Effect of repeated low doses of GnRH analogue (buserelin) on fertility performance of dairy cows with anovulation type I.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fertility response of dairy cows with anovulation type I on repeated low doses of GnRH agonist buserelin. The study was conducted on 83 anovulatory and 60 cyclic Polish Holstein Friesian cows. Anovulation type I was defined as small ovaries with follicles of ≤ 5 mm in diameter and without corpus luteum on two examinations in a 7-10 day interval between 50-60 days after parturition. Cows from the experimental group (n=58) received 0.4 μg of buserelin i.m. once a day for 5 consecutive days. Cows from the negative control group (n = 25) received saline. Sixty cyclic cows receiving no treatment served as positive controls. Intervals from calving to estrus and from calving to conception, pregnancy rate 30-35 days and 260 days after AI, and pregnancy loss were calculated. The anovulatory cows had a substantially prolonged calving to conception interval, decreased pregnancy rate and increased pregnancy loss and culling rate compared to cyclic herd mates. The average calving to conception interval was significantly (p⟨0.05) shorter in treated cows compared to non-treated anovulatory cows (153.7 days vs 209.3 days). In conclusion, repeated low doses of GnRH analogue buserelin led to a significant shortening of calving to conception interval. More clinical trials are needed to determine the practical usefulness of this method for the treatment of anovulation type I in dairy cows.