Studies on plasma progesterone concentrations and fertility in Friesland dairy cows during the post-partum period

1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Holness ◽  
G. W. Sprowson ◽  
Carole Sheward ◽  
Amanda Geel

SUMMARYPlasma progesterone concentrations were monitored in 69 lactating Friesland dairy cows during the post-partum period. Cyclic ovarian activity resumed in most cows within 40 days of calving. Forty-eight per cent of cows remained pregnant to their first insemination, 41% returned to oestrus before day 30 after insemination, and a further 11% returned to oestrus between days 30 and 88 after insemination.The mean of progesterone values on days 11 to 4 before insemination tended to be higher in cows that conceived than in cows that did not conceive. These differences were signficant on day –8 (P <0·05) and on days –8, –7, –6 and –5 combined (P <0·01). Cows in which the concentration of progesterone in plasma did not rise above 4·5 ng/ml during this period did not conceive. After insemination, mean progesterone concentrations between pregnant and non-pregnant cows diverged after day +8. Relatively low concentrations of plasma progesterone (< 1 ng/ml) up to day +8 after insemination did not preclude conception. There was no indication that embryo loss between days +30 and +88 after insemination was related to an insufficiency of ovarian progesterone during early pregnancy.

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-156
Author(s):  
Souhayla O. Hussain

     The study was conducted to investigate and characteriz the time of uterine involution in local goats in Iraq by measuring the uterine diameter, uterine lumen (mm) and monitoring early post-partum ovarian activity as proved by Ultrasonography and progesterone assessment in local goats. 15 goats were submitted to examine from day 3 to 40 after kidding by Ultrasonography. Trans abdominal ultrasound approach was performed from day 3 to 5 after kidding and continued by trans rectal approach to follow up the uterine involution until day 40. Progesterone levels were measured starting from day of parturition, then a weekly measure until day 34 of post-partum period. Progesterone was assayed by Radio immune assay. The obtained results showed that complete of uterine involution started at day 26 (6.67) % and completed at day 34 post-partum in all does (100%). on the other hand involution of the uterus was completed at day 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33 after parturition  with a percentage of 6.67%, 13.34%, 33.34%, 40%, 46.67%, 66.67%, 73.34% and 80% respectively. Average uterine lumen (mm) from days 3-7, 8- 14, 15- 21, 22- 28, 29 -35 and 36-40 were 9.02, 5.82, 5.14, 3.51, 2.66, and 2.0 (mm) respectively. Average uterine diameter (mm) was 40.25, 33.9, 31.4, 25.57, 20 .15 and 16.35 at day 3-7, 8- 14, 15-28, 29-35 and 36-40 respectively. Regarding progesterone profile, results indicated that the mean value of the hormone was 0.267±0.005 ng /ml at parturition and the values were 0.320±0.007, 0.414±00.5, 0.536 ±0.013, and 1.945 ±0.129 ng/ ml at day 7, 14, 21 and day 30, respectively. It could be concluded that Ultrasonography image proved to be a valuable and safe tool in monitoring uterine involution and measuring of progesterone is a precise biological marker for the detection of resumption of ovarian cyclist during post-partum period.


Reproduction ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Webb ◽  
G. E. Lamming ◽  
N. B. Haynes ◽  
G. R. Foxcroft

1980 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOUISA BOULFEKHAR ◽  
ROGER BRUDIEUX

The peripheral blood concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, aldosterone and electrolytes were measured simultaneously in 16 multiparous ewes of the Tadmit Algerian breed during pregnancy and parturition. Plasma progesterone concentrations were similar to those of the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle during the first third of gestation. Between 60 and 135 days after mating, the levels of plasma progesterone increased steadily to values eight times those found in early pregnancy. However, no change was observed from days 43 to 28 before parturition. Mean progesterone concentrations declined during the 17 days preceding lambing, decreasing more quickly during the last 3 days. Pregnancy did not increase the levels of plasma cortisol and the mean values during pregnancy did not exceed 0·5 μg/100 ml until 90 days after mating. It then tended to decrease between days 57 and 17 before parturition, before rising slightly on both day 7 and on the day of lambing. Concentrations of plasma aldosterone were low during early pregnancy (about 2 ng/100 ml). Thereafter, as with progesterone, they rose from days 58 to 43, did not change from days 43 to 28 and increased again until maximum levels were reached 17 days prepartum and then levels decreased sharply until 7 days before lambing. At this stage, progesterone levels continued to decrease during the last 7 days while aldosterone concentrations once more increased. Sodium and potassium concentrations changed little during pregnancy, although the sodium: potassium ratio tended to increase during the last 17 days of pregnancy. It is suggested that changes in the levels of plasma aldosterone during gestation in the ewe are the result of the competitive inhibition of aldosterone by progesterone at a renal level and that the rise of aldosterone during the last few days of pregnancy is largely due to the stimulation of renin substrate production by oestrogens whose values are high at this period.


1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. RAJAMAHENDRAN ◽  
P. C. LAGUË ◽  
R. D. BAKER

Progesterone levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay in blood samples obtained by venipuncture on the day of estrus and every alternate day until the onset of the next estrus in eight cycling dairy heifers. The mean level of progesterone was < 1 ng/ml during the first 2 days of the cycle, increased rapidly over the 4th–12th day period and reached a peak level value of 5.2 ± 1.1 ng/ml on day 14. Thereafter, the level declined rapidly to 2.6 ± 0.6 ng/ml on day 16 and then more gradually to 0.4 ± 0.1 ng/ml on day 21. In the second experiment, eight cycling heifers at diestrus were treated with gonadotrophin (2,000 IU PMSG or 1,000 IU PMSG + 1,000 IU HCG) followed 48 h later by 15 mg prostaglandin (PGF2α). Mid-ventral laparotomies were performed 4 days after the onset of estrus to observe ovarian activity. Progesterone levels were considerably higher in some animals and were slightly higher on the average after gonadotrophin treatments. The number of corpora lutea (CL) in these heifers ranged from 1 to 17. Progesterone levels of three heifers with 4–9 CL did not differ (P > 0.05) from those of three heifers with single CL. Two heifers each with 17 CL had peak progesterone levels of 38.4 and 27.8 ng/ml which were still high (9.6 and 26.5 ng/ml) by day 21. The remaining six heifers had low progesterone levels (< 1 ng/ml) by days 8–14, indicating premature regression of the CL. Thus, progesterone levels were not correlated with the number of CL.


1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Darwash ◽  
G. L. Ward ◽  
G. E. Lamming ◽  
J. A. Woolliams

AbstractIn order to investigate the rationale of manipulating post-ovulation progesterone (P4) concentrations, luteal activity was measured in 10 Holstein-Friesian cows treated with a progesterone-releasing device (CIDR, 1·9 g P4) inserted on the morning of day 2 post-oestrus for a period of 7 days and compared with 10 untreated control animals. Milk samples were collected daily during afternoon milking from 7 days pre- to 24 days post-oestrus and P4 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The milk P4 profiles were used to assess the effects of early post-oestrus P4 elevation on five intervals of the luteal phase. In the treated (T) and control (C) animals, the mean interval from oestrus to P4 rise (≥3 μg/l), was 2·38 (s.e. 0·18) and 4·90 (s.e. 0·28) days, respectively, (P < 0·01). The mean interval from oestrus to the attainment of peak P4 concentrations was not significantly different (P > 0·05) between the T (14·75 (s.e. 1-62) days) and С (14·30 (s.e. 0·70) days) animals, with cows in the T group showing a more variable (F7 9 = 4-30, P < 0·05) interval to the occurrence of the peak. The interval from peak P4 to corpus luteum (CL) regression (when P4 fell below ≥3 μg/l) was not significantly different between the T (4·13 (s.e. 1·30 days) and С (5·60 (s.e. 0·88) days) groups. Furthermore, CIDR insertion did not alter luteal phase length, number of days with P4 concentrations ≥3 μg/l (T = 16·50 (s.e. 0·80) v.C = 15·00 (s.e. 0·47) days) or the interval from oestrus to CL regression (T = 18·88 (s.e. 0·79) v.C = 19·90 (s.e. 0·41) days). We conclude that treatment with CIDR 2 days after oestrus successfully increased the availability of P4 to cows without significantly affecting luteal phase characteristics.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. DONALDSON ◽  
J. M. BASSETT ◽  
G. D. THORBURN

SUMMARY Progesterone concentrations in the peripheral plasma of cows were measured by a protein-binding radioassay method. The mean concentration was lowest at oestrus (0·44 ng/ml) and then increased to a maximum of 6·8 ng/ml about day 14 of the 21-day cycle. The concentration decreased rapidly during the last 4 days of the cycle, reaching low levels on the day before oestrus. There were no significant changes in progesterone concentration during oestrus. After ovariectomy the plasma progesterone concentration decreased to a very low level (< 0·4 ng/ml). After hysterectomy, progesterone concentrations remained high for longer than in a normal cycle. At puberty, plasma progesterone concentrations indicated cyclic ovarian activity before the first observed oestrus. Daily treatment of cows with oxytocin (0·4 u./kg body weight) from day 2 reduced the oestrous cycle length to 9 days, but did not significantly alter the slow increase in plasma progesterone concentration during the first 5 days of the cycle. Plasma progesterone concentrations decreased again after day 5 to low values. Plasma progesterone concentration during early pregnancy was similar to the luteal phase value (4–6 ng/ml), declined during mid-pregnancy and then increased to a maximum (7–8 ng/ml) at about 240 days gestation. The concentration declined 2–3 weeks before calving. During lactation progesterone concentrations were very low until the resumption of cyclic ovarian activity. The first post-partum cycle, whether accompanied by observed oestrus or not, was usually preceded by a small increase in plasma progesterone concentration 3–5 days before the start of the cycle. Undernutrition significantly increased plasma progesterone concentrations in mid- and late pregnancy. Undernutrition of non-pregnant cows increased progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase of the first cycle, but reduced it in later cycles.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. ROBERTSON

The progesterone concentration in peripheral plasma has been measured sequentially in individual cows during the estrous cycle, gestation, at parturition, and post-partum. During the estrous cycle the concentration was lowest just before, during, and just after estrus when the level (0.1–0.4 ng/ml) was similar to that found in three ovariectomized cows. The concentration commenced to rise on the 4th–6th day (day of estrus = 1st day), reached a peak of 3–6 ng/ml on the 11th–13th day, and dropped rapidly over a 24–48-hr period to a basal value 24–72 hr before the next estrus. In early pregnancy, the plasma progesterone concentration was similar to the maximum levels found during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Between 90 and 150 days there was an indication of a decline to a relatively low plasma progesterone concentration followed by a variable rise. Prior to parturition, there was a gradual decline over a period of 35–70 days reaching a level of <2.0 ng/ml the day before parturition. Following parturition, the level remained at <0.5 ng/ml until the first sign of the resumption of cyclic activity. The time for this to occur was very variable (20–>60 days). Although not conclusive, the evidence favors the view that for estrous behavior to occur, estrus must be preceded by luteal activity. The discharge of mucus can occur without previous luteal activity.


2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Darwash ◽  
G. E. Lamming ◽  
M. D. Royal

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) and progesterone (P4) treatment in initiating oestrus and ovulation post partum (PP) in Holstein-Friesian cows. Using four herds, the treatment protocol consisted of a single intra-muscular injection of PGF2α(Estrumate) between days 12 to 14 PP followed 48 h later by progesterone treatment via intra-vaginal CIDR insertion for a period of 7 days. Milk samples for progesterone determination were collected three times weekly from 7 to 65 days PP. The ovarian activity and reproductive performance of treated (T, no. = 153) animals and untreated control cows (C, no. = 315) were compared. Treatment was effective (P< 0·001) in reducing the mean interval to PP commencement of luteal activity from 29·62 (s.e. 0·82) days to 22·09 (s.e. 0·70) days. The mean interval to first PP oestrus in the T animals was significantly reduced (P< 0·001) from 55·62 (s.e. 1·58) days to 44·91 (s.e. 1·44) days and the incidence of silent ovulation in cycles between days 21 to 65 PP was reduced (P< 0·001) from 56·28% to 42·27%. In two herds under one management regime and with a similar block-calving pattern (no. = 280 animals), the treatment protocol was beneficial to the overall reproductive performance as there was a significant shortening in the mean interval to first PP service (75·82 (s.e. 1·93) v. 80·86 (s.e. 1·32) days) and in the interval to PP conception (83·07 (s.e. 2·49) v. 88·90 (s.e. 1·95) days), bothP< 0·05.


Reproduction ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 569-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Savio ◽  
M. P. Boland ◽  
N. Hynes ◽  
J. F. Roche

1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Amir ◽  
Miriam Rosenberg ◽  
H. Schindler

SummaryThe seasonal and post-partum oestrus occurrence and ovarian activity, assessed by the plasma progesterone concentrations, were studied in Finn-cross ewes following autumn and winter lambings.The last seasonal oestrous cycle was followed by a silent ovulation in C0% of the Finn × Awassi ewes. Silent ovulations during midanoestrus occurred in 50% of the ewes, and in 90% of the animals a silent ovulation preceded the normal resumption of the seasonal sexual activity.The first post-partum oestrus occurred within C0 days after October lambings in about 90% of the ewes. Silent ovulations before the first post-partum oestrus were evident in 70% of the recycling ewes.It is suggested that breeding ewes with ovarian activity after oestrus induction during anoestrous periods might increase the reproductive performance of the flock in a frequent lambing system.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document