Comparison of synchronization of ovulation with timed insemination and exogenous progesterone as therapeutic strategies for ovarian cysts in lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the Ovsynch and controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) protocols under commercial conditions for the treatment of cystic ovarian disease in dairy cattle. A total of 401 lactating dairy cows with ovarian cysts were alternatively allocated to two treatment groups on the day of diagnosis. Cows in the Ovsynch group were treated with GnRH on Day 0, PGF2α on Day 7, GnRH on Day 9, with timed insemination 16–20 h later. Cows in the CIDR group were treated with a CIDR insert on Day 0 for 7 days; on Day 7, the CIDR was removed, and cows were treated with PGF2α. All cows in the CIDR group were observed for estrus and cows exhibiting estrus within 7 days following removal of the CIDR and PGF2α administration were inseminated. The outcomes of interest for this experiment were the likelihood to be inseminated, return to cyclicity (determined by a CL on Day 21), conception and pregnancy rates. Data for these variables were analyzed using logistic regression. The percentage of cows inseminated in the Ovsynch and CIDR groups were 82 and 44%, respectively. Cows in the Ovsynch group were 5.8 times more likely to be inseminated than cows in the CIDR group. Cows with a low BCS were 0.48 times less likely to be inseminated than cows with a high BCS. The percentage of cows with a CL on Day 21 for the Ovsynch and CIDR groups was 83 and 79%, respectively (P > 0.05). Cows with a low BCS were 0.49 times less likely to have CL on Day 21 than cows with a high BCS. Conception and pregnancy rates for cows in the Ovsynch group were 18.3 and 14.4%, respectively. Conception and pregnancy rates for cows in the CIDR group were 23.1 and 9.5%, respectively. There was no significant differences between conception or pregnancy rates in cows in both groups. Primiparous cows were 2.6 times more likely to conceive than multiparous cows. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that fertility was not different between cows with ovarian cysts treated with either the Ovsynch or the CIDR protocols in this dairy herd. In addition, primiparous cows had an increased likelihood for conception compared to multiparous cows, and cows with a low BCS were less likely to be inseminated or have a CL on Day 21, regardless of treatment.