties of employing such rou-
following the fixed-time insemination for
tines, and as a result many estrous periods are
9 days. Cows that calved within 21 days
missed.
were included in a cluster and were
The purpose of this study was to develop for
treated and inseminated simultaneously
large dairy herds a system that would reduce
at regular 3-wk intervals. Thus, insemina-
the effort required for detection of estrus. A
tion of synchronized cows was during
further aim of the investigation was to find a
only 6 out of each 21 days. The estrous
method by which most of the cows in the herd
synchronization regimens were applied so
would conceive within a defined narrow inter-
that the first fixed-time insemination for
val after parturition. Under this kind of repro-
any cow occurred between 59 and 79
ductive management it would be possible to
days after calving. Control cows were in-
start inseminations in each group of cows at
seminated following estrus, commencing
an interval postpartum that is optimal for high
59 days after calving.
milk yields.
Conception rates for cows of groups 1,
2, and 3 were 50, 56, and 51%. Pregnancy
MATERIALS A N D METHODS
rates at 25 days following the fixed-time
insemination were 53, 78, and 69%, and
Animals
The study included 199 cows out of a herd
of 350 dairy cows yielding approximately 8000
Received May 20, 1982.
1Contribution from the Agricultural Research kg of milk per lactation. Experimental cows
Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. that calved between August 29, 1980, and
No. 359-E, 1982 Series. March 5, 1981, were housed and fed in open

1984 J Dairy Sci 67:153--160 153

154 FOLMAN ET AL.

GROUP TREATMENT SCHEDULE

sheds. Cows that calved within each 21-day
CONTROL INSEMINATED
AT OBSERVED ESTRUS
period were assigned to a cluster that was FIXED 2nd
ESTR TiME PRND PRID
treated simultaneously. Thus, during the experi- ADM , OUT

mental period of 27 wk, nine clusters were

formed that included 16 to 34 cows each. Cows
of different clusters were housed together.
During the 1st mo following calving, cows with
low milk yields were culled. All other cows
that calved, including those with reproductive
problems, were included in the study. Cows
were examined by a veterinarian between 30
and 37 days after calving. Following these
examinations, 28 cows that were diagnosed to
have retained placentas, metritis, or cystic
ovaries were given appropriate medical treat-
ment. Cows not considered healthy when syn-
chronization treatments were applied to the
cluster to which they originally belonged were
transferred and synchronized with the subse-
quent cluster. Following insemination, another
8 cows, diagnosed to have follicular cysts or
metritis, received medical treatment.
Cows of each cluster were allotted into three
groups balanced relative to lactation number,
body condition score, date of calving, manifes-
tation of estrus prior to treatment, and diag-
nosis of reproductive problems. Twenty-five
percent of the cows received no estrous syn-
chronization treatment (controls); the others
were allotted into two treatment groups (Figure
1).
Synchronization Treatments
Progesterone-releasing intravaginal devices
(PRID; CEVA, France), containing 1.55 or 2.25
g of progesterone, and a prostaglandin F2a
(PGF2o~) analogue cloprostenol (Estrumate;
I.C.I., Great Britain) were used. In three clus-
ters, PRIDs of the two types were compared;
the difference in conception rate was small and
statistically not significant. In all treatments
the PRID was used without the estradiol ben-
zoate capsule with which it is marketed.
Prior to first insemination methods of syn-
chronization were: (1) a PRID was inserted for
7 days with .5 mg of Estrumate injected intra-
muscularly 1 day before PRID removal. This
method is designated PRID 7/Estrumate 6.
(II) .5 mg of Estrumate was administered, fol-
lowed 13 days later by a PRID, which was in-
serted for 9 days. This method is designated
Estrumate 13/PRID 9. Twelve days after first
P R,OT, E,TRUMA'EB - -- lNO nd;:--
FIXED
TIME 2 n d p R I D PRID
AI IN OUT
ESTR PRID PRID] ~ /~
ADM IN OUr, A,OEDO' S
ESTRUMATE 13/PRID 9 L ~[~ /~ ____tNO2 n IN ESTRUS
d PRID
12 16 42 46 56
DAYS FOLLOWING THE BEGINNING OF TREATMENT
Figure 1. Treatment schedule of the control
and synchronization groups. PRID 7/Estrumate
6 = a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device
(PRID) inserted for 7 days with .5 mg of cloprostenol
administered 1 day before PRID removal. Estrumate
13/PRID 9 = administration of .5 mg of cloprostenol
followed 13 days later by a PRID inserted for 9 days.
ESTR. ADM. = Estrumate (cloprostenol) administra-
tion;Al = artificial insemination.
insemination a second PRID was inserted into
half of the cows in each treatment group for
9 days.
Management of Reproduction
Throughout the experiment cows were ob-
served for signs of estrus four times daily, ap-
proximately every 6 h; each observation lasted
at least 30 rain. Observation periods did not
coincide with feeding or milking periods. Cows
that were standing while mounted and cows
that mounted cows not showing estrus during
two subsequent observations were regarded as
being in estrus.
Insemination of control cows commenced
59 days after calving. Following detection of
estrus, control cows were inseminated once at
0700 h on any day except Saturday. Treated
cows first were inseminated between 59 and 79
days following parturition.
Cows of the treatment groups were insemi-
nated only during days 2 to 7 following
removal of the first PRID (day of PRID re-
moval = day 0). The 6 days in which insemi-
nations were performed were designated "the
insemination week." Each insemination week
was followed by 2 wk during which no treated
cows were inseminated. Every 3rd wk a new
cluster of cows was given synchronization
treatments and inseminated. Thus, insemina-
tions of consecutive clusters were at regular 3-

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67, No. 1, 1984

 REPRODUCTION BY ESTRUS-SYNCHRONIZED COWS 155

removal. C o w s d e t e c t e d in estrus 3 to 6 d a y s
I 21 days ~ 21 days I ~1 days i
f o l l o w i n g P R I D removal were r e i n s e m i n a t e d t h e
OEQRdA] OEQnd AI OEend AI
L week ~ iweek p q week I f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g . C o w s o f t r e a t m e n t groups,
w h e t h e r or n o t a s e c o n d P R I D was inserted,
I~'c ...... SY~nechrt°n~Zn~ti°nI l St A[~] [ 7n. . . . . ~,d A~
t h a t r e t u r n e d to estrus w i t h i n t h e s u b s e q u e n t
Synchronization
2 nd cluster treatment I lS~ A] I 12 ndAI i n s e m i n a t i o n w e e k and were i n s e m i n a t e d o n t h e
Synchronization
3 ~d cluster ~re~tment ~ s t AI m o r n i n g f o l l o w i n g estrus. C o n t r o l and t r e a t e d
c o w s o f each cluster were i n s e m i n a t e d w i t h
s e m e n o b t a i n e d in a single ejaculate.
Figure 2. Schedule of activities under the described Diagnosis o f p r e g n a n c y was b y p a l p a t i o n o f
system of reproductive management. Every 3 wk a t h e u t e r u s per r e c t u m 45 t o 50 days f o l l o w i n g
new cluster of cows that calved within 21 days was i n s e m i n a t i o n . T h e p e r c e n t a g e o f cows diag-
treated and inseminated. OE = Observation for estrus;
AI = artificial insemination. n o s e d as p r e g n a n t f r o m t h e n u m b e r o f c o w s
i n s e m i n a t e d was c o n c e p t i o n rate. The p e r c e n t -
age o f c o w s p r e g n a n t f r o m t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f
w k intervals, t h e first i n s e m i n a t i o n o f cows o f
c o w s in a g r o u p was p r e g n a n c y rate. C o w s o f
t h e third d u s t e r coinciding with t h e s e c o n d
i n s e m i n a t i o n o f c o w s o f t h e s e c o n d cluster and t h e t r e a t m e n t groups diagnosed n o t p r e g n a n t
w i t h t h e t h i r d i n s e m i n a t i o n o f cows o f t h e first were t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e s u b s e q u e n t d u s t e r and
cluster (Figure 2). given t h e PRID 7 / E s t r u m a t e 6 t r e a t m e n t . In-
C o w s in estrus w i t h i n 40 h f o l l o w i n g re- c l u d e d in this c a t e g o r y are cows t h a t a p p e a r e d
moval o f t h e first PRID were i n s e m i n a t e d at in h e a t o u t s i d e t h e i n s e m i n a t i o n weeks.
49 and 56 h after PRID removal. All o t h e r cows
o f the t r e a t m e n t g r o u p s (including t h o s e t h a t Progesterone Determination
had lost PRIDs) were given t w o f i x e d - t i m e T o characterize the p r o g e s t e r o n e profile in
i n s e m i n a t i o n s , 56 and 72 h f o l l o w i n g PRID plasma p r i o r to first i n s e m i n a t i o n , b l o o d was

TABLE 1. Frequency distribution (%) of estrus appearance in treated cows during the "insemination week".

Estrus subsequent
Following removal of to first insemination
the first PRID
Following
PRID 7/ Estrumate 13/ removal of Without
Days following Estrumate 6 PRID 9 a second a second
PRID removal 2 (74) 3 (72) 4 PRID s (19) PRID (29)

1-2 66.2* 50.0* 94.7** 62.1"*

3-4 10.8 20.8 5.3 13.7
5-6 2.7 8.3 0 6.9
7--21 2.7 5.6 0 17.2

Not observed in
estrus within
21 days 17.6 15.3

Insemination week = 6 days out of each 3 wk during which artificial inseminations were carried out.
2Day of PRID (progesterone-releasing intravaginal device) removal = day O.
3Number of cows in parentheses.
4Not including two cows that lost PRIDs.
SA second PRID was inserted 12 days after the fixed-time insemination for 9 days.
*P~<.05.
**P~<.02.

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67, No. 1, 1984

156
collected from the jugular vein three times
weekly from 76 cows belonging to four clus-
ters during 20 days preceding the first syn-
chronized estrus. Plasma was separated, stored
at - 1 8 ° C , and progesterone concentration was
determined as in (17).
Analysis of Data
The interval from PRID removal to manifes-
tation of estrus was determined for all cows
except two animals of the Estrumate 13/PRID
9 treatment that lost the first PRID and two
cows of the same treatment that lost the second
PRID. Percentages of cows in esrrus at vari-
ous intervals after treatment are in Table
1. Intervals between calving and first insemina-
tions were computed for ali 199 cows in-
cluded in the experiment (Table 2). Concep-
tion rates (Table 3) were computed for all cows
except one of the control group that did not
show heat and was not inseminated. One cow
from the PRID 7/Estrumate 6 group that suf-
fered a sudden decline of milk yield and was
culled after her second insemination, was not
included in computation of pregnancy rates or
open days.
Eight cows from the last two clusters were
not pregnant by the end of June. Because of
the possible stress effect of summer heat on
conception rate (6), inseminations on these
cows later than June 30 were not included in
computation of conception rates (Table 3). The
number of open days o f these cows was com-
puted by adding 21 to the number of open days
TABLE 2. Frequency distribution (%) of the interval between calving and the first insemination.
Postpartum
interval Control
(days) (51) 1
59-70 41.1
71-80 29.4
81-90 13.7
91--100 5.9
101--120 7.8
Not inseminated
until 120 days 2.0
Number of cows in parentheses.
2 PRID = Progesterone-releasing intravaginal device.
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67, No. 1, 1984
FOLMAN ET AL.
they had reached by June 30.
Differences in progesterone between the
various treatment groups were evaluated by an
analysis of variance which was followed by the
Student-Newman-Keuls multiple range test.
Differences in the appearance of estrus follow-
ing synchronization, conception, and pregnancy
rates were analyzed by Chi-square.
RESULTS
Plasma Progesterone
Progesterone concentrations in plasma col-
lected from the jugular vein during the estrous
cycle preceding the first synchronized estrus
are in Figure 3. Progesterone concentrations of
cows given Estrumate 13/PRID 9 treatment
were similar to those of control cows. However,
progesterone concentrations of cows given
PRID 7/Estrumate 6 treatment differed from
those of control and Estrumate 13/PRID 9 ani-
mals. Furthermore, the progesterone profile
differed between cows in which the PRID was
inserted during the first 10 days of the estrous
cycle and those in which the PRID was inserted
during the later part of the cycle. In cows of
the PRID 7/Estrumate 6 group in which PRIDs
were inserted on days 1 to 10 of the estrous
cycle, progesterone increased 8 to 10 days later
and declined 2 to 6 days after those of the
other groups. In these cows progesterone was
higher than 2 ng/ml plasma, on the average,
during 8 days only versus 14 days for cows of
Group
PRID 72/ Estrumate 13/
Estrumate 6 PRID 9
(74) (74)
43.2 44.6
47.3 45.9
6.8 4.1
2.7 1.4
. .. 4.1
 TABLE 3. Conception and pregnancy rates (%) of control and treated cows. 70
t~
70
PRID 7/Estrumate 6 Estrumate 13/PR1D 9 0
With a Without With a Without
second a second second a second
Control PRID 2 PRID Total PRID 2 PRID Total
Group (51) ~ (37) (37) (74) (37) (37) ( 7 4) Z

Conception rate (%) after: t~

1st insemination 52.0 64.9 43.2 54.1 48.6 51.4 50.0
70
1st and 2nd inseminations 49.3 63.0 56.0 59.4 51.0 54.2 52.6
All inseminations 49.5 60.7 50.8 55.5 47.6 53.8 50.8
,<
Pregnancy rate (%) at: Z
25 days after the date of the
fixed-time insemination 52.9 a 80.6 75.7 78.1 b 67.6 70.3 68.9 ab 70
©
100 days after calving 56.9 80.6 70.3 75.3 62.2 67.6 64.9

I One cow not inseminated was not included in the calculation of conception rate; number o f cows in parentheses. ~7
2A second PRID (progesterone-releasing intravaginal device) was inserted 12 days after the fixed-time insemination for 9 days. ©
a,bp~<.02.

<
o

ox

Z
.o

00
4~
158
all the other groups. Thus, a reduction of length
of the estrous cycle prior to first insemination
occurred for cows of the PRID 7/Estrumate 6
group treated at the beginning of the cycle.
Synchronization of Estrus
Prior to First Insemination
During 2 days following removal of the first
PRID, 66.2 and 50.0% of the cows of treat-
ments PRID 7/Estrumate 6 and Estrumate 13/
PRID 9, respectively, were observed in estrus
(P<.05; Table 1). During days 3 and 4 follow-
ing PRID removal an additional 10.8 and 20.8%
of cows of PRID 7/Estrumate 6 and Estrumate
13/PRID 9 treatments, respectively, were
detected in estrus. Twenty-four cows (16.4%)
of both synchronization treatment groups were
not detected in estrus within 3 wk of PRID
removal. Nevertheless, 45.8% of these con-
ceived from the fixed-time insemination, indi-
cating that ovulation must have occurred. Six
cows appeared in heat outside the insemination
week during days 7 to 21 following removal of
the first PRID.
Synchronization of Estrus
Prior to the Second or Later Inseminations
Following the first insemination, 48 cows
returned to estrus in the subsequent insemina-
tion week. Among cows that returned and were
treated with a second PRID, 95% were detected
in estrus on days 1 and 2 of the insemination
week. Only 62% of the cows that did not
receive a second PRID appeared in estrus during
the first 2 days of the insemination week
(P<.02). Subsequent to second insemination,
62 estrous periods were recorded. Of these
periods, 62.9 and 19.3% were observed during
days 1 to 3 and 4 to 6, respectively, of the in-
semination weeks, whereas 17.7% of the heats
were recorded outside the insemination weeks.
Interval to First Insemination
The proportion of synchronized cows that
were inseminated by 80 days after parturition
was larger than of control cows-90.5% for
both treatment groups versus 70.5% for con-
trols (Table 2). Several reasons caused the de-
lay of the first insemination of control cows:
estrus was not observed between 59 and 80
days after calving, although it was observed
earlier (9.8%); late appearance of the first
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67, No. 1, 1984
FOLMAN ET AL.
estrus (7.8%); not inseminated because of
human error (3.9%); inseminations due but not
performed on Saturday (3.9%); inseminations
postponed because of medical treatment
(3.9%). The delay of synchronization treatment
and insemination of 9.5% of the cows in the
treated groups was for medical problems.
Conception and Pregnancy Rates
Conception rate from first insemination was
similar and statistically not different for all
groups (Table 3) except treatment PRID 7/
Estrumate 6 where cows that were inserted
with a second PRID had a higher (P<.07) con-
ception rate than cows without a second PRID.
Conception rate from first insemination of
cows of the PRID 7/Estrumate 6 treatments
that were inserted with a PRID during days 1 to
10 of the estrous cycle was 69 versus 42% of
cows that were treated during days 11 to 20 of
the cycle (P<.10). Six and 17 cows of the
PRID 7/Estrumate 6 and the Estrumate 13/
PRID 9 groups, respectively, were reinsemi-
nated 2 to 5 days following the fixed-time in-
semination; 19 (82.6%) of these cows became
pregnant. Data of Table 3 include under "all
inseminations" the conception rates of 22 cows
from treatment groups that were "nonpreg-
n a n t " at pregnancy diagnosis and that were
retreated with PRID 7/Estrumate 6. Fifteen of
these cows had been observed in estrus outside
the "insemination weeks" but were not treated
before regular examination of pregnancy.
Data in Table 3 indicate that between 68
and 81% of the treated cows were pregnant 25
days following the fixed-time insemination; at
that time only 53% of the control cows had
conceived (P<.02). Eighty days after calving
percentage of pregnant cows were 33.3, 50.7,
and 48.0 for control, PRID 7/Estrumate 6, and
Estrumate 13/PRID 9, respectively (NS). One
hundred days following parturition, percentages
of pregnant cows were 56.9, 75.3, and 64.9 for
control, PRID 7/Estrumate 6, and Estrumate
13/PRID 9 (P<.10). The difference between
cows that were treated with a second PRID and
those that were not treated was small and statis-
tically not significant. At 120 and 140 days
after calving, the difference in pregnancy rate
between the three groups was less than 10
percentage points.
The mean (± SE) interval between calving
 REPRODUCTION BY ESTRUS-SYNCHRONIZED COWS
and c o n c e p t i o n for cows o f the control, P R I D
7 / E s t r u m a t e 6, and Estrumate 13/PRID 9
groups was 99 + 5, 93 -+ 4 and 98 +- 5. Percents
of cows culled f r o m the three groups 141 days
or more after calving were 9.8, 5.5 and 5.4.
N o n e of these cows was diagnosed pregnant
when culled.
DISCUSSION
R e p r o d u c t i o n in large dairy herds can be
managed by a c o n t i n u o u s system based on
synchronization o f estrous cycles by c o m m e r -
cially available products. U n d e r the p r o p o s e d
system, observations for estrus behavior and in-
seminations are during 6 days o u t of every 3
wk. In the t w o estrus s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n m e t h o d s
investigated, progesterone was d e p l o y e d in con-
j u n c t i o n with a prostaglandin F2a analog (7, 8,
16). These t r e a t m e n t s were preferred to breed-
ing of groups of cows f o l l o w i n g synchroniza-
tion by melengestrol acetate or by G n R H
(gonadotropin releasing h o r m o n e ) f o l l o w e d by
t w o P G F 2 a injections applied or proposed
( 3 , 4 , 9).
The similarity b e t w e e n progesterone concen-
trations in plasma of cows of control and Estru-
m a t e 13/PRID 9 groups (Figure 3) indicates
that the latter treatment, although causing
synchronization, mimics the profile of proges-
t e r o n e during an estrous cycle. However, the
P R I D 7 / E s t r u m a t e 6 treatment, d e p e n d i n g
u p o n the stage of the estrous cycle when treat-
m e n t begins, affects lengths of cycles and con-
centrations of progesterone in plasma.
C o n c e p t i o n rate o f treated cows was equal
to or higher than that of control cows, which
were k e p t under careful reproductive manage-
m e n t including four daily observations for
estrous behavior (Table 3). The percentage of
cows f r o m the PRID 7 / E s t r u m a t e 6 t r e a t m e n t
pregnant 25 days after the fixed-time insemina-
tion was significantly greater than that of the
control group (Table 3). The main reason for
the earlier c o n c e p t i o n of treated cows was that,
as a result of the fixed-time insemination,
90.5% of the treated cows were inseminated
first b e t w e e n 59 and 80 days after calving
(Table 2). The remainder were cows that suf-
fered f r o m medical p r o b l e m s and were trans-
ferred to a subsequent cluster. In the control
group the percentage of cows that were insemi-
nated first m o r e than 80 days after calving was
159
v
S.E. .4z, 55 .59 .38 .52 56 .48 .54 .41 30.09
I I P I I I I I I I I
19-20 17-18 ~5-16 13-14 11-12 9-10 7-8 5-6 3-~ 1-2 0
DAYS PRECEDING ESTRUS
Figure 3. Mean (-+ SE)jugular vein progesterone
(ng/ml plasma) in cows during 20 days preceding the
first synchronized estrus: 11 unsynchronized control
cows (z~); PRID 7/Estrumate 6--PRIDs inserted on
days 1 to 10 of the estrous cycle, 23 cows (o); PRID
7/Estrumate 6--PRIDs inserted on days 11 to 20 of
the estrous cycle, 10 cows (o); and Estrumate 13/
PRID 9, 32 cows (A). *Significantly different (P<.05)
from the three other groups.
three times as large as in the treated groups.
F o l l o w i n g first insemination, cows of the
P R I D 7 / E s t r u m a t e 6 t r e a t m e n t that were n o t
treated with a second P R I D had a lower con-
ception rate than cows of the control and o t h e r
t r e a t m e n t groups (Table 3). C o n c e p t i o n was
particularly l o w for cows o f this t r e a t m e n t that
received the PRID during the second half o f
the estrous cycle preceding insemination. These
cows also had lower progesterone concentra-
tions 3 to 4 days before insemination than cows
that were treated on days 1 to 10 of the cycle
(Figure 3). L o w progesterone in plasma and ab-
sence of a steep decline of the progesterone
curve before insemination are correlated with
p o o r c o n c e p t i o n (17). In the P R I D 7 / E s t r u m a t e
6 group, the insertion of a second PRID seems
to have had a favorable effect on c o n c e p t i o n
f r o m the first insemination (P<.07).
In the PRID 7 / E s t r u m a t e 6 t r e a t m e n t only
8% of all inseminations were on days 5 to 7 of
the insemination week. It seems possible, there-
fore, that estrus observation and insemination
periods could be reduced to as few as 3 days of
every 3 wk. Also treated cows were given two
inseminations following removal of the first
PRID. More work is required to determine
w h e t h e r fewer days of insemination and one in-
semination at a fixed-time will result in con-
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67, No. 1, 1984
160 FOLMAN ET AL.
c e p t i o n o r p r e g n a n c y rates c o m p a r a b l e t o t h o s e
in this r e p o r t .
The difference between control and treated
g r o u p s in p e r c e n t a g e o f cows p r e g n a n t at 25
days a f t e r t h e f i x e d - t i m e i n s e m i n a t i o n ( P < . 0 2 )
a n d at 100 d a y s a f t e r calving ( P < . 1 0 ) i n d i c a t e s
t h a t t h e s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n t r e a t m e n t significantly
increased t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f cows p r e g n a n t 80
to 100 d a y s a f t e r calving.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A u t h o r s t h a n k t h e dairy f a r m s t a f f o f
K i b b u t z N a ' a n , Mara Heller, E s t h e r Yizreeli,
a n d Lev G e l f e n d f o r t h e i r skillful assistance in
this e x p e r i m e n t .
This w o r k was s u p p o r t e d b y t h e Israel C a t t l e
Breeders A s s o c i a t i o n a n d t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
A t o m i c Energy A g e n c y , V i e n n a . We also t h a n k
CEVA, France, a n d ABIC a n d P R O M E D I C O ,
Israel, f o r t h e k i n d supplies of P R I D s a n d
Estrumate.
REFERENCES
1 Bar-Anan, R., and M. Soller. 1979. The effects of
days open on milk yield and on breeding policy
post-partum. Anim. Prod. 29:109.
2 Barr, H. L. 1975. Influence of estrus detection on
days open in dairy herds. J. Dairy Sci. 58:246.
3 Britt, J. H. 1978. Systematic management of re-
production in groups of dairy cows. Page 179 in
Large dairy herd management. C. J. Wilcox et al.,
ed. Univ. Presses Florida, Gainesville.
4 Britt, J. H., E. Huertas Vega, and L. C. Ulberg.
1972. Managing reproduction in dairy cattle:
1. progestogens for control of estrus in dairy cows.
J. Dairy Sci. 55:598.
5 Esslemont, R. J., and P. R. Ellis. 1974. Compo-
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67, No. 1, 1984
nents of a herd calving interval. Vet. Rec. 95:319.
6 Folman, Y., A. Berman, Z. Herz, M. Kaim, M.
Rosenberg, M. Maman, and S. Gordin. 1979. Milk
yield and fertility of high-yielding dairy cows in a
sub-tropical climate during summer and winter. J.
Dairy Res. 46:411.
7 Folman, V., S. R. McPhee, and I. A. Cumming.
1981. The effect of 'estrumate' followed by pro-
gesterone coils on oestrus synchronization and con-
ception of post-partum beef and dairy cows. Anim.
Reprod. Sci. 4:117.
8 Hansel, W., and W. E. Beal. 1979. Ovulation con-
trol in cattle. Page 91 in Animal reproduction. H.
Hawk, ed. Allanheld, Osmun, Montclair, NJ.
9 Huertas Vega, E., J. H. Britt, and L. C. Ulberg.
1972. System for managing reproduction in dairy
cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 55:401. (Abstr.)
10 Hurnik, J. F., G. J. King, and H. A. Robertson.
1975. Estrous and related behavior in postpartum
Holstein cow~ Appl. Anim. Ethol. 2: 55.
11 Itamar, M., and H. Schindler. 1976. Length of
oestrus and mounting activity of postpartum dairy
cows. Page 1192 in Proc. VIIIth Int. Congr. Anim.
Reprod. Artif. Insem., Vol. V., Krakow.
12 James, A. D., and R. J. Esslemont. 1979. The eco-
nomics of calving intervals. Anim. Prod. 29:157.
13 Olds, D. 1974. Probability of failing to observe or
report cows in estrus. J. Dairy Sci. 57:626. (Abstr.)
14 Olds, D., T. Cooper, and F. A. Thrift. 1979.
Effects of days open on economic aspects of cur-
rent lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 62:1167.
15 Pelissier, C. L. 1978. Fertility problems under large
herd management. Page 201 in Large dairy herd
management. C. J. Wilcox et al., ed. Univ. Presses
Florida, Gainesville.
16 Roche, J. F. 1976. Fertility in cows after treat-
ment with a prostaglandin analogue with or with-
out progesterone. J. Reprod. Fertil. 46: 341.
17 Rosenberg, M., Z. Herz, M. Davidson, and Folman,
Y. 1977. Seasonal variation in post-partum plasma
progesterone levels and conception in primiparous
and multiparous cows. J. Reprod. Fertil. 51:363.