[Induction and synchronization of pregnancy in cows]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Reproductive Physiology
• Animal Science

Context:

• Dairy and beef cattle production systems
• Management of parturition and calving
• Use of prostaglandin analogues in livestock

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cloprostenol for inducing and synchronizing parturition in cows under commercial production conditions.
• To determine the relationship between gestation length and timing of Cloprostenol administration.
• To assess the feasibility of a synchronized calving scheme in a production environment.

Summary:

• Cloprostenol administration resulted in an average induction-to-delivery time of 40.5 hours (range: 33-49 hours).
• No significant correlation was found between gestation length at induction and delivery time, nor with parity (e.g., first-calf heifers).
• A high incidence of retained fetal membranes (69.7%) was observed, rendering the method unsuitable for routine production use.

Impact:

• The study highlights significant reproductive health risks associated with Cloprostenol-induced synchronized calving in commercial cattle operations.
• Findings suggest that current protocols for prostaglandin-induced synchronization may require modification to mitigate complications like retained fetal membranes.
• This research informs veterinary and production management decisions regarding the use of reproductive technologies in cattle.