Prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced estrus in open cows and presumed abortion in pregnant cows with unobserved estrus in a herd monitored by milk progesterone assay.

Data were obtained in a large Florida herd of about 1800 Holstein cows. All cows were inseminated by the herdsman who did the pregnancy checks and who also administered drugs. The herdsman injected 103 cows with prostaglandin F2 alpha during the time this herd was under continuous observation by the authors who were conducting an unrelated research project. These cows consisted of 86 open (never bred) cows which had no estrus observed during the first 70 days postpartum, or no second estrus observed within 30 days after a previous estrus, and 17 cows previously inseminated. Two-thirds (57) of the 86 open cows were in estrus within 4 days. The 17 previously inseminated cows appeared to be pregnant, based upon progesterone profiles, when these were inadvertently given prostaglandin F2 alpha by the herdsman. Progesterone declined in all cows and they were in estrus in 7 +/- 4 days (mean +/- standard error). This result of presumed abortion reflects the luteolytic effectiveness of the drug and the importance of instructing any laymen users to follow necessary precautions to avoid undesirable effects.