METHODS TO INCREASE REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN CATTLE (NC1038)

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1006519
• Multistate No.: NC-_old1201
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2015
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2017
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF WISCONSIN
21 N PARK ST STE 6401
MADISON,WI 53715-1218

Performing Department
Dairy Science

Non Technical Summary
Progesterone is the most biologically active progestagen in cattle. The main idea underlying this proposal is that reproduction in high producing dairy cows is impaired by inadequate progesterone concentrations due to hepatic steroid metabolism driven by high feed intake required for high milk production. Thus, the Specific Aim of this work is to manipulate progesterone to improve fertility to timed AI in dairy cows. In Experiment 1 we will use the PGF2α-induced decrease in P4 of the early corpus luteum to increase ovulatory response to GnRH to increase fertility to a timed AI protocol. In Experiment 2 we will delay insertion of a P4 device by 1 d during a timed AI protocol to increase fertility by increasing ovulatory response to GnRH. In Experiment 3 we will increase P4 before ovulation during growth of the ovulatory follicle to try to reduce pregnancy loss after timed AI. In Experiment 4 we will manipulate P4 after timed AI to affect embryo growth and impact maternal recognition of pregnancy and/or pregnancy loss. Results from these experiments may have an immediate impact on fertility of cows in Wisconsin and will clarify the role of P4 during follicular growth before and embryo growth after ovulation.Generation of new knowledge from on-farm research that brings the University of Wisconsin-Madison together with farmers and veterinarians and dissemination of that knowledge to the larger dairy industry provides the structure from which positive change in the dairy industry can occur. New knowledge gained from the experiments in this proposal and the dissemination of this information to the dairy industry draws from the fundamental basis upon which UW Extension, the Wisconsin Idea, and the Land Grant University System were founded: to enhance the application of useful and practical information beyond the university campus through cooperative Extension efforts with states and local communities.

Animal Health Component

60%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

40%

Applied

60%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
301	3410	1020	100%

Knowledge Area
301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

dairy cow

reproduction

Goals / Objectives
Determine mechanisms that regulate reproductive processes impacting production efficiency in cattle. Increase the efficiency and predictability of sustainable reproductive management programs for cattle.

Project Methods
On-farm implementation of reproductive management strategies should be based on nonbiased data from well-designed field research trials. Existing technologies and new management strategies and technologies need to be evaluated before recommendations can be formulated and implemented at the farm level. The main idea underlying this proposal is that reproduction in high producing dairy cows is impaired by inadequate progesterone concentrations due to hepatic steroid metabolism driven by high feed intake required for high milk production. Thus, the Specific Aim of this proposal is to manipulate progesterone to improve fertility to timed AI in dairy cows. In Experiment 1, we will use the PGF2α-induced decrease in progesterone of the early corpus luteum to increase ovulatory response to GnRH to increase fertility to a timed AI protocol. In Experiment 2, we will delay insertion of a progesterone device by 1 d during a timed AI protocol to increase fertility by increasing ovulatory response to GnRH. In Experiment 3, we will increase progesterone before ovulation during growth of the ovulatory follicle to try to reduce pregnancy loss after timed AI. In Experiment 4, we will manipulate progesterone after timed AI to affect embryo growth and impact maternal recognition of pregnancy and/or pregnancy loss.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:dairy scientists, dairy farmers, county extension agents, AI industry, veterinarians, nutritionists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Paulo D. Carvalho, January 2014 to May 2016. Ph.D. Thesis: "Manipulation of progesterone before timed AI to increase fertility in lactating dairy cows." Major findings included: 1) presynchronization with GnRH alone (i.e., GGPG) decreased fertility to TAI by 10 percentage points compared with cows submitted to a Double Ovsynch protocol for first TAI; 2) decreasing progesterone at initiation of an Ovsynch protocol increased ovulatory response to G1 by 20 percentage points but increased fertility to TAI by only 3.5 percentage points; 3) addition of a second PGF2α treatment 24 h after the first within a resynch protocol decreased progesterone at G2 resulting in a dramatic increase in fertility to TAI; 4) adding a second PGF2α treatment, but not reducing the duration of an PRID-Synchprotocol for resynchronization of ovulation increased fertility. Angela M. Niles, June 2016 to present. M.S. Project: Angela completed a large field trial to compare strategies for induction of luteal regression in lactating Holstein cows submitted to a Double-Ovsynch protocol for first timed AI and a large field trial comparing the effect of treatment with hCG after AI or IVF embryo transfer in Holstein heifers on fertility and pregnancy loss. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from this project were dissseminated through presentations at scientific meetings, peer-reviewerd scientific journal papers, extension papers and proceedings, and lay press articles. Many of the experiments conducted over the course of this project were conducted as field trials in collaboration with bovine practitioners and dairy farmers in Wisconsin. This proposal is therefore integrated between applied research and my appointment as an integrated extension specialist in the Dairy Science Department at the University of Wisconsin. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Pregnancy rates in high-producing lactating dairy cows are less than desirable. Pregnancy rates per AI have decreased from 66% in 1951, to about 50% in 1975, to less than 40% in 2010. However, as a result of much of the research and outreach completed in this proposal, several advances have occurred to upgrade reproductive management programs in dairy herds that have resulted in an increase in pregnancy rates per AI in recent years. These advance are: 1) Including GnRH in presynchronization programs to facilitate ovulation before first or repeat AI to change the proportion of cows with a corpus luteum (CL) and more moderate progesterone concentrations to start Ovsynch, thus increasing G1-induced LH release and subsequent ovulation to G1 and greater pregnancy per AI (P/AI). 2) Clarifying the specific role of progesterone in targeted sub-fertile populations before first or repeat AI of cows without a CL to facilitate greater progesterone at AI compared with non-progesterone treated controls without a CL, but similar P/AI to cows starting Ovsynch in diestrus. 3) Applying increased dosages or additional injections of PGF2α to enhance luteolysis before timed AI to increase P/AI in cows treated with either the 5- or 7-d Ovsynch program. 4) Increasing dosages of GnRH at G1 or G2 to increase ovulation incidence did not always increase P/AI. 5) Diagnosing pregnancy via blood or milk pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) tests beginning 28 d post-AI to spare veterinarians' time to address other health issues. 6) Field testing the role of a 5- or 7-d Ovsynch program with progesterone inserts to facilitate timed AI in dairy heifers to increase early pregnancy in replacement heifer programs and reduce days on feed before first calving. 7) Incorporating gender-selected semen in AI programs to increase herd size from within, allow for more selective culling, and less outsourced heifer purchases. 8) Applying software tools to project revenues and costs associated with various timed AI and estrus-detection AI programs. 9) Detecting ovarian structures to more accurately diagnose large anovulatory follicles or ovarian cysts, early pregnancy, and subsequent embryo survival via diagnostic transrectal ultrasonography. 10) Applying technologies such as activity monitors to assess increased physical activity associated with estrus, monitor rumination and ear temperature, and RFID for accurate cow identification. 11) Clarifying the role of postpartum health (clinical and subclinical disease) on subsequent P/AI.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Carvalho, P. D., C. C. Consentini, S. R. Weaver, R. V. Barletta, L. L. Hernandez, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Temporarily decreasing progesterone after timed artificial insemination decreased expression of interferon-tau stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in blood leukocytes, serum PSPB concentrations, and embryo size in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 100:3233-3242.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Santos, V. G., P. D. Carvalho, C. Maia, B. Carneiro, A. Valenza, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Fertility of lactating Holstein cows submitted to a Double-Ovsynch protocol and timed artificial insemination versus artificial insemination after synchronization of estrus at a similar day in milk range. J. Dairy Sci. 100:8507-8517.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Ricci, A., P. D. Carvalho, M. C. Amundson, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Characterization of luteal dynamics in lactating Holstein cows for 32 days after synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination. J. Dairy Sci. 100:9851-9860.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Barletta, R. V., P. D. Carvalho, V. G. Santos, L. F. Mello, C. E. Consentini, A. S. Netto, and P. M. Fricke. 2018. Effect of dose and timing of prostaglandin F2? treatments during a Resynch protocol on luteal regression and fertility in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. (in press).
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fricke, P. M. 2017. Reproductive programs to maximize fertility in dairy cows. In: Large Dairy Herd Management (3rd Ed.) D. K. Beede (Ed.). Elsevier Inc., Philadelphia, PA, pp. 503-519.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Giordano, J. O. and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Automated detection and prediction of estrus as a complimentary technology for reproductive management. In: Large Dairy Herd Management (3rd Ed.) D. K. Beede (Ed.). Elsevier Inc., Philadelphia, PA, pp. 1265-1277.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Santos, V. G., P. D. Carvalho, C. Maia, B. Carneiro, A. Valenza, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Effect of delaying PRID removal by 24 hours during a protocol for synchronization of ovulation in Holstein heifers. J. Dairy Sci. J. Dairy Sci. 100(Suppl 2):289.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Niles, A. M., A. E. Jones, P. D. Carvalho, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Delaying administration of prostaglandin PGFalpha by 24 hours during a Double-Ovsynch protocol decreased fertility of lactating Holstein cows to timed artificial insemination. J. Dairy Sci. J. Dairy Sci. 100(Suppl 2):284.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Carvalho, P. D., R. V. Barleta, H. Dement, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Efficacy of an activity monitoring system to detect estrous activity in nulliparous Holstein heifers after synchronization of estrus using PGFalpha. J. Dairy Sci. J. Dairy Sci. 100(Suppl 2):73.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Carvalho, P. D., R. V. Barletta, V. G. Santos, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Relationship between blood urea nitrogen and fertility of lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 100(Suppl 2):72.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Results from this project have been used to make recommendations to stakeholders and their consultants including dairy farmers, county ag agents, veterinarians, the AI industry, nutritionists and pharmaceutical reps. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Paulo D. Carvalho completed his Ph.D. program on this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from current and ongoing research have been used to make recommendations to stakeholders and their consultants regarding implementation of systematic synchronization and resynchronization systems for lactating dairy cows as well as timing and methods for pregnancy diagnosis. Data generated in these projects have been published in scientific journals and included in numerous extension proceedings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are currently working on projects in two main areas: 1) development and optimization of hormonal protocols for synchronization of ovulation; 2) the role of progesterone before and after ovulation on fertility in lactating dairy cows.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Treatment with 12.5 mg of PGF2α 5 d after induction of ovulation temporarily decreased P4 concentrations from 6 to 11 d after TAI without inducing luteal regression. Decreasing P4 after TAI decreased expression of ISG15 in blood leukocytes 20 d after TAI, serum PSPB concentrations 25 to 67 d after TAI, and embryo size 46 d after TAI but did not affect P/AI in lactating Holstein cows. Addition of a second PGF2α (dinoprost) treatment during a Resynch protocol tended to increase P/AI to TAI by increasing the percentage of cows with complete luteal regression at G2, whereas doubling the dose of PGF2α did not. Synchronization of ovulation and timed AI for first service increased the percentage of cows inseminated within 7 days after the VWP, and timed AI cows had greater fertility at first service than Estrus cows at a similar DIM range.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Santos, V. G., P. D. Carvalho, C. Maia, B. Carneiro, A. Valenza, P. M. Crump, and P. M. Fricke. 2016. Adding a second prostaglandin F2? treatment to but not reducing the duration of a PRID-Synch protocol increases fertility after resynchronization of ovulation in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 99:3869-3879.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fricke, P. M., P. D. Carvalho, M. C. Lucy, F. Curran, M. M. Herlihy, S. M. Waters, J. A. Larkin, M. A. Crowe, and S. T. Butler. 2016. Effect of manipulating progesterone before timed artificial insemination on reproductive and endocrine parameters in seasonal-calving pasture-based Holstein-Friesian cows. J. Dairy Sci. 99:6780-6792.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Carvalho, P. D., C. C. Consentini, S. R. Weaver, R. V. Barletta, L. L. Hernandez, and P. M. Fricke. 2017. Temporarily decreasing progesterone after timed artificial insemination decreased expression of ISG15 in blood leukocytes, serum PSPB concentrations, and embryo size in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. (accepted).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Carvalho, P. D., C. C. Consentini, S. R. Weaver, R. V. Barleta, L. L. Hernandez, and P. M. Fricke. 2016. Temporarily decreasing progesterone after timed artificial insemination decreased expression of ISG15 in blood leukocytes, serum PSPB concentrations, and embryo size in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 99(E-Suppl. 1):533.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Santos, V. G., P. D. Carvalho, C. Maia, B. Carneiro, A. Valenza, and P. M. Fricke. 2016. Fertility of lactating Holstein cows after synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination versus artificial insemination after detection of estrus at a similar DIM range. J. Dairy Sci. 99(E-Suppl. 1):499.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Barletta, R. V., P. D. Carvalho, M. Luchterhand, L. F. Mello, C. E. Consentini, A. L. Jones, A. S. Netto, and P. M. Fricke. 2016. Effect of dose and timing of prostaglandin F2? treatments during a Resynch protocol on luteal regression and fertility to timed artificial insemination in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 99(E-Suppl. 1):499.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Carvalho, P.D. 2016. Manipulation of progesterone before timed AI to increase fertility in lactating dairy cows. Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fricke, P. M., A. Ricci, J. O. Giordano, and P. D. Carvalho. 2016. Methods for and implementation of pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cows. Vet. Clin. Food Anim. 32:165-180.