Practical experiences with prostaglandins in heifers and dairy cows

This paper describes the extent to which utilisation of prostaglandins (PG) to achieve synchronisation of oestrus can influence certain economic results. Special attention is paid to the fertility status (FS) and calving index in dairy cows, where PG-treated groups are compared with untreated groups. With regard to these parameters a significant difference exists in favour of the PG treated group. In heifers the pregnancy rate after the first insemination has been determined in a PG treated group. The result compare very well with other published data. On large farms, where heat detection is poor, the routine use of PGs in the total herd is economically attractive. On those farms where the practitioner is involved in a fertility guidance system and where optimum heat detection takes place, the routine use of PGs in dairy cows would seem to offer advantages from a financial point of view.