Effect of injectable trace mineral complex supplementation on development of ovarian structures and serum copper and zinc concentrations in over-conditioned Holstein cows

•Follicular and corpus luteum development is not affected by trace mineral injection.•Trace mineral injection not affected serum copper and zinc concentrations in cattle.•Trace mineral injection can be advantageous to improve fertility in obese cattle.

This study evaluated the effect of injecting trace minerals on reproductive performance in over-conditioned Holstein cows before synchronized estrus. Multiparous non-lactating, over-conditioned repeat breeder cows (n = 20) were assigned randomly to one of two treatments: 1) control (n = 10), and 2) supplementation with an injectable trace mineral complex 25 days before expected synchronized estrus (n = 10). Follicular waves were synchronized by intravaginal insertion of a CIDR for eight days and an intramuscular (i.m.) injection of a GnRH analogue. Estrus was induced at CIDR removal by an i.m. injection of PGF2α. Blood samples were collected before and after synchronized estrus. The response variables were follicle population (FP), diameter of the preovulatory follicle at CIDR removal (DFP0) and at estrus detection (DFP1), time of estrus after CIDR removal (TE), area of corpus luteum (ACL), pregnancy rate and copper and zinc serum concentrations. The statistical analysis of the variables was carried out with SAS. The FP, DFP0, DFP1, TE, ACL and serum concentrations of copper and zinc were not affected by the trace mineral injection (P > 0.05). Even though pregnancy rate at 40 (77.78 ± 13.46 vs 44.44 ± 16.56%) and 60 days after AI (66.67 ± 15.71 vs 33.33 ± 15.71%) was numerically higher for cows injected with trace minerals than for the control group, the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, while follicular and corpus luteum development were not affected by trace mineral injection, it may be a feasible way to increase the pregnancy rate in over-conditioned cows.