CSIRO Publishing Books Journals About Us Shopping Cart You are here: Journals > Animal Production Science   
Animal Production Science
  Food, Fibre and Pharmaceuticals from Animals
 
Search
 
 
  Advanced Search
   

Journal Home
About the Journal
Editorial Board
Contacts
Content
Online Early
Current Issue
Just Accepted
All Issues
Special Issues
Research Fronts
Reviews
Sample Issue
For Authors
General Information
Notes for Authors
Submit Article
Open Access
For Referees
General Information
Review Article
Annual Referee Index
For Subscribers
Subscription Prices
Customer Service
Print Publication Dates

 Early Alert
Subscribe to our Email Alert or RSS feeds for the latest journal papers.

 Connect with us
facebook   youtube

Training

Publication Workshops


 

Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 50(1)

Exposure to androgenised steers did not improve the fertility obtained in progesterone-based fixed-timed artificial insemination programs in extensively managed cows and heifers

R. Ungerfeld

Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay. Email: rungerfeld@gmail.com
 
PDF (91 KB) $25
 Export Citation
 Print
  


Abstract

Biostimulation – the stimulation of females’ reproductive activity by the presence of males – has been used to stimulate postpartum rebreeding in cows, and to advance puberty in heifers. The objective of the present experiment was to determine whether previous exposure to androgenised steers improves conception rates after a progesterone-based fixed-timed artificial insemination program applied during spring. Three trials were carried out between October and January (spring–early summer) with a total of 903 Hereford and Hereford × Angus cows and heifers. All of the females were isolated from male contact (minimum distance = 4000 m) 3 months before the beginning of the experiments. While one group (EXP) in each trial was exposed to androgenised steers for 20 days, the other group (ISO) remained isolated from males (bulls, steers) during the experiment. In trial 1, 248 and 267 heifers were included in the EXP and ISO groups, respectively; in trial 2, 141 and 134 spring calving cows were used for the same treatments; and in trial 3, 53 and 60 autumn-calving cows were respectively included in the experimental groups. All animals were joined and a traditional progesterone-based fixed-timed artificial insemination program was applied to all of them. Pregnancy was determined 45–50 days after insemination with transrectal ultrasound. There were no differences between the EXP and ISO groups in any of the trials. The general conception rate was 54.6, 50.2 and 54.0% in trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Overall, it was concluded that exposition to androgenised steers does not improve the fertility obtained in progesterone-based fixed-timed artificial insemination programs in extensively managed cows and heifers.

Keywords: male effect, pheromones, socio-sexual stimulus.


   
Subscriber Login
Username:
Password:  

    


 
Top  Email this page
 
Legal & Privacy | Contact Us | Help

CSIRO

© CSIRO 1996-2012