Insemination of Holstein heifers at a preset time after estrous cycle synchronization using progesterone and prostaglandin.

Two experiments were conducted to study estrous cycle control regimens that combine progesterone administration via an intravaginal device ( PRID ) with a single injection of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PG). In Exp. I, 242 Holstein heifers were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups at 14 to 18 mo of age. Treatments were: 1) control, 2) PRID -6 + PG-6 ( PRID in place for 6 d plus PG on the day of PRID removal) and 3) PRID -7 + PG-6 ( PRID in place for 7 d plus PG on the day before PRID removal). Heifers were observed for estrous activity and were inseminated at 8 to 20 h after estrus was detected. Estrus and ovulation were effectively synchronized after both PRID + PG treatments. Ninety-nine percent of the heifers in each group were in estrus within 168 h after PG injection. However, the interval from PG administration to the onset of estrus was longer after PRID -7 + PG-6 (75 +/- 2 h) than after PRID -6 + PG-6 (66 +/- 2 h). A lower variance in the interval from PG treatment to estrus was observed after PRID -7 + PG-6, suggesting that the 24 h delay in PRID withdrawal improved the synchrony of the onset of estrus. Pregnancy rates (72 to 82%) did not vary across treatment groups. Two-hundred seventy-four heifers were assigned to Exp. II. Treatments were 1) control, 2) 2 X PG (two injections of PG at an 11 d interval) and 3) PRID -7 + PG-6.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)