Accelerated Genetics

What are Synchronization programs and how can they help your herd's reproduction?

Synchronization programs facilitate reproduction management in your farm by concentrating heats into a reduced period of time (synchronization of estrus) or by allowing for programmed breeding without estrus detection (synchronization of ovulation with fixed time A.I.).

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What are the benefits to Estrus Synchronization?

1. Easy to Manage: A.I. Embryo transfers or other assisted reproduction procedures are easlily managed since cows or heifers are in estrus at a predicted time period.
2. Early Conception Rates: Females that are in the cycling phase will conceive earlier during the breeding period.
3. Labor Expenses Decrease: The time required for estrus detection is reduced in return reducing labor costs.
4. Practical: A.I. becomes more workable and stuctural.

The following guidelines are designed to give you the latest in estrus synchronization systems. From these guidelines management decisions can be made on the system that best suits your herd's reproductive goals. No cost analysis was done on the drugs involved. The features described are based on technical merit only. The synchronization protocols will be listed along with the features of each system.

To understand estrus synchronization we need to review the hormonal control of reproduction. During a normal estrus cycle gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is produced by the hypothalamus resulting in the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) by the anterior pituitary. These hormones act to cause the growth and development of follicles which are structures on the ovary housing the developing eggs. Most of the follicles will regress but one will become dominant and eventually ovulate. After ovulation a corpus luteum (CL) is formed in place of the follicle. The CL is responsible for the production of progesterone which is a hormone necessary to maintain pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur another hormone prostaglandin is released by the endometrium and acts to regress the CL thereby initiating another cycle.

CIDR Programs

Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) devices are approved for use on all dairy and beef animals in the United States.

Functional description:

• Artificial Corpus Luteum
• Natural progesterone
• Manually administered and easily removable
• Rapid increase in peripheral progesterone concentration following administration. Rapid decline in peripheral progesterone after removal.
• Similar actions as/alternative to:
• MGA
• Syncro-Mate-B®

Features:

• Tighten estrus synchronization - heifers bred in a narrow window. A tremendous time saving.
• Induces cyclicity in some anestrus animals.
• Can bring prepubertal heifers into estrus.
• Fertile heats regardless of the stage of they cycle.
• More pregnancies
• Heats demonstrated:
• 17% Controls
• 37% Lutalyse® (PGF2a)
• 80% CIDR and Lutalyse® (PGF2a)