Soil erosion, sediment sources, connectivity and suspended sediment yields in UK temperate agricultural catchments: Discrepancies and reconciliation of field-based measurements.

Robust understanding of the fine-grained sediment cascades of temperate agricultural catchments is essential for supporting targeted management for addressing the widely reported sediment problem. Within the UK, many independent field-based measurements of soil erosion, sediment sources and catchment suspended sediment yields have been published. However, attempts to review and assess the compatibility of these measurements are limited. The data available suggest that landscape scale net soil erosion rates (∼38 t km-2 yr-1 for arable and ∼26 t km-2 yr-1 grassland) are comparable to the typical suspended sediment yield of a UK catchment (∼44 t km2 yr-1). This finding cannot, however, be reconciled easily with current prevailing knowledge that agricultural topsoils dominate sediment contributions to watercourses, and that catchment sediment delivery ratios are typically low. Channel bank erosion rates can be high at landscape scale (27 km-2 yr-1) and account for these discrepancies but would need to be the dominant sediment source in most catchments, which does not agree with a review of sediment sources for the UK made in the recent past. A simple and robust colour-based sediment source tracing method using hydrogen peroxide sample treatment is therefore used in fifteen catchments to investigate their key sediment sources. Only in two of the catchments are eroding arable fields likely to be important sediment sources, supporting the alternative hypothesis that bank erosion is likely to be the dominant source of sediment in many UK catchments. It is concluded that the existing lines of evidence on the individual components of the fine sediment cascade in temperate agricultural catchments in the UK are difficult to reconcile and run the risk of best management interventions being targeted inappropriately. Recommendations for future research to address paucities in measured erosion rates, sediment delivery ratios and suspended sediment yields, validate sediment source fingerprinting results, consider the sources of sediment-associated organic matter, and re-visit soil erosion and sediment cascade model parameterisation are therefore made.

Using the colour of recent overbank sediment deposits in two large catchments to determine sediment sources for targeting mitigation of catchment-specific management issues.

The effective management of sediment losses in large river systems is essential for maintaining the water resources and ecosystem services they provide. However, budgetary, and logistical constraints often mean that the understanding of catchment sediment dynamics necessary to deliver targeted management is unavailable. This study trials the collection of accessible recently deposited overbank sediment and the measurement of its colour using an office document scanner to identify the evolution of sediment sources rapidly and inexpensively in two large river catchments in the UK. The River Wye catchment has experienced significant clean-up costs associated with post-flood fine sediment deposits in both rural and urban areas. In the River South Tyne, fine sand is fouling potable water extraction and fine silts degrade salmonid spawning habitats. In both catchments, samples of recently deposited overbank sediment were collected, fractionated to either <25 µm or 63-250 µm, and treated with hydrogen peroxide to remove organic matter before colour measurement. In the River Wye catchment, an increased contribution from sources over the geological units present in a downstream direction was identified and was attributed to an increasing proportion of arable land. Numerous tributaries draining different geologies allowed for overbank sediment to characterise material on this basis. In the River South Tyne catchment, a downstream change in sediment source was initially found. The River East Allen was identified as a representative and practical tributary sub-catchment for further investigation. The collection of samples of channel bank material and topsoils therein allowed channel banks to be identified as the dominant sediment source with an increasing but small contribution from topsoils in a downstream direction. In both study catchments, the colour of overbank sediments could quickly and inexpensively inform the improved targeting of catchment management measures.

A rapid and inexpensive colour-based sediment tracing method incorporating hydrogen peroxide sample treatment as an alternative to quantitative source fingerprinting for catchment management.

Accessible sediment provenance information is highly desirable for guiding targeted interventions for reducing excess diffuse agricultural sediment losses to water. Conventional sediment source fingerprinting methods can provide this information, but at high cost, thereby limiting their widespread application for catchment management. The use of sediment colour measured using an office document scanner represents an easy, fast, and inexpensive alternative method to trace sediment sources. However, the potential for poor source discrimination and its non-conservatism due to enrichment in sediment organic matter content during sediment transport represent possible limitations to its use. As such, the treatment of samples using hydrogen peroxide to remove organic matter can potentially improve source discrimination based upon geology or soil type, and the mapping of differences in colour between source and sediment samples removing the need for a priori source groups, were trialled in a new colour-based tracing framework. The River Avon in southwest England and Holbeck/Wath Beck in northeast England were studied as they have been identified as being of high priority for the targeting of on-farm advice delivered through a long-running agri-environment initiative. In both catchments, colour was effective at identifying that a small proportion of each which would be considered as being low erosion risk was the dominant source of the sampled sediment. This was due to poor connectivity between fields deemed to be at high risk of erosion and stream channels. The hydrogen peroxide sample treatment confirmed that sediment colour was not significantly altered by enrichment in organic matter content. This treament and the mapped comparison between source and suspended sediment colour improved source discrimination allowing for the more spatially-refined identification of critical sediment source areas. It is argued that this new inexpensive procedure can potentially deliver more precise and reliable information to catchment managers than costly quantitative sediment source fingerprinting methods. This method can greatly increase the availability of catchment-specific sediment source data and therefore the robust targeting of management efforts on a national scale.

Does cattle and sheep grazing under best management significantly elevate sediment losses? Evidence from the North Wyke Farm Platform, UK.

PURPOSE: Intensive livestock grazing has been associated with an increased risk of soil erosion and concomitant negative impacts on the ecological status of watercourses. Whilst various mitigation options are promoted for reducing livestock impacts, there is a paucity of data on the relationship between stocking rates and quantified sediment losses. This evidence gap means there is uncertainty regarding the cost-benefit of policy preferred best management. METHODS: Sediment yields from 15 hydrologically isolated field scale catchments on a heavily instrumented ruminant livestock farm in the south west UK were investigated over ~ 26 months spread across 6 years. Sediment yields were compared to cattle and sheep stocking rates on long-term, winter (November-April), and monthly timescales. The impacts of livestock on soil vegetation cover and bulk density were also examined. Cattle were tracked using GPS collars to determine how grazing related to soil damage. RESULTS: No observable impact of livestock stocking rates of 0.15-1.00 UK livestock units (LU) ha-1 for sheep, and 0-0.77 LU ha-1 for cattle on sediment yields was observed at any of the three timescales. Cattle preferentially spent time close to specific fences where soils were visually damaged. However, there was no indication that livestock have a significant effect on soil bulk density on a field scale. Livestock were housed indoors during winters when most rainfall occurs, and best management practices were used which when combined with low erodibility clayey soils likely limited sediment losses. CONCLUSION: A combination of clayey soils and soil trampling in only a small proportion of the field areas lead to little impact from grazing livestock. Within similar landscapes with best practice livestock grazing management, additional targeted measures to reduce erosion are unlikely to yield a significant cost-benefit. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11368-021-02909-y.

The potential for colour to provide a robust alternative to high-cost sediment source fingerprinting: Assessment using eight catchments in England.

Excess diffuse fine sediment losses from agriculture are associated with a reduction in the ecological status of lakes and rivers. Agri-environment initiatives aim to help reduce these excessive losses through targeted on-farm advice and capital grants. However, to deliver optimum cost-benefit such initiatives must target the most important sediment sources. Sediment source fingerprinting provides an approach by which sediment provenance data can be generated; however, conventional tracers are expensive and state-of-the-art data processing for source discrimination and apportionment requires significant expertise. In consequence, sediment fingerprinting is not routinely used for catchment management. Against this context, sediment colour measured using an ordinary document scanner is trialled as an inexpensive and accessible tracer in eight catchments classed as high priority for an agri-environment initiative in England. Colour is interpreted using simple scatter bi-plots of source and sediment samples and compared to the results produced by a conventional composite tracer sediment source fingerprinting methodology. It was found that in two study catchments, sediment colour was as effective as conventional sediment fingerprinting. In four catchments, sediment colour provided less source discrimination or minor differences in results but still identified the most important targets for sediment mitigation. In two catchments, colour was un-successful; however, significant challenges were also encountered with more conventional tracers due to specific local conditions. The findings suggest that use of low-cost colour tracers by non-experts has the potential to significantly increase the uptake of sediment source tracing to improve the cost-benefit of agri-environment initiatives combating the degradation of water quality and aquatic ecology by accelerated sediment losses.

Current advisory interventions for grazing ruminant farming cannot close exceedance of modern background sediment loss - Assessment using an instrumented farm platform and modelled scaling out.

Water quality impairment by elevated sediment loss is a pervasive problem for global water resources. Sediment management targets identify exceedance or the sediment loss 'gap' requiring mitigation. In the UK, palaeo-limnological reconstruction of sediment loss during the 100-150 years pre-dating the post-World War II intensification of agriculture, has identified management targets (0.20-0.35 t ha-1 yr-1) representing 'modern background sediment delivery to rivers'. To assess exceedance on land for grazing ruminant farming, an integrated approach combined new mechanistic evidence from a heavily-instrumented experimental farm platform and a scaling out framework of modelled commercial grazing ruminant farms in similar environmental settings. Monitoring (2012-2016) on the instrumented farm platform returned sediment loss ranges of 0.11-0.14 t ha-1 yr-1 and 0.21-0.25 t ha-1 yr-1 on permanent pasture, compared with between 0.19-0.23 t ha-1 yr-1 and 0.43-0.50 t ha-1 yr-1and 0.10-0.13 t ha-1 yr-1and 0.25-0.30 t ha-1 yr-1 on pasture with scheduled plough and reseeds. Excess sediment loss existed on all three farm platform treatments but was more extensive on the two treatments with scheduled plough and reseeds. Excessive sediment loss from land used by grazing ruminant farming more strategically across England, was estimated to be up to >0.2 t ha-1 yr-1. Modelled scenarios of alternative farming futures, based on either increased uptake of interventions typically recommended by visual farm audits, or interventions selected using new mechanistic understanding for sediment loss from the instrumented farm platform, returned minimum sediment loss reductions. On the farm platform these were 2.1 % (up to 0.007 t ha-1 yr-1) and 5.1 % (up to 0.018 t ha-1 yr-1). More strategically, these were up to 2.8 % (0.014 t ha-1 yr-1) and 4.1 % (0.023 t ha-1 yr-1). Conventional on-farm measures will therefore not fully mitigate the sediment loss gap, meaning that more severe land cover change is required.

Sediment loss in response to scheduled pasture ploughing and reseeding: The importance of soil moisture content in controlling risk.

Soil water regimes have been shown to have important implications for the erosion risks associated with land management decisions. Despite this, there remains a paucity of information on soil moisture thresholds for farm management operations including the periodic ploughing and reseeding of improved pasture used for ruminant farming. Against this background, this study analysed sediment loss monitored on a heavily instrumented farm platform, in SW England, over four phases of ploughing and reseeding. Precipitation and sediment yields were highly variable between the ten different field scale catchments on the experimental platform after reseeds. Post-plough period rainfall ranged between 461-1121 mm and corresponding sediment yields between 0.20 - 3.13 t. ha-1 yr-1. The post-plough and reseeding periods accounted for a very high proportion (mean 28.8 %) of monitored sediment fluxes over the study (2012-2019) despite only covering an average of 10.9 % of the 2002 days of flume monitoring. Post-plough sediment yields were highest (2.57 t. ha-1 yr-1 and 3.13 t. ha-1 yr-1) when two catchments were ploughed in autumn months and soils were saturated. The yields for the same catchments after summer ploughing were far lower (0.72 t. ha-1yr-1and 0.73 t. ha-1yr-1). Thresholds of 35-38 % soil moisture were identified at which ploughing represented a highly elevated erosion risk. Whilst pinpointing thresholds for the clay loam soils with slowly permeable drainage in the study area, the results serve to illustrate the wider need for robust scientific data on soil moisture status to help guide the timing of farm management operations for improving production, to help reduce negative environmental consequences.

Field-based determination of controls on runoff and fine sediment generation from lowland grazing livestock fields.

Compared with arable land, there is a paucity of field-based measurements of erosion rates and controls for lowland temperate grassland supporting ruminant agriculture. Despite this evidence gap, reducing diffuse fine sediment pollution from intensively farmed grassland has been recognised as essential for improving compliance with water quality targets. Improved information on erosion rates and controls within intensively managed lowland grazing livestock systems are prerequisites for informing best management practices for soil and water resource conservation. Accordingly, this study assembled such information using the North Wyke farm platform in south west England where flow, suspended sediment concentration, rainfall and soil moisture are monitored quasi-continuously in 15 hydrologically-isolated (1.54-11.12 ha) catchments. This region of the UK is representative of temperate lowland ruminant grazing landscapes with semi permeable soil drainage. Catchment area was the major control on both water and sediment flux. When normalised to catchment area, sediment yields were controlled by the erodibility of the catchment's soils. Ploughing for re-seeding of grass swards was the major factor that affected this. Whilst total rainfall had a small effect on sediment yields, slope and the damage of soils by livestock had no significant effects. This finding may be due to the overriding effects of ploughing and re-seeding of some fields during the study period. Detachment by impacting raindrops mobilised sediment particles across the entire field with diffuse saturation-excess overland flow responsible for their transport. The majority of erosion occurred during the rising limbs of storm events when there is an abundance of easily detached soil particles. Given that erosion and sediment transport are driven mechanistically by processes affecting the entire field areas, a reduction in sediment yield through the implementation of highly spatially-targeted in-field management such as that for feeder ring use, troughs, poached tracks or gateways would likely be very challenging. Instead, stocking density and grazing regime management, as well as carefully planned ploughing and re-seeding will be more beneficial for erosion control.

The sources and dynamics of fine-grained sediment degrading the Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) beds of the River Torridge, Devon, UK.

The Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is an endangered organism across its entire range. It has a complex life cycle and stringent habitat requirements and is therefore an indicator species for the general ecosystem health of host rivers. Whereas historical intensive pearl fishing contributed to population declines, excess nutrient and sediment loss associated with current land use pressures in host river catchments, including modern intensive farming practices, are now highlighted as primary contributory factors. Accordingly, this study investigated the sources and dynamics of fine-grained sediment sampled in the mussel beds of the River Torridge, SW England. Sediment source fingerprinting using a combination of colorimetric and radiometric tracers to construct different composite signatures revealed the importance of roads both as a sediment source and delivery pathway for fine-grained sediment mobilised from fields predominantly supporting lowland livestock farming. Grassland fields with evidence of soil poaching were highlighted as important sediment sources, but equally, riparian woodland was also identified as important, especially during the latter stages of consecutive runoff events when its rainfall buffering capacity was exceeded. Bed sediment storage levels (median up to 393 g m-2) were found to be low (41st percentile) compared to typical values reported by a recent strategic scale survey across England and Wales, whereas elevated turbidity peaks were shown to be long duration (days) in conjunction with consecutive days of rainfall and corresponding runoff events. Hysteresis patterns varied but were generally clockwise during the largest runoff events associated with consecutive rain days; again, suggesting mobilisation of sediment from proximal woodland sources following exceedance of rainfall buffering capacity. In combination, the data assembled by this study provides a basis for planning sediment control measures for protecting the Freshwater Pearl Mussel (FPM) beds from excessive fine-grained sediment inputs associated with the intensive use of primarily grazing land.

Tracing catchment fine sediment sources using the new SIFT (SedIment Fingerprinting Tool) open source software.

The mitigation of diffuse sediment pollution requires reliable provenance information so that measures can be targeted. Sediment source fingerprinting represents one approach for supporting these needs, but recent methodological developments have resulted in an increasing complexity of data processing methods rendering the approach less accessible to non-specialists. A comprehensive new software programme (SIFT; SedIment Fingerprinting Tool) has therefore been developed which guides the user through critical data analysis decisions and automates all calculations. Multiple source group configurations and composite fingerprints are identified and tested using multiple methods of uncertainty analysis. This aims to explore the sediment provenance information provided by the tracers more comprehensively than a single model, and allows for model configurations with high uncertainties to be rejected. This paper provides an overview of its application to an agricultural catchment in the UK to determine if the approach used can provide a reduction in uncertainty and increase in precision. Five source group classifications were used; three formed using a k-means cluster analysis containing 2, 3 and 4 clusters, and two a-priori groups based upon catchment geology. Three different composite fingerprints were used for each classification and bi-plots, range tests, tracer variability ratios and virtual mixtures tested the reliability of each model configuration. Some model configurations performed poorly when apportioning the composition of virtual mixtures, and different model configurations could produce different sediment provenance results despite using composite fingerprints able to discriminate robustly between the source groups. Despite this uncertainty, dominant sediment sources were identified, and those in close proximity to each sediment sampling location were found to be of greatest importance. This new software, by integrating recent methodological developments in tracer data processing, guides users through key steps. Critically, by applying multiple model configurations and uncertainty assessment, it delivers more robust solutions for informing catchment management of the sediment problem than many previously used approaches.

Sediment source fingerprinting as an aid to catchment management: A review of the current state of knowledge and a methodological decision-tree for end-users.

The growing awareness of the environmental significance of fine-grained sediment fluxes through catchment systems continues to underscore the need for reliable information on the principal sources of this material. Source estimates are difficult to obtain using traditional monitoring techniques, but sediment source fingerprinting or tracing procedures, have emerged as a potentially valuable alternative. Despite the rapidly increasing numbers of studies reporting the use of sediment source fingerprinting, several key challenges and uncertainties continue to hamper consensus among the international scientific community on key components of the existing methodological procedures. Accordingly, this contribution reviews and presents recent developments for several key aspects of fingerprinting, namely: sediment source classification, catchment source and target sediment sampling, tracer selection, grain size issues, tracer conservatism, source apportionment modelling, and assessment of source predictions using artificial mixtures. Finally, a decision-tree representing the current state of knowledge is presented, to guide end-users in applying the fingerprinting approach.

Feedback effects of estradiol and progesterone on ovulation and fertility of dairy cows after gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced release of luteinizing hormone.

An experiment was conducted with the objective to determine the effects of estradiol, progesterone, presence of a corpus luteum (CL), and size of a dominant follicle on the characteristics and patterns of GnRH-induced LH release and subsequent ovulation during a timed artificial insemination (TAI) program, or a combination of these. In 70 lactating dairy cows, a total of 163 blood collection periods resulting in a GnRH-induced LH release were analyzed. Concentrations of LH were measured in hourly samples (0 through 6 h after GnRH) during each of the blood collection periods, whereas concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were measured in the sample before GnRH treatment (0 h). Measures of LH included time to LH peak concentration during the 6-h blood collection period, the 2 largest concentrations of LH, mean, and variance of the 6 LH concentrations under each LH curve. Individual and combination effects of CL presence and a dominant follicle ≤ or >13.5mm, in addition to individual and combination effects of progesterone: low (<0.45 ng/mL; n=83), medium (0.53 to 2.41 ng/mL; n=25), and high (2.66 to 10.7 ng/mL; n=55), and estradiol: low (<4.0 pg/mL; n=89) and high (≥4.0 pg/mL; n=74) were independent variables in models to determine their influence on characteristics of LH and ovulation. Injections of GnRH induced LH release during 6 h after each of 163 injections. Measures of GnRH-induced LH concentration were inhibited at greater concentrations of progesterone and in the presence of a CL. In contrast, GnRH-induced LH concentrations were increased when estradiol was ≥4.0 pg/mL, but relatively unaffected by the size of the dominant follicle. Furthermore, resulting incidences of ovulation were decreased at greater progesterone concentrations and presence of a CL, and increased at greater estradiol concentrations and presence of follicles >13.5mm. In cows with or without a CL, the presence of a follicle >13.5mm did not increase mean LH concentration or incidence of ovulation. We conclude that when progesterone concentration exceeded 0.5 ng/mL at the time of GnRH treatment, subsequent LH concentrations and ovulation were suppressed. At that same concentration of progesterone or when concentrations of estradiol were ≥4 pg/mL, TAI pregnancy outcomes were improved in the face of similar incidences of ovulation suggesting greater progesterone or lesser estradiol at the time of AI may inhibit pregnancy establishment by other mechanisms.

Five-day resynchronization programs in dairy cows including presynchronization and progesterone at two stages following artificial insemination.

Two experiments were conducted to assess pregnancy outcomes after a 5-d Ovsynch-56 Resynch program [RES; GnRH injection (d 0) 5 d before and 56 h after the first of 2 PG injections on d 5 and 6, and timed artificial insemination (TAI) on d 8] with or without a 5-d progesterone-releasing intravaginal controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert applied at d 0. In experiment 1, nonpregnant cows were enrolled on d 35 post-AI: d-35 RES-CON (n=454) or d-35 RES-CIDR (n=495). Blood was collected on d 0 for progesterone assay. Only 76.4% of enrolled cows had high (≥1 ng/mL) progesterone on d-35 nonpregnant diagnoses (NPD). Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) diagnosed by transrectal palpation at 35 and 63 d post-TAI did not differ between treatments. An interaction between treatment and progesterone status on d 35 was detected. The d-35 RES-CIDR cows with progesterone ≥1 ng/mL at treatment initiation had reduced P/AI compared with d-35 RES-CON (27.7 vs. 36.4%), whereas the opposite effect occurred for d-35 RES-CIDR cows with progesterone <1 ng/mL compared with d-35 RES-CON (39.5 vs. 31.7%). In experiment 2, cows were enrolled on d 31 post-AI (NPD): (1) d-31 PG-3-G-RES (n=208): Pre-PG on d 31, Pre-GnRH on d 34, and RES on d 41; (2) d-41 RES-CON (n=208); or (3) d-41 RES-CIDR (n=208) as in experiment 1, but starting on d 41. In a subset of cows (more than 102 per treatment), blood samples were collected for progesterone assay and ovarian structures were mapped by ultrasonography on d 31, 34, 41, 46, 48, and 55. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography on d 31 and 78 post-TAI. The proportion of cows with progesterone ≥1 ng/mL on d 31 was 70.6%. More d-31 PG-3-G-RES cows ovulated after Pre-GnRH (60.4%) than did d-41 RES-CON (16.5%) or d-41 RES-CIDR (9.3%) cows. More d-31 PG-3-G-RES cows had luteolysis after Pre-PG on d 31 (75.1%) than did d-41 RES-CON (7.5%) and d-41 RES-CIDR (8.6%) cows. Although more d-31 PG-3-G-RES cows were inseminated earlier, P/AI did not differ among treatments for cows inseminated after estrus or by TAI. Pregnancy per AI, however, was greater in cows starting RES on d 41 when progesterone was ≥1 ng/mL compared with <1 ng/mL (44.8 vs. 31.6%), respectively. We conclude that presynchronization of estrous cycles in nonpregnant cows with PG and GnRH before a d-41 RES 5-d program does not improve P/AI. Furthermore, addition of the CIDR insert in a 5-d program decreased P/AI only when treatment was initiated in cows on d 35 post-AI and when progesterone was ≥1 ng/mL (no corpus luteum) but not when beginning treatment on d 41.

Concentrations of luteinizing hormone and ovulatory responses in dairy cows before timed artificial insemination.

The objective was to determine the incidence of LH surges and ovulatory responses in lactating dairy cows enrolled in a timed artificial insemination (TAI) program. Cows were assigned randomly to 2 presynchronization treatments: (1) Pre10 (n=37): 2 injections of PGF2α (PG; PG-1 and PG-2) 14 d apart (Presynch); or (2) PG-3-G (n=33): one 25-mg injection of PG (Pre-PG) administered 3 d before a 100-µg GnRH injection (Pre-GnRH). Ten days after PG-2 or Pre-PG, all cows were enrolled in a 7-d Ovsynch TAI program [injection of GnRH (GnRH-1) 7 d before PG (PG-3) and GnRH (GnRH-2) administered at either 56 or 72 h after PG-3; TAI at 72 h]. Blood was collected to determine LH at (1) Pre-GnRH: 48 to 80 h after PG-2 and hourly from 72 to 78 h (Pre-GnRH at 72 h); (2) GnRH-1: 0 to 6 h after GnRH-1; and (3) GnRH-2: 48 to 80 h after PG-3 and hourly from 56 to 62 h or 72 to 78 h for cows injected with GnRH-2 at 56 or 72 h after PG-3, respectively. Ovaries were scanned and pregnancy per TAI (P/AI) was diagnosed 31 and 61 d post-TAI by transrectal ultrasonography. The Pre-GnRH injection increased the incidences of LH surges (100 vs. 43%) and ovulation (91 vs. 60%) and subsequent concentrations of progesterone in PG-3-G cows compared with Pre10 cows, respectively. Seven days later, incidence of ovulation (48 to 62%) and occurrence of LH surges (100%) did not differ between treatments after GnRH-1. In contrast, LH concentrations and area under the LH curve of Pre10 cows were greater than that of PG-3-G cows because progesterone was greater in PG-3-G than in Pre10 cows (4.6±0.4 vs. 2.8±0.4 ng/mL), respectively. Concentrations of LH did not differ after GnRH-2 at either 56 or 72 h; however, 1 cow receiving GnRH-2 at 56 h and 3 cows at 72 h had early spontaneous LH surges before GnRH-2. Ovulation was suppressed overall in 210 blood collection windows in cows with elevated progesterone concentrations. When progesterone was <1 ng/mL after either PG-2 or PG-3 injections, GnRH-induced LH surges occurred in more than 90% of cows, and incidence of ovulation exceeded 80%. Pregnancy per AI tended to differ for PG-3-G (56.7%) compared with Pre10 (37.8%) and for 56 h (54.5%) compared with 72 h (38.2%), with the Pre10-72 h treatment combination producing less than half (22.2%) the pregnancies compared with all other treatment combinations. Furthermore, in these same cows, post-TAI luteal tissue volume tended to be compromised. We conclude that incidences of GnRH-induced LH surges and ovulation are suppressed in cows with elevated progesterone, possibly contributing to some loss in P/AI in TAI programs.

Pregnancy outcomes after change in dose delivery of prostaglandin F2α and time of gonadotropin-releasing hormone injection in a 5-day timed artificial insemination program in lactating dairy cows.

We demonstrated that 50mg of PGF2α on d 6 successfully induced luteolysis in lactating dairy cows enrolled in a traditional 5-d Ovsynch-72 program [GnRH injection 5 d before (d 0; GnRH-1) and 56 (p.m. on d 7; GnRH-2) or 72 h (d 8; GnRH-2) after a 25-mg injection of PGF2α (d 5 and 6 after GnRH injection); timed artificial insemination (AI) on d 8]. Our current objective was to determine pregnancy outcomes in lactating dairy cows after a 50-mg injection of PGF2α on d 6 or a 25-mg injection of PGF2α on d 5 and 6 in a 5-d Ovsynch program. Cows in herd 1 diagnosed not pregnant between 30 and 36 d since last AI were enrolled to receive either a 50-mg injection of PGF2α on d 6 (1 × 50; n=134) or a 25-mg injection of PGF2α on d 5 and 6 (2 × 25; n=139) after GnRH-1 (d 0), with GnRH-2 at 72 h after PGF2α injection (d 5), concurrent with timed AI (d 8). Cows in herd 2 diagnosed not pregnant between 34 and 40 d were treated similarly: even-tagged cows received the 2 × 25 (n=422) treatment, and odd-tagged cows received the 1 × 50 (n=450) treatment, except that GnRH-2 was administered at 56 h. Blood collected from cows in herd 1 at d 0, 5, 6, and 8 was assayed for progesterone. Luteolysis was defined to occur when progesterone concentration was ≥1 ng/mL on d 5, and 72 h later (d 8) was either <0.5 ng/mL or <1 ng/mL. Progesterone concentrations did not differ between treatments on pretreatment d 0 and 5, but were greater in 1 × 50 than 2 × 25 cows on d 6 (4.7 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2 ng/mL) and d 8 (0.43 ± 0.04 vs. 0.19 ± 0.04 ng/mL), respectively. Luteolysis was greater in the 2 × 25 versus 1 × 50 treatment when the cut point was 0.5 ng/mL, whereas no difference was detected when the cut point was <1 ng/mL on d 8. Lack of complete luteolysis was greater in cows classified as early cycle on d 0 or having a new corpus luteum after d 0 because progesterone concentration was greater on d 5 and 6 than for cows classified as late cycle on d 0 or cows having low progesterone on d 0 and 5. Pregnancy per AI at 30 to 40 d did not differ between 2 × 25 and 1 × 50 cows having luteolysis by d 8 or in all cows (37.2 vs. 33.3%) in herd 1, respectively, but differed in herd 2 (24.7 vs. 19.5%; no treatment by herd interaction). We conclude that incomplete luteolysis by d 8 was greater in 1 × 50 cows using a cut point of <0.5 ng/mL at AI. The difference in pregnancy outcome in herd 2 may have resulted from insufficient time for complete luteolysis before GnRH-2 at 56 h compared with GnRH-2 at 72 h (at AI) in herd 1.

Supplemental progesterone and timing of resynchronization on pregnancy outcomes in lactating dairy cows.

The objective was to determine the effect of exogenous progesterone (P4) in a timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol initiated at 2 different times post-AI on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. Cows (n=1,982) in 5 dairy herds were assigned randomly at a nonpregnancy diagnosis 32 ± 3 d post-AI to 1 of 4 resynchronization (RES) treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the Ovsynch-56 (GnRH, 7d later PGF2α, 56 h later GnRH, 16 h later TAI) protocol. Treatments were as follows: cows initiating RES 32 ± 3 d after AI with no supplemental P4 (d 32 RES-CON; n=516); same as d 32 RES-CON plus a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert containing P4 at the onset of Ovsynch-56 (d 32 RES-CIDR; n=503); cows initiating RES 39 ± 3 d after AI (d 39 RES-CON; n=494); and same as d 39 RES-CON plus a CIDR (d 39 RES-CIDR; n=491). Cows were inseminated if observed in estrus before TAI. The P/AI was determined 32 and 60 d after TAI. In a subgroup of cows (n=1,152), blood samples were collected and ovarian structures examined by ultrasonography on the days of the first GnRH (G1) and PGF2α of Ovsynch-56. Percentage of cows with a corpus luteum (CL) at G1 was unaffected by timing of treatments, but percentage of cows with a CL at PGF2α was greater for d 32 than for d 39 cows (87.9 vs. 79.4%). In addition, percentage of cows with P4 ≥ 1 ng/mL at G1 was unaffected by timing of treatments, but was increased for d 32 compared with d 39 RES cows on the day of the PGF2α of the RES protocols (86.5 vs. 74.3%). Treatment did not affect ovulation to G1 or P/AI 32 d after RES TAI (d 32 RES-CON=30.1%, d 32 RES-CIDR=28.8%, d 39 RES-CON=27.5%, d 39 RES-CIDR=30.5%). A greater percentage of d 39 RES cows underwent premature luteolysis during the RES protocol compared with d 32 RES cows. An interaction was detected between day of RES initiation and CIDR treatment, in which the CIDR increased P/AI 60 d after TAI for d 39 (CON=23.7% vs. CIDR=28.0%), but not for d 32 (CON=26.9% and CIDR=24.2%) cows. Pregnancy loss was unaffected by treatment. In addition, cows had improved P/AI 60 d after TAI when they received a CIDR and did not have a CL (CON-CL=28.2%, CON-No CL=19.2%, CIDR-CL=27.0%, and CIDR-No CL=26.5%) or had P4 <1 ng/mL (CON-High P4=27.8%, CON-Low P4=15.0%, CIDR-High P4=25.0%, and CIDR-Low P4=29.4%) at G1, but not if a CL was present or P4 was ≥ 1 ng/mL at G1. In conclusion, addition of a CIDR insert to supplement P4 during the RES protocol increased P/AI for cows initiating RES 39 ± 3 d after AI but not 32 ± 3 d after AI.

Short communication: Change in dose delivery of prostaglandin F2α in a 5-day timed artificial insemination program in lactating dairy cows.

We hypothesized that 50mg of prostaglandin F2α (PG) on d 6 would induce luteolysis in a traditional 5-d Ovsynch-72 program [GnRH 5 d before (d 0) and 72 h after (d 8) 25-mg PG doses (d 5 and 6 after GnRH); timed artificial insemination (AI) on d 8]. Experiment 1 monitored luteal regression of original and GnRH-induced luteal tissue (corpus luteum, CL) by transrectal ultrasonography and blood serum concentrations of progesterone after both 25-mg doses of PG (d 5 and 6; control; n=31) or a single 50-mg dose of PG on d 6 (n=30). Estrous cycles were presynchronized (GnRH 7d before 25 mg of PG); 11 d later, cows were enrolled in a 5-d Ovsynch-72 program (62 to 71 d in milk) and treatments were administered. Blood was sampled for progesterone analysis and luteal structures were measured on d 0 (original CL) and d 5 through 9 to monitor original and new GnRH-induced CL. Control PG reduced luteal tissue area of original CL on d 6 and 7 compared with PG administered only on d 6, but no difference between treatments was detected by d 9. In contrast, no differences were detected in luteal tissue area of the induced CL on d 5 through 9. Serum progesterone on d 5 through 9 differed only on d 6 for control and the 50-mg dose. Luteolysis occurred in all 31 controls, but luteolytic failure occurred in 2 of 30 cows receiving 50mg, in which no CL were present on d 0 but 1 or 3 new CL were present on d 5 in these 2 cows. Pregnancy outcome 32 d after AI was 14 of 30 (40%) compared with 15 of 30 (50%) for control versus 50-mg dose, respectively. Experiment 2 monitored luteolysis in nonpregnant repeat-service cows subsequently treated with the same 2 treatments as in experiment 1. Serum progesterone in 63 cows (serum progesterone ≥1 ng/mL on d 5) on d 5, 6, and 8 differed only on d 6 for control and the 50-mg dose. Luteolysis occurred in 32 of 34 controls and in 29 of 29 cows treated with 50mg. Pregnancy outcome 32 d after AI was 17 of 33 (52%) compared with 13 of 29 (45%) for control versus 50-mg dose, respectively. We concluded that the single 50-mg dose was equivalent to the control based on actual luteal tissue regression and decreased progesterone.

Ovarian characteristics, serum concentrations of progesterone and estradiol, and fertility in lactating dairy cows in response to equine chorionic gonadotropin.

We hypothesized that administration of eCG during the proestrous maturation phase of the preovulatory ovarian follicle would increase follicle size and serum estradiol concentrations. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of eCG administration on preovulatory ovarian follicle size and growth rate, serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone, estrual activity, posttreatment luteal activity, and pregnancy per AI. Lactating Holstein cows milked thrice daily were enrolled in a Presynch-Ovsynch timed AI program before the first AI. Cows (N = 128) in a single herd were given two doses of prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)) 14 days apart (Presynch), with the second dose 11 days before the onset of an Ovsynch protocol (treatment with GnRH 7 days before and 56 hours after PGF(2α), with AI 16 to 18 hours after the second GnRH treatment). Cows were assigned randomly to receive either saline or 400 IU eCG concurrent with PGF(2α) treatment of the Ovsynch protocol (Day 0). Serum concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were assessed to determine if eCG would increase estrual activity, improve ovulatory response to GnRH, and enhance postovulatory luteal function. Compared with controls, treatment with eCG did not increase diameter or growth rate of the largest follicle during 48 hours after eCG, but tended (P = 0.09) to increase growth rate of the second largest follicle. Serum estradiol concentrations and estrual activity were not altered by eCG. Serum progesterone concentrations did not differ between treatments on Days 0, 2, 4, 9, or 16 after eCG treatment. Number of CL per cow on Days 9 and 16 after administration of eCG did not differ between treatments, but total luteal tissue volume tended (P = 0.06) to be greater on Day 16 for eCG-treated cows compared with controls. Pregnancy per AI at first service was similar between eCG (35.3%) and control cows (39.0%). We concluded that eCG treatment administered 3 days before insemination at the dose of 400 IU failed to increase follicle growth size and growth rate 48 hours after treatment, and did not enhance pregnancy outcomes in dairy cattle programmed for AI at first service.

Evaluation of the 5-day versus a modified 7-day CIDR breeding program in dairy heifers.

Dairy heifers were used to compared the effects of two timed AI + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocols (5-day vs. a modified 7-day) on: (1) luteal regression to initiate a new ovarian follicular wave; (2) ovarian response to the initial GnRH injection; and (3) pregnancy outcomes. Holstein heifers (N = 543) were assigned randomly to two treatments: (1) 25 mg PGF(2α) (im) and a CIDR insert on Day -7 followed by 100 µg of GnRH (GnRH-1) on Day -5 and 25 mg PGF(2α) (im) at CIDR insert removal (7-day [7D]) on Day 0; or (2) 100 µg GnRH (GnRH-1) and insertion of a CIDR on Day -5 and 25 mg PGF(2α) (im) at CIDR removal (5-day [5D]) on Day 0. Insemination with frozen-thawed conventional or gender-biased semen occurred after detected estrus from Days 0 to 2 or by appointment at 72 h after PGF(2α) when a second 100-µg dose of GnRH was given. Blood was collected on Days -7, -5, 0, and 3 to determine concentrations of progesterone and incidence of luteolysis. Ovaries were scanned on Days -5 and 0. Luteolysis in the 7D treatment by 48 h after the initial PGF(2α) was greater (P < 0.01) than what occurred spontaneously in the 5D treatment (36.2% vs. 19.7%, respectively). Incidence of ovulation after GnRH-1 on Day -5 was greater (P < 0.05) for 7D than for 5D heifers, but the proportion of heifers with an induced CL on Day 0 did not differ between treatments. Heifers inseminated after detected estrus (166/543, 30.6%) on Days 0, 1, and 2 had greater (P < 0.05) pregnancy per AI (P/AI) at 32 days post AI than after timed AI (38.2% vs. 28.3%) on Day 3. Pregnancy P/AI, however, was greater (P < 0.05) for 7D heifers inseminated at estrus (46.5%) than for 7D heifers receiving the timed AI (26.8%) and differed (P < 0.05) from all 5D heifers regardless of insemination time at estrus (30.5%) or at timed AI at 72 h (29.9%). At the Florida location in which conventional and sexed semen were used during two breeding clusters, P/AI using sexed semen (43.9%, N = 56) did not differ from that of conventional semen (21.2%, N = 50). Remaining replicates of sexed semen produced similar P/AI at the other two locations (sexed = 27.6%, N = 71; and sexed = 31.9%, N = 215). We concluded that the modified 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR program produced more P/AI in heifers inseminated at estrus than a standard 5-day CO-Synch + CIDR program, but when timed AI occurred at 72 h after PGF(2α) and CIDR insert removal, P/AI did not differ between programs.

Pregnancy per artificial insemination after presynchronizing estrous cycles with the Presynch-10 protocol or prostaglandin F2α injection followed by gonadotropin-releasing hormone before Ovsynch-56 in 4 dairy herds of lactating dairy cows.

The objective was to determine the effect of 2 presynchronization treatments on first-service pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) in 4 dairy herds during warm and cool seasons of the year. Cows with ear tags ending with even digits at calving were enrolled in Presynch-10 (Presynch-10): two 25-mg injections of PGF2α (i.e., PG-1 and PG-2) 14 d apart. Cows with ear tags ending with odd digits were enrolled in PG-3-G: one 25-mg injection of PG (Pre-PG) 3 d before injection of 100µg of GnRH (Pre-GnRH), with the Pre-PG injection administered at the same time as PG-2 in the Presynch-10 treatment. Ten days after PG-2 or Pre-PG, all cows were enrolled in a timed AI protocol (Ovsynch-56; injection of GnRH 7 d before GnRH-1 and 56 h after GnRH-2 PG with AI 16 to 18 h after GnRH-2). Median days in milk (DIM) at scheduled timed AI were 75 d, which did not differ among herds. Cows detected in estrus before the scheduled timed AI were inseminated early (early bred, EB). Pregnancy was diagnosed at d 32 to 38 and at d 60 to 66 after timed AI by transrectal ultrasonography or transrectal palpation. Data were analyzed with herd as a random effect and with fixed effects of treatment (EB, Presynch-10, or PG-3-G), parity (primiparous vs. multiparous), season [hot (June through September) vs. cool-cold (October through May)], DIM, estrus at timed AI (0 vs. 1), and all 2-way interactions with treatment. The P/AI at d 32 to 38 for EB (n=472), Presynch-10 (n=1,247), and PG-3-G (n=1,286) were 31.4, 35.0, and 41.2%, respectively; P/AI at d 60 to 66 was 29.8, 32.2, and 37.3%, respectively. Season significantly influenced P/AI at d 32 to 38 and d 60 to 66, but a treatment by season interaction was not detected. The P/AI for PG-3-G and Presynch-10 treatments did not differ during cool-cold weather (d 32 to 38: 46.8 vs. 44.3%; d 60 to 66: 41.6 vs. 41.1%, respectively), but PG-3-G and Presynch-10 produced more P/AI than EB at d 32 to 38. During the summer, P/AI in PG-3-G was greater than in Presynch-10 (d 32 to 38: 35.9 vs. 26.7% and d 60 to 66: 33.2 vs. 24.4%, respectively), and P/AI in EB cows did not differ from that of Presynch-10 cows. Although pregnancy loss did not differ for EB, Presynch-10, and PG-3-G treatments (4.0, 6.7, and 9.3%, respectively), pregnancy loss from d 32 to 38 and d 60 to 66 was 2-fold greater in thinner cows (<2.5 vs. ≥2.5; 9.0 vs. 4.4%). We concluded that presynchronizing estrous cycles with PG-3-G produced more P/AI than inseminating cows at estrus during cooler weather and was superior to Presynch-10 during the summer.