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Journal of Dairy Science Apr 2022This study used a stochastic simulation model to estimate the potential economic benefit of using timed artificial insemination (TAI) in combination with conventional...
This study used a stochastic simulation model to estimate the potential economic benefit of using timed artificial insemination (TAI) in combination with conventional unsorted (TCONV) and sexed (TSEX) semen in heifers only (TCONV-H, TSEX-H) and in both heifers and lactating cows (TCONV-HC, TSEX-HC) in a high-producing, pasture-based production system. The scenarios were compared with a conventional reproductive policy (CONV) in which heifers and cows were inseminated with conventional unsorted semen after estrus detection. Sensitivity analysis was also used to estimate the effect of hormone costs from TAI use on the profitability of each program relative to CONV. The mean annual (± standard deviation) profit advantage (ΔPROF) over CONV for TCONV-H, TCONV-HC, TSEX-H, and TSEX-HC scenarios were €3.90/cow ± 4.65, €34.11/cow ± 25.69, €13.96/cow ± 6.83, and €41.52/cow ± 42.86, respectively. Combined application of both technologies was shown to return a greater annual ΔPROF on average compared with that achievable from TAI alone. However, the risk of not returning a positive annual ΔPROF varied across the scenarios with higher risk in TCONV-H and TSEX-HC. Specifically, TCONV-H and TSEX-HC had a 24 and 18% chance, respectively, of not returning a positive annual ΔPROF. Sensitivity analysis showed that when hormone costs increased by €10/cow TCONV-H and TSEX-HC had a 38 and 23% chance, respectively, of not returning a positive annual ΔPROF. The range in ΔPROF for TCONV policies was most sensitive to the TAI pregnancy rate and TSEX policies were most sensitive to the relative fertility achieved with sexed compared with unsorted semen. This study has shown TAI and sexed semen are complementary technologies that can increase genetic gain and profitability in a pasture-based, dairy production system.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dairying; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Lactation; Pregnancy; Semen; Sex Preselection
PubMed: 35181145
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21070 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2021A combined Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) protocol was used to identify-in parallel-genetic variation (Genomic-Wide...
A combined Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) protocol was used to identify-in parallel-genetic variation (Genomic-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and epigenetic differences of Differentially Methylated Regions (DMR) in the genome of spermatozoa from the porcine animal model. Breeding boars with good semen quality ( = 11) and specific and well-documented differences in fertility (farrowing rate, FR) and prolificacy (litter size, LS) ( = 7) in artificial insemination programs, using combined FR and LS, were categorized as High Fertile (HF, = 4) or Low Fertile (LF, = 3), and boars with Unknown Fertility (UF, = 4) were tested for eventual epigenetical similarity with those fertility-proven. We identified 165,944 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that explained 14-15% of variance among selection lines. Between HF and LF individuals ( = 7, 4 HF and 3 LF), we identified 169 SNPs with ≤ 0.00015, which explained 58% of the variance. For the epigenetic analyses, we considered fertility and period of ejaculate collection (late-summer and mid-autumn). Approximately three times more DMRs were observed in HF than in LF boars across these periods. Interestingly, UF boars were clearly clustered with one of the other HF or LF groups. The highest differences in DMRs between HF and LF experimental groups across the pig genome were located in the chr 3, 9, 13, and 16, with most DMRs being hypermethylated in LF boars. In both HF and LF boars, DMRs were mostly hypermethylated in late-summer compared to mid-autumn. Three overlaps were detected between SNPs ( ≤ 0.0005, = 1318) and CpG sites within DMRs. In conclusion, fertility levels in breeding males including FR and LS can be discerned using methylome analyses. The findings in this biomedical animal model ought to be applied besides sire selection for andrological diagnosis of idiopathic sub/infertility.
Topics: Animals; Base Sequence; Chromosomes; DNA Methylation; Fertility; Gene Library; Gene Ontology; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Infertility, Male; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Models, Animal; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Seasons; Semen Analysis; Sequence Alignment; Specimen Handling; Spermatozoa; Swine
PubMed: 33800945
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052679 -
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Feb 2023
Topics: Humans; Fertility; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Research Design; Artificial Intelligence; Insemination, Artificial; Progesterone
PubMed: 36598733
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02704-9 -
PloS One 2023Early pregnancy diagnosis is key to maximise productivity of dairy herds. We previously showed that an increase in the levels of miR-26 could be detected as soon as day...
Early pregnancy diagnosis is key to maximise productivity of dairy herds. We previously showed that an increase in the levels of miR-26 could be detected as soon as day 8 of pregnancy in heifers. The aims of this study were to determine whether 1) plasma miR-26 levels would be distinctly elevated, retrospectively, early after artificial insemination in lactating cows with successful compared to failed pregnancies, 2) the early increase in miRNA levels in cows with successful pregnancy could be accounted for by changes in miRNA expression in white blood cells (WBCs), presumably induced by the effects of embryo-derived interferon tau (IFNt), and 3) plasma miRNA levels may provide a reliable early predictor of pregnancy that could be used at a herd level. Blood samples were taken from a total of 34 dairy cows (lactation number 1 to 4) before (D0) and 9 and 18 days after artificial insemination at oestrus, followed by confirmation of pregnancy status by ultrasound on D32. In addition, WBCs collected from non-pregnant cows (n = 4) were stimulated in vitro with recombinant ovine IFNt (0-100 pg/ml). Levels of miRNAs and ISG15, a known IFNt-induced gene, were quantified by qPCR. Relative to D0, a larger increase in plasma miR-26a (P = 0.04) occurred on D9 in cows later confirmed to be pregnant (n = 12) than in cows with a failed pregnancy (n = 22). Expression of miR-26a in WBCs was not affected (P>0.1) by pregnancy status or IFNt stimulation in vitro, in contrast to ISG15 expression which increased markedly (P<0.0001) both in WBC samples collected on D18 from animals later confirmed to be pregnant, and in WBCs after stimulation with IFNt in vitro. Finally, ROC analyses revealed that miR-26a on D9 or D18 could predict pregnancy outcome with much lower accuracy than WBC ISG15 on D18 (Likelihood ratio, 2.3 vs 15.4). In summary, a modest increase in plasma miR-26a levels occurs during early pregnancy in mature dairy cows which may not accounted for by changes in miRNA levels in WBCs or the effects of IFNt. Moreover, compared to ISG15, changes in miR-26a levels may not provide an accurate test for early diagnosis of pregnancy in cows.
Topics: Pregnancy; Cattle; Animals; Female; Sheep; Pregnancy Outcome; Lactation; Retrospective Studies; Insemination, Artificial; MicroRNAs; Progesterone
PubMed: 37566616
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289342 -
BMC Veterinary Research Jun 2023Difference in breed, nutrition status and climate in which animals are managed result in differences in response to reproductive hormones. Fertility rate to artificial...
Ovarian response and conception rate in Boran and Boran*Holstein cows treated by Gonadotrophin-realizing hormone and ProstaglandinF2α with and without exogenous progesterone.
BACKGROUND
Difference in breed, nutrition status and climate in which animals are managed result in differences in response to reproductive hormones. Fertility rate to artificial insemination is very low in Ethiopian Boran and Boran*Holstein crosses. This partly maybe due to adopting estrus and/or ovulation synchronization developed for temperate taurine cattle. Experimental study was conducted to evaluate ovarian response to combinations of Gonadotrophin-Realizing Hormone agonist (gonadorelin) and ProstaglandinF2α (PGF2α) with or without progesterone (Controlled Internal Drug Release/CIDR), and conception rate to timed AI. Postpartum native Ethiopian Boran (n = 60) and Boran*Holstein cross (n = 66) cows were randomly assigned to four treatment groups as Ovsynch (gonadorelin on day of start, PGF2α seven days later, 2nd gonadorelin at 48 h of PGF2α and insemination at 19 h of the 2nd gonadorelin); CIDR + Ovsynch (same as Ovsynch but CIDR device was inserted into vagina for 7 days); Cosynch (same as Ovsynch but insemination was made at the 2nd gonadorelin) and CIDR + Cosynch (same as Cosynch but CIDR was inserted for 7 days).
RESULT
There was no difference (P > 0.05) in ovulation rate to day 9 gonadorelin (88.33% in Boran; 78.79% in Boran*Holstein) and interval from day 9 gonadorelin to ovulation (36.5 ± 1.13 h in Boran and 36.057 ± 1.11 h in Boran*Holstein). Dominant follicle immediate to ovulation (14.95 ± 0.19 mm Vs 19.12 ± 0.49 mm) and corpus luteum size (16.31 ± 0.33 mm Vs 20.28 ± 0.43 mm ) respectively were smaller (P < 0.05) in Boran than Boran*Holstein. Plasma progesterone concentration at PGF2α was higher (P < 0.05) in Boran (11.91 ± 0.74ng/mL) than Boran*Holstein (6.13 ± 0.27ng/mL) but luteolysis rate was lower (P < 0.05) in Boran (87.9%) than Boran-Holstein (96.9%). Cows with CIDR had higher conception rate than cows without CIDR (72.00% Vs 39.02% in Boran*Holstein and 74.07%, Vs 51.52% in Boran respectively). Insemination at 19 h of gonadorelin administration resulted in higher conception rate (78.6% for Boran; 71.43% for Boran*Holstein) than insemination at gonadorelin (69.29% for Boran; 66.67% for Boran*Holstein).
CONCLUSION
Boran cows have smaller preovulatory follicles, smaller corpus luteum, large amount of progesterone and lower rate of luteolysis to PGF2α compared to Boran*Holstein. The CL of Boran cattle seems les reactive to PGF2α than Boran*Holstein CL. CIDR significantly improved conception rate in Boran and Boran*Holstein cows.
Topics: Female; Cattle; Animals; Progesterone; Dinoprost; Estrus Synchronization; Lactation; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial
PubMed: 37264362
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03617-0 -
Reproduction in Domestic Animals =... Dec 2021The objective of this project was to report the effects of season and age on conception rate amongst Italian Mediterranean Buffalo subjected to an Ovsynch/Resynch (O/R)...
Effects of age and season on conception rate of Mediterranean Italian Dairy Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) following oestrus synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination.
The objective of this project was to report the effects of season and age on conception rate amongst Italian Mediterranean Buffalo subjected to an Ovsynch/Resynch (O/R) reproductive management protocol. The study utilized nulliparous (heifers), primiparous buffalo cows (PBC) and multiparous buffalo cows (MBC). The primiparous and multiparous groups were subjected to the synchronization protocol throughout the entire year, but heifers were synchronized and inseminated only during the spring/summer seasons. The conception rate obtained following the OvSynch oestrus synchronization protocol, applied during spring, was 68.4% for heifers, 83.3% for PBC and 67.7% for MBC. The overall total conception rates following the complete O/R protocol were 84.27%, 94.4% and 79%. Conception rates achieved during summer were heifers 52%, PBC 47.2% and MBC 49%, whilst overall conception rates following the full O/R protocol were 72%, 69.8% and 58.2% respectively. In the autumn seasons, PBC conceived 58.9% and MBC 52.1% following initial Ovsynch, which improved to total overall conception rates of 87.5% and 78.7% following the full O/R protocol. Similarly, in the winter season, PBC experienced a conception rate of 47.5% following Ovsynch and 72.5% after a follow-up Resynch. MBC experienced 60.0% and 74.4% conception following Ovsynch and full O/R, respectively, during winter. Total conception rates during all seasons were quite acceptable following the O/R protocol. There was a significant decrease from spring to summer in conception rate for all parity groups, but heifers were not a severely affected as older buffalo cows. This finding agrees with that of other investigators indicating that heifer fertility is not as negatively impacted by long photoperiod and higher ambient temperature as that of older animals. The O/R protocol as utilized in this study is an effective means of reproductive management for dairy buffalo cows and is effective for improving fertility during out-of-season breeding.
Topics: Animals; Buffaloes; Cattle; Dinoprost; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Fertilization; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Pregnancy; Seasons
PubMed: 34486776
DOI: 10.1111/rda.14013 -
Journal of Animal Science Jan 2023Currently, artificial insemination (AI) is the most common reproductive method used in swine production. The economic profitability of AI centers is closely linked to a...
Currently, artificial insemination (AI) is the most common reproductive method used in swine production. The economic profitability of AI centers is closely linked to a boar's retention rate and the purchase of replacement boars. The objectives of this study were to examine data of selection process and lifetime of a total of 6,496 purebred Pietrain AI boars and to analyze the frequency and reasons of removal in eight European countries. Data were obtained from two German boar multiplication farms as well as 53 AI centers from 2018 to 2022. The retention time was analyzed from the selection process until replacement and to the end of the examination, respectively. The selection process of the boars took place at 168 ± 5 (mean ± SD) days of age. For further calculations, the removal reasons were divided into nine groups: breeding (BR), died (DI), euthanasia (EU), health (HE), genetics (GE), low libido (LI), sperm quality (SQ), structure (ST), and other (OT). Overall, 56.1% of the examined boars were removed, with 17.5% being removed within the same year they entered the AI center. The annual removal rate for the 53 AI centers averaged 42.4%. The most frequent removal reason was low SQ (45.1%), followed by genetics (28.6%) and low libido (10.6%). The highest relative frequency of removals was observed for an age of 2 yr (34.0%). The highest removal risk was calculated for boars in Czech AI centers (P < 0.001), while the lowest removal risk occurred in Dutch (P = 0.006) and Portuguese AI centers (P = 0.01). The comparison of removal groups revealed, inter alia, higher body weight at selection process for the BR group (117.9 ± 9.0 kg) and longer quarantine periods for LI group (45.9 ± 17.6 d). Boars in the GE group were characterized by the oldest age at removal (934.0 ± 272.8 d) and longest period of exploitation (672.5 ± 266.8 d). The results could be helpful to detect the most common reasons for production failure of AI Pietrain boars and beneficial for establishing an economical removal policy in AI centers and for improving boar management through problem-based selection in boar multiplication farms.
Topics: Swine; Male; Animals; Semen; Retrospective Studies; Spermatozoa; Insemination, Artificial; Semen Analysis
PubMed: 36525599
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac408 -
Journal of Dairy Science Aug 2023Adoption of automated monitoring devices (AMD) affords the opportunity to tailor reproductive management according to the cow's needs. We hypothesized that a targeted...
Adoption of automated monitoring devices (AMD) affords the opportunity to tailor reproductive management according to the cow's needs. We hypothesized that a targeted reproductive management (TRM) would reduce the use of reproductive hormones while increasing the percentage of cows pregnant 305 d in milk (DIM). Holstein cows from 2 herds (n = 1,930) were fitted with an AMD at 251.0 ± 0.4 d of gestation. Early-postpartum estrus characteristics (EPEC; intense estrus = heat index ≥70; 0 = minimum, 100 = maximum) of multiparous cows were evaluated at 40 (herd 1) or 41 (herd 2) DIM and EPEC of primiparous cows were evaluated at 54 (herd 1) or 55 (herd 2) DIM. Control cows received the first artificial insemination at fixed time (TAI; primiparous, herd 1 = 82 and herd 2 = 83 DIM; multiparous, herd 1 = 68 and herd 2 = 69 DIM) following the Double-Ovsynch (DOV) protocol. Cows enrolled in the TRM treatment were managed as follows: (1) cows with at least one intense estrus were inseminated upon AMD detected estrus for 42 d and, if not inseminated, were enrolled in the DOV protocol; and (2) cows without an intense estrus were enrolled in the DOV protocol at the same time as cows in the control treatment. Control cows were re-inseminated based on visual or patch aided detection of estrus, whereas TRM cows were re-inseminated as described for control cows with the aid of the AMD. Cows received a GnRH injection 27 ± 3 d after insemination and, if diagnosed as nonpregnant, completed the 5-d Cosynch protocol and received TAI 35 ± 3 d after insemination. Among cows in the TRM treatment, 55.8 and 42.9% of primiparous and multiparous cows, respectively, received the first insemination in spontaneous estrus. The interaction between treatment and parity affected pregnancy 67 d after the first AI (primiparous: control = 37.6%, TRM = 27.4%; multiparous: control = 41.0%, TRM = 44.7%). The TRM treatment increased re-insemination in estrus (control = 48.3%, TRM = 70.5%). Pregnancy 67 d after re-inseminations tended to be affected by the interaction between treatment and EPEC (no intense estrus: control = 25.3%, TRM = 32.0%; intense estrus: control = 32.9%, TRM = 32.2%). The interaction between treatment and EPEC affected pregnancy by 305 DIM (no intense estrus: control = 80.8%, TRM = 88.2%; intense estrus: control = 87.1%, TRM = 86.1%). Treatment did not affect the number of reproductive hormone treatments among cows that had not had an intense estrus (control = 10.5 ± 0.3, TRM = 9.1 ± 0.2 treatments/cow), but cows in the TRM treatment that had an intense estrus received fewer reproductive hormone treatments than cows in the control treatment (2.0 ± 0.1 vs. 9.6 ± 0.2 treatments/cow). Selecting multiparous cows for first AI in estrus based on EPEC reduced the use of reproductive hormones without impairing the likelihood of pregnancy to first AI. The use of AMD for re-insemination expedited the establishment of pregnancy among cows that did not display an intense estrus early postpartum.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Cattle; Animals; Lactation; Estrus Synchronization; Dinoprost; Estrus Detection; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Progesterone
PubMed: 37349211
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22666 -
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology :... Dec 2023In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of infertility duration and dominant follicle size measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)...
The importance of infertility duration and follicle size according to pregnancy success in women undergoing ovulation induction with gonadotropins and intrauterine insemination.
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of infertility duration and dominant follicle size measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) administration on pregnancy rates in infertile women undergoing ovulation induction (OI) with gonadotropin (GND). A total of 352 patients aged 20 to 41 years who were diagnosed with unexplained infertility or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were included in this study. Patients with a history of multifollicular development or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) value more than 12 IU/ml were excluded from the study. The demographic and clinical features of the patients were obtained from the patients' files and hospital automation system and recorded for each woman. The demographic and clinical features of the patients were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups as live birth (group 1, = 47) and non-live birth groups (group 2, = 305). There were no statistically significant differences in regard to age, infertility type, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level, oestradiol (E2) level, antral follicle count (AFC), cycle characteristics, GND type, number of follicles, E2 level and endometrial thickness on HCG day, total GND dose, dominant follicle size ( > 0.05). Infertility duration in group 1 was 3.5 ± 2.1; in group 2, 4.7 ± 3.9 years. This difference was statistically significant ( = .014). According to this study, live birth rates after GND + IUIs(intrauterine insemination were significantly affected by the duration of infertility. But the dominant follicle size and endometrial thickness measured on HCG day in GND and IUI cycles did not have a significant effect on pregnancy rates.IMPACT STATEMENT It is thought that the timing of the ovarian triggering is vital for the success of intrauterine insemmination (IUI) treatment. According to our results live birth rates after GND + IUIs were significantly affected by the duration of infertility. It is determined that the duration of infertility is significant and patients should be encouraged to the treatment as soon as possible.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Infertility, Female; Gonadotropins; Infertility; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Pregnancy Rate; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Ovulation Induction; Insemination; Insemination, Artificial
PubMed: 36920100
DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2023.2173058 -
Journal of Dairy Science Oct 2022The primary objective of this randomized controlled experiment was to evaluate the insemination dynamic and reproductive performance of cows managed with a targeted...
Effect of a targeted reproductive management program designed to prioritize insemination at detected estrus and optimize time to insemination on the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows.
The primary objective of this randomized controlled experiment was to evaluate the insemination dynamic and reproductive performance of cows managed with a targeted reproductive management (TRM) program designed to prioritize artificial insemination (AI) at detected estrus (AIE) and optimize timing of AI by grouping cows based on detection of estrus during the voluntary waiting period (VWP). Our secondary objective was to evaluate reproductive outcomes for cows with or without estrus during the VWP. Lactating Holstein cows fitted with an ear-attached sensor for detection of estrus were randomly assigned to a TRM treatment that prioritized AIE based on detection of estrus during the VWP (TP-AIE; n = 488), a non-TRM treatment that prioritized AIE (P-AIE; n = 489), or an all timed AI (TAI) treatment with extended VWP (ALL-TAI; n = 491). In TP-AIE, cows with or without automated estrus alerts (AEA) recorded during the VWP received AIE if detected in estrus for at least 31 ± 3 or 17 ± 3 d after a 49 d VWP, respectively. Cows not AIE with or without AEA during the VWP received TAI after Ovsynch with progesterone supplementation and 2 PGF treatments (P4-Ov) at 90 ± 3 or 74 ± 3 d in milk (DIM), respectively. In P-AIE, cows received AIE if detected in estrus for 24 ± 3 d after a 49 d VWP, and if not AIE received TAI at 83 ± 3 DIM after P4-Ov. In ALL-TAI, cows received TAI at 83 ± 3 DIM after a Double-Ovsynch protocol. Data were analyzed by logistic and Cox's proportional hazard regression. The proportion of cows AIE did not differ for TP-AIE (71.0%) and P-AIE (74.6%). Overall P/AI at 39 d after first service was greater for the ALL-TAI (47.6%) than for the P-AIE (40.2%) and TP-AIE (39.5%) treatments. The hazard of pregnancy up to 150 DIM was greater for cows in TP-AIE (hazard ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.4) and P-AIE (hazard ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.4) than for cows in the ALL-TAI treatment which resulted in median time to pregnancy of 89, 89, and 107 d. Conversely, the proportion of cows pregnant at 150 DIM did not differ (ALL-TAI 78.5%, P-AIE 76.3%, TP-AIE 76.0%). Except for a few outcomes for which no difference was observed, cows detected in estrus during the VWP had better performance than cows not detected in estrus. Cows with AEA during the VWP were more likely to receive AIE, had greater P/AI, and greater pregnancy rate up to 150 DIM regardless of first service management. We conclude that a TRM program designed to prioritize AIE by grouping cows based on detection of estrus during the VWP was an effective strategy to submit cows for first service resulting in similar or improved performance than a non-TRM program that prioritized AIE or an all-TAI program with extended VWP. Also, AEA recorded during the VWP might be used as a strategy for identifying subgroups of cows with different reproductive performance.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dinoprost; Estrus; Estrus Detection; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Lactation; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F
PubMed: 36028340
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22082