Success of artificial insemination based on expression of estrus and the addition of GnRH to an estradiol/progesterone-based protocol on pregnancy rates in lactating dairy cows.

Three experiments evaluated the effects of insemination based on estrus expression or treatment with GnRH, on the time of ovulation and pregnancy rates to AI (P/AI) in dairy cows. All cows were treated with a P4 device for 8 d, estradiol benzoate at device insertion and prostaglandin F2α, estradiol cypionate and eCG at device removal. In Experiment 1, P/AI was less (P < 0.01) when all cows were inseminated at 48 h after device removal (31%) than when cows showing estrus at 48 h were inseminated at that time and those not in estrus received GnRH and were inseminated 12 h later (53%). In Experiment 2, cows in estrus by 48 h ovulated earlier than cows that were not in estrus but received GnRH and those that did not receive GnRH. Cows that were in estrus and inseminated at 48 h (47.8%) and those not in estrus at 48 h but inseminated at 60 h (53.4%) had greater P/AI (P < 0.05) than cows that were in estrus at 48 h but were inseminated at 60 h (29.7%) or inseminated at 48 h in the absence of estrus (19.4%). In Experiment 3, GnRH treatment of cows not showing estrus at 48 h and inseminated at 60 h had greater P/AI (58.5%; P < 0.05) than those not treated with GnRH but inseminated at 60 h (39.5%). Artificial insemination based on estrus expression and the inclusion of GnRH in those not in estrus increased P/AI in lactating dairy cows.