Certain hormonal profiles of postpartum anestrus jersey crossbred cows treated with controlled internal drug release and ovsynch protocol

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and Its Agonists in Bovine Reproduction II: Diverse Applications during Insemination, Post-Insemination, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Periods

The administration of GnRH and its agonists benefits various aspects of bovine reproductive programs, encompassing physiological stages such as estrous synchronization, post-insemination, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. The positive impact of GnRH administration in overcoming challenges like repeat breeder cows, early embryonic loss prevention, and the management of cystic ovarian disease (COD) is thoroughly surveyed. Furthermore, this review focuses on the significance of GnRH administration during the postpartum period, its role in ovulation induction, and how it enhances the productivity of embryo transfer (ET) programs. An emerging feature of this field is introduced, focusing on nano-drug delivery systems for GnRH agonists, and the potential benefits that may arise from such advancements are highlighted. While this review offers valuable insights into various applications of GnRH in bovine reproduction, it emphasizes the crucial need for further research and development in this field to advance reproductive efficiency and health management in dairy cattle.

Ovarian activity, hormone profile, pro-inflammatory cytokines and reproductive performance of buffalo cows fed diets with different estrogenicity

Buffalo cows play a vital role in milk and meat production; however, they are characterised by several reproductive disorders. Feeding diets with high oestrogenic activity may be a disrupting factor. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding roughages with different oestrogenic activity on the reproductive performance of early postpartum buffalo cows. A total of 30 buffalo cows were equally stratified into two experimental groups and fed either Trifolium alexandrinum (Berseem clover, phytoestrogenic roughage) or corn silage (nonoestrogenic roughage) for 90 consecutive days. After 35 days from the beginning of the feeding treatments, buffalo cows in both groups were synchronized for oestrus using a double i.m. injection of 2 mL prostaglandin F2α , 11 days apart, subsequently, overt signs of oestrus were observed and recorded. Moreover, ovarian structures, numbers and sizes of follicles and corpora lutea, were ultrasonography examined at day-12 (represents Day 35 of feeding treatment), Day 0 (day of oestrus) and Day 11 after oestrous synchronization (mid-luteal phase). Pregnancy was diagnosed 35 days postinsemination. Blood serum samples were analysed for progesterone (P4 ), estradiol (E2 ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interlukein-1β (IL-1β) and nitric oxide (NO). The high performance liquid chromatography-analysis of roughages showed the abundance of isoflavones in Berseem clover, with about 58 times higher concentration than that in corn silage group. During the experimental period, the numbers of ovarian follicles of all size categories were higher in the Berseem clover group than that in the corn silage group. No significant difference in the numbers of corpora lutea was observed between both experimental groups, but lower (p < 0.05) diameter of corpus luteum was observed in the Berseem clover group than that in the corn silage group. The Berseem clover group had higher (p < 0.05) overall concentrations of blood serum E2 , IL-1β and TNF-α, but lower (p < 0.05) overall concentrations of blood serum P4 than those recorded in the corn silage group. Oestrous rate, onset of oestrus time and oestrous duration were not significantly affected by the treatment. The conception rate was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the Berseem clover group compared with that in the corn silage group. In conclusion, feeding roughage with a high oestrogenic activity such as Berseem clover can negatively affect the conception rate of buffalo cows. This reproductive loss seems to be associated with inadequate luteal function and P4 concentration during early pregnancy.

Effect of progesterone coated nano fibre dermal patch (ProSync-NF) on cattle diagnosed with Anestrus and silent or unobserved estrus

Transdermal Progesterone therapy for the treatment of True and False anestrus was evaluated by using the product ProSync-nano fibre (NF) dermal patch. Eighteen (N = 18) randomly selected animals from different dairy farms during the farm visit by this centre were used for the study. The animals which were reported to be not exhibiting estrus signs even after prolonged postpartum period were designated into three groups. Group I (n = 7) had no palpable ovarian structures treated with ProSync-NF alone, Group II (n = 9) had corpus luteum, treated with ProSync-NF + PGF2 and Group III (n = 2) animals were diagnosed as having cyst were also treated with ProSync-NF + PGF2. Group III animals which were diagnosed with cystic condition did not respond to ProSync-NF therapy. Out of eighteen animals totally used in this study fifteen (83.3%) animals evinced estrus after the treatment with ProSync-NF. Out of fifteen, nine (60%) and six (40%) animals showed estrus around 3 days (72 h) and 5 days (120 h) after dermal patch removal. Overall, out of the 18 animals treated with ‘ProSync–NF’ dermal patch, ten cows (55.5%) conceived which indicates fertile estrus induction at the first service. Moreover, the clinical problem like vaginitis would not occur when using dermal route Progesterone therapy. Hence it could be concluded that ‘ProSync-NF’ dermal patch could be effectively used to induce estrus in anestrus cows.

1H NMR plasma metabolomic profiling of ovarian quiescence in energy balanced postpartum dairy cows

Background: As the milk production of dairy cows increases, the reproductive capacity gradually declines. Ovarian quiescence has become one of the concerns of the dairy industry.

Objective: To explore the different plasma metabolite levels between estrus and anestrus in energy balanced (EB) dairy cows.

Methods: Ten estrous and 10 anestrus EB Holstein cows in early lactation were selected for the study. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance technology was used to detect plasma metabolites and screen different plasma metabolites between anestrous and estrous cows at 60–90 days postpartum using multivariate statistical analysis.

Results: Within an elective waiting period of 60−90 days postpartum mean plasma concentration of total estrogens was significantly higher in estrus cows as compared to anestrus cows (71.2 ± 26.0 and 42.4 ± 16.7 pg/mL, respectively). Seven plasma metabolites (isoleucine, leucine, valine, alanine, arginine, choline and phosphatecholine) demonstrated significant decreases in estrous dairy cows relative to anestrous subjects. The main pathway was leucine, isoleucine and valine biosynthesis.

Conclusion: Anestrus in dairy cows is accompanied by alterations in amino acid, glucose and lipid metabolism based on ¹H NMR analysis.