Cattle Reproduction

Jason Ahola
PhD Graduate Student

Department of Animal Sciences

Colorado State University
Cow’s Reproductive Cycle

Follicles and
New Corpus
Luteum

Reproductive
Tract Mature Corpus
Luteum
Anatomy
Physiology
Ovary
Corpus
Luteum
 Insemination Timeline

Sperm Viability
12 to 30 h
Ova viability
sperm transport
6h 8 to 12 h

24 - 32 h
Onset of E strus Ovulation
Synchronization
 Estrous Cycle
New CL Fol. Size
Mature CL Present
Forming & CL Size
Progesterone (P 4)
Hormone Level

Estradiol (E2)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 1

Day of Estrous Cycle

 Follicular Waves
E2
Hormone Level

P4 Ovulation

Ovarian
Attretic (Die)
Follicular
Pool
 Single Injection w/ Post-Breeding
Inject Turn in
PGF2 Bulls

Day 0 Day 5

Check for estrus

and inseminate
 Follicular Waves
E2
Hormone Level

P4 Ovulation

Ovarian
Attretic (Die)
Follicular
Pool
 Select Synch
GnRH PGF2
injection
injection

Day 0 Day 7

Check for heat and breed

Day 6 to12
 MGA-GnRH-PG (MGA® Select)

Inject Inject Turn in

Feed MGA 0.5 mg/hd/d GnRH PGF2 Bulls

Day 0 Day 14 Day 24 Day 33 Day 36

Sub-fertile Check for estrus

heat and inseminate.
 Comparing the Options
Treatment Estrus Response Pregnancy Rate
2 Shot PG 57% 35%
MGA-PG 14-19 83% 63%
Select Synch 67% 45%
Ov-Synch NA 52%
CO-Synch NA 55%
MGA Select 85% 66%
7-11 Synch 91% 68%
Heat Detection
Chin Ball Markers
KaMar/ Bovine Beacon
Tail Paint
Tail Paint
 Heat Watch
1. Transmitter with pressure 3. The receiver accepts the mounting
sensitive button on top activity signal from the transmitter

nge Receiver
ra )
ile ))))
/ ) 2 m ) ))
~1 )))))
2. Mounted onto cow’s rump) ))
)) )
using a patch and adhesive
))
) )))
) ) )
)) )
)
4. Information is transferred to
computer for processing by
HeatWatch software.