Efficacy of three hormonal treatments for cystic ovarian disease and subsequent reproductive performance in dairy cows

Abstract

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is a common ovarian disorder that causes major reproductive failure in dairy cows leading to significant economic losses in the dairy industry. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and the response of cows with ovarian cysts to three different treatments regardless of the cyst type. At 50 days postpartum, were considered to have an ovarian cyst when possessing a follicle with a diameter ≥ 17 mm in the absence of a corpus luteum in two ultrasonographic examinations performed at 7 days intervals. In the second examination considered (Day 0), 51 cystic Holstein cows were assigned randomly into one of 3 treatment groups.; GnRH group ( n =12) treated with 100 μg gonadorelin as a single dose, GP group ( n =12) received (100 μg gonadorelin on day 0 followed by 500 μg of cloprostenol sodium on day 7, CIDR group ( n =12) treated with intravaginal progesterone-releasing insert CIDR on the day 0: and 100 μg gonadorelin then an injection of 500 µg cloprostenol sodium IM on day 7. The CIDR was removed on day 8, and a second GnRH injection was given on day 9. From day 9, animals were observed for estrus and inseminated with proven frozen-thawed semen. Control Group ( n =15) represents cows that did not receive any treatment. Pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound on day 28 post-insemination. Results showed that the GP group achieved the highest estrus induction rate (EIR). Thus, 44.4% of treated cows come in estrus less than 10 days and 100 % by day 20. While GnRH group showed EIR with 25% in less than 10 days and 62.5 % at the day 20. The CIDR group showed EIR (0%) in less than 10 days and 100 % at the day 20. Total conception rate (3 cycles after treatment) GP recorded (88.9%) GnRH group (87.5%) and CIDR (85.7%), while pregnancy rates (PR) was highest (66.7%) in GP protocol compared to GnRH (58.3%), and CIDR (49.9%). In conclusion, our results showed that the (GP group) had the best reproductive performance (earliest and highest estrus induction rate and highest pregnancy rate after treatment regardless of the type of the cyst.