The requirement of GnRH at the beginning of the five-day CO-Synch plus controlled internal drug release protocol in beef heifers

The objective of this study was to determine if the omission of GnRH at controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) insertion would impact pregnancy rates to timed AI (TAI) in beef heifers enrolled in a 5-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol that used 1 PGF(2 alpha) dose given at CIDR removal. Yearling beef heifers in Ohio in 2 consecutive breeding seasons (2011, n = 151, and 2012, n = 143; Angus x Simmental), Utah (2012, n = 265; Angus x Hereford), Idaho (2012, n = 127; Charolais), and Wyoming (2012, n = 137; Angus) were enrolled in the 5-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. At CIDR insertion (d - 5), heifers were randomly assigned either to receive 100 mu g GnRH (GnRH+; n = 408) or not to receive GnRH (GnRH-; n = 415). At CIDR removal (d 0 of the experiment), 25 mg PGF(2 alpha) was administered to all heifers. All heifers were inseminated by TAI and given 100 mu g GnRH 72 h after PGF(2 alpha) (d 3). In heifers at the Ohio locations (n = 294), presence of a corpus luteum (CL) at CIDR insertion (d -5) was determined via assessment of progesterone concentrations (2011) and ovarian ultrasonography (2012). Subsequently, in both years, ovarian ultrasound was conducted on d 0 to determine the presence of a new CL. In this same subgroup of heifers, blood samples for progesterone analysis were collected on d 3 to assess luteal regression. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed between 32 and 38 d after TAI. At CIDR withdrawal, presence of a new CL was greater (P < 0.05) in the GnRH+ (55.8%, 82/147) than GnRH- (26.5%, 39/147) treatment. Incidence of failed luteal regression did not differ between the GnRH+ (3.4%) and GnRH- (0.7%) treatments. Pregnancy rate to TAI did not differ between the GnRH+ (50.5%) and GnRH- (54.9%) treatments. In conclusion, although the incidence of a new CL at CIDR removal was increased in the GnRH+ treatment, omission of the initial GnRH treatment in the 5-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol did not influence TAI pregnancy rate in yearling beef heifers. In addition, a single dose of PGF(2 alpha) at CIDR removal was effective at inducing luteolysis in yearling beef heifers enrolled in the 5-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol, regardless of whether or not the initial GnRH treatment was given.