Controlled, reversible suppression of estrous cycles in beef heifers and cows using agonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Agonists of GnRH were examined for their potential to achieve controlled, reversible suppression of estrous cycles in beef cattle. In Exp. 1, cyclic heifers received two (Group B2) or four (Group B4) buserelin (D-Ser[Bu(t)]6-Pro9-LHRH[1-9] nonapeptide ethylamide) implants and degree of cessation of estrous cycles was monitored. Treatment with buserelin caused estrous cycles to cease, as indicated by basal (.2 ng/mL) concentrations of progesterone, for 48.4 +/- 3.8 d (mean +/- SEM) in Group B2, which was less (P = .6) than the 87.4 +/- 17.4 d in Group B4. In Exp. 2, heifers treated with one (Group D1) or two (Group D2) implants of deslorelin (D-Trp6-Pro9-des-Gly10-LHRH ethylamide) had basal progesterone concentrations for 203 +/- 26 d (Group D1) and 170 +/- 28 d (Group D2; P > .05). In Exp. 3, stage of the estrous cycle was synchronized in cows, and, on d 7 of the ensuing cycle, cows received four deslorelin implants for 28 (Group D28) or 56 d (Group D56). Treatment with deslorelin induced an acute increase in plasma concentrations of immunoactive and bioactive LH, which remained increased over 7 d of observation. Based on profiles of progesterone, cows did not develop a functional corpus luteum during deslorelin treatment. Days to first and second estrus after implant removal were similar for cows in Group D28 (23.6 +/- 2.1 and 40.2 +/- 4.2 d, respectively) and Group D56 (21.5 +/- 3.3 and 44.3 +/- 2.9 d). The findings indicated that GnRH agonists block estrous cycles in cattle. Also, estrous cycles returned after discontinuation of treatment. Furthermore, the consistent and predictable responses detected in cows after implant removal indicated that agonists should be suitable for achieving a controlled, reversible suppression of estrous cycles in cattle.