2009: Applying ultrasound to the individual dairy cow and herd level reproductive management Applying ultrasound to the individual dairy cow and herd level reproductive management 1 2 K. McSweeny 3 2456 Courtney Dr., Loveland, CO, USA 4 5 6 Modern dairy cattle have been described as subfertile.1 Implementing timed breeding 7 synchronization programs (TAI) can improve heat detection efficiency, but conception rates can 8 remain low. The majority of synchronization programs are initiated regardless of where the cow 9 is within her estrous cycle, and it has been shown that conception rates vary greatly depending 10 upon when these programs are started in relation to the cow’s estrous cycle.2 Most important in 11 predicting the stage of a cow’s estrous cycle is identifying the presence of an active corpus 12 luteum (CL). Ultrasound has been found to be far superior to rectal palpation in predicting an 13 active CL and high progesterone levels,3 and thus better predicting when cows fall into the 14 optimum period to initiate or continue synchronization programs. By using ultrasound, cows can 15 be assessed and synchronization programs can be modified when cows fail to respond to the first 16 GnRH injection. 17 Ultrasound can also be used as a heat detection aid, especially for dairies that utilize tail 18 chalk. Accuracy of heat detection when using tail chalk can vary, and often cows in diestrus or 19 even pregnant are bred. Using ultrasound, cows with an active CL can be avoided, and only cows 20 appearing in estrus will be bred. 21 Incorporating ultrasound intensively into TAI and estrus detection programs can improve 22 pregnancy rates dramatically. Individual cow management along with techniques and strategies 23 to apply these protocols on any size dairy will be discussed. 24 25 275 Keywords: Ultrasound, synchronization, timed AI 26 27 Introduction 28 Modern dairy cattle have been described as subfertile1 and the expanding dairies of the 29 western U.S. seem to be experiencing some of the greatest reproductive inefficiency. According 30 to DHI-Provo data, since 1990, days open have increased by more than 30 days for dairies in the 31 western United States, with conception rates declining almost 25% during that same period. Heat 32 detection rates followed the same downturn during the 90’s, but with greater implementation of 33 TAI, conception rates have since risen to values approaching 45 to 50%. While the greater use of 34 synchronization programs has improved heat detection efficiency, conception rates have still 35 continued to decline. It is not uncommon to find herds in the western United States with 36 conception rates to timed breeding programs mired in the 20% range. There are multiple 37 contributing factors to this problem, such as those related to abnormal reproductive physiology, 38 poor timing of initiation, and non-compliance to synchronization protocols. 39 Materials and methods 40 In order to achieve acceptable reproductive performance additional management tools need 41 to be implemented to overcome this subfertility. Timed breeding synchronization programs are 42 one such tool but conception rates with these programs, especially in expanding western dairies 43 under current management conditions, are far from desirable. Reproductive ultrasound is another 44 tool available to dairy practitioners to improve reproductive performance. Due to practical 45 limitations and the cost of ultrasound equipment, dairy practitioners have been slow to adopt this 46 technology. Recent significant improvements and less expensive portable ultrasound units make 47 practicality and cost less of a concern. 48 276 Reproductive ultrasound in the dairy industry is most often thought of as a means of early 49 pregnancy diagnosis.2 With significant decreases in conception rates and failure to observe 50 visual estrus, being able to identify open cows as soon as possible and then initiate a timed 51 breeding program can improve pregnancy rates (percent of eligible cows becoming pregnant 52 over a 21-d period) by increasing the heat detection rate. However conception rates to 53 synchronization programs still are below desired levels and keep pregnancy rates low. Currently 54 in the western U.S. dairy industry, the majority of cows found not pregnant at pregnancy 55 diagnosis are immediately started on a synchronization program or in some cases the program is 56 initiated a week prior to pregnancy diagnosis as because GnRH has not been shown to affect 57 pregnancy.3 Upon being diagnosed not pregnant, cows are then given prostaglandin and 58 continued in the synchronization program. Both of these strategies initiate synchronization 59 programs no matter where the cow is within her estrous cycle. 60 It has been shown that conception rates vary greatly depending upon when synchronization 61 programs are started in relation to the cow’s estrous cycle. Most studies find that the Ovsynch 62 timed AI program results in the greatest conception rates when initiated between d 5 to 12 of the 63 estrous cycle.4-6 Research conducted in Colorado on commercial dairies found that a large 64 percentage of cows at first service or diagnosed not pregnant are not within this optimal 5 to 12 d 65 window to start synchronization programs. When these cows are allowed to continue through 66 programs, conception rates are extremely low. Not only are these non-synchronized cows outside 67 the d 5 to 12 window, but a large percentage are acyclic, have cystic ovaries, contain dead 68 fetuses, or have pyometra, which make them poor candidates for enrollment in a synchronization 69 program.7 70 277 An advantage of ultrasound over rectal palpation is the ability to completely assess ovarian 71 structures and better predict when cows fall into the optimum period to initiate or continue in 72 synchronization programs. Most important in predicting the stage of a cow’s estrous cycle is 73 identifying the presence of an active corpus luteum. Ultrasound has been found to be far superior 74 to rectal palpation in predicting an active corpus luteum and high progesterone levels.8,9 By 75 using ultrasound, cows can be assessed and synchronization programs can be modified when 76 cows fail to respond to the first GnRH injection. Combining ultrasound with a synchronization 77 program can be a powerful management tool to maximize not only heat detection rates, but also 78 conception rates resulting in improved overall pregnancy rates. 79 Ultrasound can also be used as a heat detection aid, especially for dairies that utilize tail 80 chalk. Accuracy of heat detection when using tail chalk can vary, and often diestrus or even 81 pregnant cattle are bred. By using the ultrasound, cows with an active corpus luteum can be 82 avoided, and only cows appearing in estrus (hyperechoic uterus, ovulatory follicle and no corpus 83 luteum) will be bred. 84 However, western U.S. dairies are also experiencing an increased cow-to-employee ratio, 85 which makes increasing the level of reproductive management a challenge. In order to 86 implement this reproductive management system, dairies must increase the number of times 87 cattle are handled for ultrasound examination, injections, and artificial insemination. Only dairies 88 capable of handling large numbers of cattle in a short period of time will be able to incorporate 89 these protocols effectively. Currently most large dairies in the western U.S. utilize lock-ups to 90 handle cattle. This system requires that cows actively enter and lock themselves, which is not 91 always ideal. Almost 100% of the time this system results in some loose cattle requiring time to 92 find and then restrain. 93 278 Management/palpation rails were created and gained popularity with the advent of bovine 94 somatotropin. If designed properly, this system can be very efficient in working large numbers 95 of cattle in a short period of time. Currently on one client’s 10,000 cow dairy, our practice 96 incorporates ultrasound exclusively and provides 100% TAI. Cattle are handled in a roofed 97 double-40 palpation rail. With three ultrasonographers, our practice scans 300-450 cows/hour, 98 and using multiple AI technicians we inseminate approximately 250 cows/hour. By 99 ultrasounding, injecting, and inseminating hundreds of cows in a very short time period, we 100 maintain the time intervals for synchronization and thus maximize conception rates. Only 101 producers willing to restructure their reproductive management and build facilities around it will 102 be able to implement these protocols effectively. 103 Conclusion 104 Cows have changed so much reproductively over the last 20 years that it takes greater 105 attention to detail and a better understanding of reproductive physiology to get cows pregnant. 106 Producers are reluctant to truly admit that cows have changed. They still want to manage cows 107 reproductively as if they were in the 1980s. Acknowledging that cows are not the same and then 108 implementing intensive management protocols to overcome these obstacles is critical to 109 improving reproduction. Everything we thought we knew about the reproduction of lactating 110 dairy cows has to be reconsidered. Thinking outside the box and applying new strategies to 111 reproductive management can pay big returns. Incorporating ultrasound intensively into TAI and 112 estrus detection programs can improve rates dramatically, but requires a different mindset for 113 managing cows. 114 Managing reproduction is unlike any other task on the dairy. To succeed, attention to detail 115 has to border on obsessive-compulsive. Synchronization programs require attention to detail, 116 279 strict adherence to injection schedules, and proper AI technique. Managing high numbers of 117 cows within these programs also requires strict data entry and retrieval within dairy software 118 programs. So, no matter how well the cows are started on these programs, if compliance is 119 inadequate, results will be inferior. Failure to strive for perfection in every aspect of reproductive 120 management is doomed to poor results. Finding people that have the work ethic and are 121 knowledgeable of reproduction is exceedingly difficult for producers. 122 Other tasks within the dairy industry have been contracted over the years, such as crop 123 production and calf/heifer production. By designing a veterinary practice around the 124 management of reproduction and employing highly skilled individuals to conduct all aspects of 125 reproduction from ultrasound, injections, and AI to data entry/retrieval reproduction can be 126 improved. The greatest chance of reproductive success occurs when incorporating ultrasound 127 into both synchronization and heat detection programs on dairies. 128 References 129 1. Thatcher WW, Bilby TR, Bartolome JA, et al: Strategies for improving fertility in the 130 modern dairy cow. Theriogenology 2006;65:30-44. 131 132 2. Kastelic JP, Curran S, Pierson RA, et al: Ultrasonic evaluation of the bovine conceptus. 133 Theriogenology 198829:39-54. 134 3. Chebel CC, Santos JEP, Cerri RLA,et al: Effect of resynchronization with GnRH on d 135 21 after artificial insemination on pregnancy rate and pregnancy loss in lactating dairy 136 cows. Theriogenology 2003;60:1389-1399. 137 138 280 4. Vasconelos JLM, Silcox RW, Rosa GJ, et al: Synchronization rate, size of the ovulatory 139 follicle, and pregnancy rate after synchronization of ovulation beginning on different 140 days of the estrous cycle in lactating dairy cows. Theriogenology 1999;52:1067-1078. 141 142 5. Stevenson JS, Tiffany SM: Resynchronizating estrus and ovulation after not-pregnant 143 diagnosis and various ovarian states including cysts. J. Dairy Sci 2004;87:3658-3664. 144 145 6. Bartolome JA, Silvestre FT, Kamimura S, et al: Resynchronization of ovulation and 146 timed insemination in lactating dairy cows I: use of the Ovsynch and Heatsynch protocols 147 after non-pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography. Theriogenology 2005;63:1617-1627. 148 149 7. McSweeney KD, Garry F, Olson J, et al: Unpublished data. 150 151 8. Sprecher DJ, Nebel RL, WhitmanSS: The predictive value, sensitivity and specificity of 152 palpation per rectum and transrectal ultrasonography for the determination of bovine 153 luteal status. Theriogenology 1989;31:1165-1172. 154 9. Bicalho RC, Galvão KN, Guard CL, et al: Optimizing the accuracy of detecting a 155 functional corpus luteum in dairy cows. 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