Gonadotrophin releasing hormone treatment of holstein cows with follicular cysts monitored by skim milk progesterone determination

ABSTRACT

Progesterone was assayed in skim milk fraction of 38 cystic cows, 26 [68.4%] of which had basal [< 0.5 ng/ml] progesterone concentration and were diagnosed as having follicular cysts. These cows were allotted at random to one of 3 treatments First, to sham injection of sterile water in 7 cows as controls, second, a single injection [1 mg] of GnRH analog in 8 cows, third, double injections [1 mg] of GnRH analog at 7 day interval in all cows. According to rectal palpation confirmed by skim milk progesterone determination, the double injection group responded well [P <0.05] compared to the single injection and control groups [81.8% vs 62.5% vs 42.9%]. The interval from calving to first insemination, interval from treatment to conception were significantly [P <0.01] shorter in the double- injection group than in the other two groups. Moreover, the conception rate to first insemination was significantly [P <0.05] higher [63.6% vs 37.5% vs 42.9%]. The data provide an evidence for reduction in infertility and reproductive disorders in cystic cows given double injections of GnRH