<div>Background: Postpartum fertility in dairy bovines is one of the important criteria of sustainable dairy industry and economy of farmers. The Kankrej, a dual purpose zebu cattle, is known for its endurance, but is slow breeder with very late maturity, prolonged postpartum anestrous/subestrous and thereby calving interval. These peculiarities necessitate scientists to adopt fixed time AI (FTAI) protocols of estrus synchronization for improving their reproductive efficiency. Hence this study was aimed to assess the fertility and plasma metabolic profile of normal and synchronized anestrous/ subestrous suckled Kankrej cows of an organized farm. 
 
Methods: The study involved 36 parturient Kankrej cows of the University Farm that were maintained under identical nutritional and managerial practices. Blood samples were collected in heparinized vacutainers from all the animals on the day of calving and then at 10 days interval till 90 days for plasma metabolic profile. Animals monitored by per rectal palpation 10 days apart around day 70-80 postpartum revealed 30 cows to be anestrous or subestrous, which were randomly allocated to five different estrus synchronization protocols at day 90-92, each with six cows and a group of six cows that exhibited estrus and were bred by day 70-90 served as normal control. The treatment protocols included Ovsynch, CIDR, Ovsynch + CIDR, Cosynch and double PGF2&alpha; together with estimation of plasma metabolites on day 0, 7, 9/10 (AI) and then at 10 days interval up to day 40 post-AI.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The mean plasma total protein levels varied non-significantly, while total cholesterol and triglycerides varied significantly (p&lt;0.01) between intervals until 90 days postpartum in most of the groups with gradual increase in the mean values from the day of calving. The estrus synchronization protocols, however. did not alter the plasma profile of these constituents. The estrus induction response with Ovsynch, CIDR, Ovsynch + CIDR, Cosynch and PGF2&alpha; treatment was 66.66, 83.33, 50.00, 66.66 and 66.66% and the conception rates at induced estrus 16.66, 33.33, 16.66, 50.00 and 50.00%, respectively. In normal cyclic control group, the conception rate at first cycle was 33.33%. The plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in conceived than non-conceived cows, particularly during early postpartum period and post-AI. It was concluded that CIDR, Cosynch and PGF2&alpha; protocols were better for estrus induction and conception rate in anestrous and subestrous suckled Kankrej cows, although they did not influence the plasma metabolic profile.</div>

Monitoring Plasma Metabolic Profile, Fertility in Normal and Estrus Synchronized Suckled Kankrej Cows

Nellore Jodipi cyclic ewes were synchronized to assess the effectiveness of two different doses of double PGF2&aacute; (Cloprostenol sodium) @ either 125 or 250 &micro;g with 9 d interval in Groups I and II based on the estrus response and fertility rate after intra cervical inseminations at 60 and 72 h after 2nd PGF2a. The estrus response (%), onset of estrus (%), duration of estrus (h) and intensity of estrus in ewes synchronized by PGF2a were 80.95 and 85.71; 50.94+3.12 and 48.00+3.40; 24.35+1.41 and 28.22+1.15 and 6.76+0.29 and 6.83+0.34 in Groups I and II, respectively. The conception rate based on 25 d non return rate was 85.71 and 80.95 % with an overall lambing rate of 71.43 and 66.67 % in Group I and II, respectively. The study revealed that the synchronization response among the treated ewes by 125 &micro;g of PGF2&aacute; was slightly lesser with higher lambing rate than 250 &micro;g of PGF2a.

Synchronization of Nellore Jodipi ewes by different doses of PGF2a 
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Background: Reproductive management of goats on large scale becomes difficult due to contributing reasons like poor estrus expression, lack of heat detection techniques, etc. Synchronization of ovulation has significantly improved the conception in cows. However, such investigations are lacking in goats. Hence, an experiment was conducted to compare the efficacy of different ovulation synchronization protocols on kidding and fecundity rates in Tellicherry goats during winter and summer seasons. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in 240 does of 60 days postpartum period in two different seasons and investigated the efficacy of different protocols, The efficacy of intravaginal sponge (group I), Ovsynch (group II), Ovsynch with sponge (group III), Co synch (group IV), Co synch with sponge (group V) and control (group VI) on kidding and fecundity rate following fixed time breeding (NS/AI) was investigated in Tellicherry goats.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The overall kidding rate recorded during winter season in natural service (NS) was 80.00 and Artificial Insemination (AI) it was 70.00 per cent and in summer season it was 60.00 and 55.00 per cent, respectively. During winter season the fecundity rates observed were 1.70, 1.60, 1.75, 1.60, 1.60 and 1.40 in group I, II, III, IV, V and VI, respectively. The corresponding values during summer season were 1.55, 1.40, 1.60, 1.45, 1.50 and 1.10, respectively. From this study, the ovsynch with intravaginal sponge protocol found to be an effective protocol for ovulation synchronization in Tellicherry goats.

Synchronization of Ovulation and Fixed Time Breeding in Tellicherry Goats

<div>Background: The indiscriminate crossbreeding is the major cause for losses as well as for risk to existing breeds. Kangayam, a pride indigenous cattle breed of Tamil Nadu, also badly affected due to this unplanned indiscriminate breeding. Urgent and immediate action is required to protect this traditional breed. Estrus synchronization would be a best tool to improve the fertility rate and increase the population of this breed under field condition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Fifty Kangayam cows selected at farmer&rsquo;s field were divided into Group I, II, III, IV (Treatment groups) and Group V (Control group). Estrus synchronization with single PGF2&alpha;, double PGF2&alpha;, CIDR+PGF2&alpha; and ovsynch protocols were used in Group I, II, III and IV cows, respectively and inseminated during induced estrus. Group V cows were inseminated during observed estrus. The pattern of estrus, fertility rate and serum hormonal profiles on different days of treatment were studied.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The conception rates were higher in double PGF2&alpha; (80 per cent) and ovsynch protocol (80%) followed by CIDR+ PGF2&alpha; (70%). The progesterone (ng/ml) concentration was significantly (P&le;0.05) higher during estrus induction with PGF2&alpha; in treatment groups than during selection and insemination. The serum estradiol-17&beta; concentration was significantly (P&le;0.05) higher during insemination (24.21&plusmn;1.74 to 25.57&plusmn;0.80 pg/ml) than during PGF2&alpha; injection (12.81&plusmn;0.25 to 13.68&plusmn;0.30 pg/ml). The study concluded that higher conception rate in indigenous Kangayam cows can be obtained with synchronization using Double PGF2&alpha; and Ovsynch protocol followed by CIDR+PGF2&alpha; protocol.</div>

Comparative Study on Effect of Different Estrus Synchronization Protocols on the Pattern of Estrus, Conception Rate and Serum Hormonal Profile in Indigenous Kangayam Cows

<div>Background: The estrous synchronization has become a worldwide available solution for modern management and large-scale cultivation of sheep. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy of three estrus synchronization protocols, CIDR9+PGF2&alpha;+eCG; CIDR14+eCG and GnRH+PGF2&alpha;, in Hu sheep. 
 
Methods: This study was conducted on 80 multiparous ewes, which were assigned into four groups: CIDR9+PGF2&alpha;+eCG; CIDR14+eCG; GnRH+PGF2&alpha; and control. Behavioral estrus was checked with teaser rams. Percentage of ewes behaving estrus at different time (0-24 h, 24-48 h, 48-72 h, respectively) was recorded. Pregnancy diagnosis was implemented on day 28 and confirmed on day 60 after insemination.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results suggested that the estrus rate, pregnancy rate, conception rate, lambing rate and prolificacy in three treatment groups have no significant difference compared with control group. Most notably, CIDR9+PGF2&alpha;+eCG and CIDR14+eCG have significantly shorter duration of pregnancy than control. While CIDR14+eCG and GnRH+PGF2&alpha; did not dramatically change the fecundity of ewes, still CIDR9+PGF2&alpha;+eCG significantly decreased the fecundity of that compared with the control. Estrus responses in CIDR9+PGF2&alpha;+eCG, CIDR14+eCG and GnRH+PGF2&alpha; groups rose gradually to attain their significantly higher percentages (56.3%, 52.9% and 66.7%, respectively) during 24-48 h post-estrous detection, afterwards, they fell down.</div>

The Efficacy of Three Different Estrus Synchronization Protocols on Reproductive Performance in Chinese Hu Sheep

Background: With the commercial introduction of sexed semen, its use has been recommended for insemination at observed estrus, avoiding the use of a fixed-time insemination due to inherent variation in success of timed programmes. The use of the Ovsynch protocol with sexed semen at defined conditions such as normal clinical and reproductive status of lactating cows might result in a pregnancy rate comparable to that achievable at insemination upon detection of spontaneous estrus with sexed semen. Considering this rationale, present research was implemented with the effect of fertility on synchronized and spontaneous estrus with sexed semen. 
 
Methods: Post-partum multiparous crossbred cows (n=28) were categorized as a group I (Spontaneous; n=14) and group II (Ovsynch; n=14). The fourteen cows from group I were inseminated with sexed semen at observed estrus after initial treatment with vitamin AD3E and H, urimin and supplemented with chelated mixture and the fourteen cows from the&nbsp; group II were synchronized with Ovsynch synchronization protocol (Inj. Buserline acetate 10 &micro;g I/M) on day 0, (Inj. Cloprostenol sodium 500 &micro;g) on day 7 and (Inj. Buserline acetate 10 &micro;g) I/M on day 9. Thereafter, timed artificial insemination (TAI) was performed 16-20 hours after 2nd dose of GnRH with sexed semen. 
 
Result: The percent intense type of intensity recorded numerically higher in induced estrus. The first service conception rate was higher in spontaneous estrus with the overall conception&nbsp; 
rate 39.28%. Cows with 60-100 days in milk was showed high conception rate with sexed semen, as the parity increases the conception rate decreases with sexed semen The overall proportion of female calves born was 90.90%.

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Fertility Assessment of Sexed Semen with Synchronized and Spontaneous Estrus in Crossbred Cows

<div>Background: Success of any estrous synchronization protocol to optimize production and reproduction in goats requires deeper insight of dynamic regulation of hormones progesterone and estradiol-17&beta;. Surti goats reared mostly by marginal livestock owners are native to Gujarat. Present study was conducted to study rhythmic changes in serum progesterone and estradiol-17&beta; in Surti goats under different synchronization protocols. 
 
Methods: 18 Surti goats were divided equally (n=6) in 3 groups viz. G1, G2 and G3 (control). G1 and G2 groups were injected with GnRH analogue (day 0 and 11) and PGF2&alpha; analogue (day 9). Progestogen sponge was kept intravaginal in G1 group (day 0) and removed (day 11) before GnRH analogue injection. G3 group (control) received placebo of 2 ml normal saline simultaneous to treatment groups. 
 
Result: Levels were higher at estrus and lower at day 30 for Estradiol-17&beta; and vice versa for progesterone. Coefficient of variation for estradiol-17&beta; at estrus and for progesterone at day 30 was lower for G1 and higher in control. It was concluded that GPG synchronization protocol with intravaginal progestogen was better to synchronize estrus and establish reproductive cyclicity in Surti goats as it effectively minimized variability of progesterone during pregnancy and estradiol-17&beta; at estrus.</div>

<div>Rhythmic Changes in Serum Progesterone and Estradiol-17&beta; in Surti Goats under Different Synchronization Protocols</div>

<div>Background: At present there is huge demand for Gir cow females however, prolonged inter calving period, more inseminations per conception and post-partum anestrus are the predominant reproductive disorder along with use of unsexed semen limit the birth of more females in Gir cows. The present research study was conducted to study the effect of sex sorted semen in synchronized estrus with Ovsynch protocol on pregnancy rate and gender ratio in Gir cows. 
 
Methods: Total twenty Gir cows that have completed post-partum period of sixty days with normal reproductive genitalia, without clinical as well as subclinical infection were selected and divided into two equal groups. The cows from both the groups were synchronized with Ovsynch protocol. In Group- I (n=10), the cows were inseminated with sex sorted semen while in Group-II, the cows were inseminated with coneventional semen. The pregnancy rate and gender ratio was recorded. 
 
Result: Efficacy of estrus synchronization was 100.00 per cent for Gir cows treated by Ovsynch protocol in both groups. The pregnancy rate was numerically lower after AI with sex sorted semen (40%) than conventional semen (50%) and results are non significant (P&lt;0.05) with 100% calving rate. The proportion of female calves born from sex sorted semen AI was 75% and from conventional semen was 60%. The proportion of live calves born from sex sorted and conventional semen AI was 100%. The sex sorted semen may be used in Ovsynch protocol in Gir cows.</div>

Effect of Sex Sorted Semen in Synchronized Estrus on Pregnancy Rate and Female Ratio in Gir Cows

Background: Estrus synchronization is a reproductive technique which used in livestock species to enhance the reproductive performances. The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of CIDR (EAZI-BREED CIDR&reg;) and Prostaglandin (PGF2&alpha;) on estrus response, ovulation time and conception rate during early breeding season of Boer goats. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A total of 20 non-pregnant does (10 for CIDR based and 10 for double PGF2&alpha; based protocol) were used for the present experiment. For CIDR based protocol (Group I), does were inserted with EAZI-BREED CIDR intravaginally containing 0.3 mg progesterone and kept for 11 days. A single dose of 125 microgram PGF2&alpha;&nbsp;was injected before 24 hrs of EAZI-BREED CIDR removal and 4 &micro;g Buserelin acetate on day of implant removal. For prostaglandin (PGF2&alpha;) protocol (Group II), does were injected intramuscularly with two doses of 125 &micro;g cloprostenol at 11-day intervals. In both the groups teaser buck was used for estrus detection and mated by selected bucks. 
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Result: Estrus response was hundred per cent in both the groups. The duration of onset of estrus (hours) was shorter (28.80&plusmn;1.20) in CIDR treated protocol than double PGF2&alpha;&nbsp;protocol (40.20&plusmn;1.30), where as the duration of estrus was longer in Group I (37.70&plusmn;0.75) hour as compared to group II (33.60&plusmn;0.54) does. Serum progesterone levels on day 0, on day 12 (24 hrs after completion of protocol) and day 35 after mating were1.31&plusmn;0.13, 0.70&plusmn;0.12 and 5.94&plusmn;1.29 respectively for Group I, where as 1.13&plusmn;0.13, 0.96&plusmn;0.14 and 3.73&plusmn;0.53 (ng/ml) were observed for Group II does. A significant difference was observed between day 12 and day 35 in both the groups but no significant difference was observed between the groups for day 0, 12 and 35. LH concentrations on the day of estrus did not vary significantly in both groups. Conception rates were 80 per cent and 60 per cent for group I and II respectively. In conclusion, the CIDR protocol provided better estrus synchronization and higher conception rates compared to the double PGF2&alpha;&nbsp;protocol, making it a more effective and reliable for estrus synchronization in Boer goats.

Comparative Studies on the Effect of Synchronization Protocols on Estrus Response, Ovulation Time and Conception Rate in Boer Goats during Early Breeding Season in Odisha

The study was designed at evaluating early postpartum ovarian activity through plasma progesterone profile at 10 days interval up to 90 days, followed by induction of estrus in postpartum anestrous suckled Kankrej cows (n=18) using Ovsynch, CIDR and Ovsynch + CIDR treatment protocols with FTAI (6 cows in each protocol), keeping six normal cyclic cows as control. The plasma P4 profile (ng/ml) varied in the range of 0.15&plusmn;0.03 to 1.70&plusmn;0.80 in treatment groups and 0.62 &plusmn;0.19 to 4.09&plusmn;1.60 in control group up to 90 days postpartum. The mean P4 concentration on the day of calving was low (&lt;1 ng/ml) in all the groups, which gradually increased to reach peak levels by day 40 in cyclic control (4.09&plusmn;1.60 ng/ml), Ovsynch (1.70&plusmn;0.80 ng/ml) and CIDR (1.68&plusmn;0.47 ng/ml) and by day 20 in Ovsynch + CIDR (1.09&plusmn;0.23 ng/ml) groups. Most of the cows turned into subestrous or anestrous condition between days 40 and 90 postpartum. The estrus induction response in Ovsynch, CIDR and Ovsynch + CIDR groups initiated at day 90-92 postpartum was 66.66, 83.33 and 50.00 per cent, respectively. The conception rates at induced estrus were 16.66, 33.33 and 16.66 per cent, and overall of 3 cycles 33.33 (2/6), 50.00 (3/3) and 33.33 (2/6) per cent, respectively. In normal cyclic control group, the conception rates at first cycle and overall of 3 cycles were 33.33 and 50.00 per cent. The mean plasma P4 (ng/ml) concentrations were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher on day 7 in Ovsynch (1.41 &plusmn;0.10), CIDR (4.92&plusmn;0.83) and Ovsynch + CIDR (3.87&plusmn;0.84) protocols as compared to their corresponding values on day 0 and day 9/10 (AI). The mean values of plasma P4 from days 20 to 40 post-AI were higher in conceived cows than in non-conceived cows of CIDR and Ovsynch + CIDR groups, compared to the animals in Ovsynch and normal cyclic groups. It is opined that the use of different protocols, mainly CIDR, may serve as an effective tool for induction and synchronization of estrus and improvement of conception rate in postpartum anestrous suckled Kankrej cows.