Application of low dose of equine chorionic gonadotropin at acupoint Hou Hai for fixed-time artificial insemination in beef cows

This study evaluated the efficiency application of low dose of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) using Hou Hai acupoint for fixed-term artificial insemination (FTAI) in beef cows. Seventy cows received intravaginal devices with progesterone, and 3 mg of estradiol benzoate on day zero (D0) of FTAI. On D9, the devices were removed, and 150 mu g of prostaglandin F2 alpha was applied; the animals were then randomly distributed to three treatment groups: T1 (n = 23), 300 IU of eCG intramuscularly (IM); T2 (n = 23), 90 IU of eCG at acupoint Hou Hai; and T3 (n = 25), 90 IU of eCG at false acupoint IM. On D10, the animals received 1 mg of gonadotropin-releasing hormone IM, and FTAI was performed, 52 h after the devices were removed. The quantitative variables with normal distribution were assessed using analysis of variance at 5% probability. For variables that did not show normal distribution, Kruskal-Wallis test at 5% probability was used. No significant difference was noted among the groups (P > 0.05) for the interval between device withdrawal at ovulation (58.2 +/- 12.2 h), diameter of the largest follicle on D9 (9.9 +/- 2.2 mm), diameters of the ovulatory follicle (12.2 +/- 3.0 nun) and the second largest follicle (6.7 +/- 2.1 mm), follicular growth rate (0.8 +/- 0.3 mm/d), ovulation rate (82%), corpus luteum size (2.32 +/- 0.35 cm(2)), and pregnancy rate (58.67%). The protocol cost per animal was US$ 10.67 (T1) and US$ 8.50 (T2 and T3). The use of 90 IU of eCG applied at Hou Hai acupoint or at false acupoint caused satisfactory synchronization of estrus in beef cows. In addition, this procedure was cost-effective.