Effects of GnRH Administered to Cows at the Onset of Estrus on Timing of Ovulation, Endocrine Responses, and Conception

Two experiments examined effects of GnRH administered within 3 h after onset of estrus (OE) on ovulation and conception in dairy cows. In experiment 1, 46 cows received either saline, 250 μg of GnRH, or 10 μg of the GnRH analogue, Buserelin. Cows were observed for estrus, blood samples were collected, and ovulations were monitored by ultrasound. In controls, 76% of cows had intervals from estrus to ovulation of ≤ 30 h and 24% had intervals > 30 h. Treatment with either GnRH or GnRH analogue (data combined) increased magnitude of LH surges and decreased intervals from estrus to LH surge or to ovulation. Treated cows all ovulated ≤ 30 h after OE. Among control cows, plasma estradiol concentrations before estrus correlated positively with amplitudes of LH surges. Higher plasma progesterone was observed in the subsequent estrous cycle in GnRH-treated cows compared to control cows with delayed ovulations. Experiment 2 included 152 primiparous and 211 multiparous cows in summer and winter. Injection of GnRH analogue at OE increased conception rates (CR) from 41.3 to 55.5% across seasons. In summer, GnRH treatment increased CR from 35.1 to 51.6%. Across seasons, GnRH increased CR from 36.0 to 61.5% in cows with lower body condition at insemination and GnRH increased CR (63.2 vs. 42.2%) in primiparous cows compared to controls. Use of GnRH eliminated differences in CR for cows inseminated early or late relative to OE and increased CR in cows having postpartum reproductive disorders. In conclusion, GnRH at onset of estrus increased LH surges, prevented delayed ovulation, and may increase subsequent progesterone concentrations. Treatments with GnRH increased conception in primiparous cows, during summer, and in cows with lower body condition.