Sait ŞENDAĞ, Elisabeth TREUPEL, Axel WEHREND, Barış Atalay USLU, Alper KOÇYİĞİT

Effect of SpermVital® technology on conception rate in repeat breeder multiparous dairy cows: preliminary results

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SV technology on conception rates in repeat breeder multiparous dairycows. Seventy-nine multiparous Holstein cows from a private dairy farm were used in the study. These animals were cows that hadfailed to conceive from at least 3 regularly spaced services (repeat breeders). Estrus cycles of the cows were synchronized by 2 injectionsof the PG analogue, administered 11 days apart. GnRH was applied 48 h after the second injection of PG. Twenty-four h after thisadministration, the animals were randomly divided into 2 groups, control and SV. The animals in the control group (n = 28) wereinseminated with standard processed semen, and the cows in the SV group (n = 51) were inseminated with SV® technology processedsemen. A lower pregnancy rate (35.5%) was determined in the control group than in the SV (47.1%) group. The difference betweenpregnancy rates in the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). We are at too early a stage to say that SV® Technology can fullyrespond to the deficiencies in herd management. This work may also lead to future studies into the use of more animal material.

PDF

___

1. Bolwein H, Kawashima C, Shimizu T, Miyamoto A, Kaske M. Impact of metabolism and production diseases on reproductive function in dairy cows. In: Lucy MC, Pate JL, Smith MF, Spencer TE (editors). Reproduction in Domestic Ruminants, 7th ed. Nottingham, UK: Nottingham University Press; 2014. pp. 445-462.
2. Zeron Y, Ocheretny A, Kedar O, Borochov A, Sklan D, Arav A. Seasonal changes in bovine fertility: relation to developmental competence of oocytes, membrane properties and fatty acid composition of follicles. Reproduction 2001; 121: 447-454.
3. Diskin MG, Murphy JJ, Sreenan JM. Embryo survival in dairy cows managed under pastoral conditions. Anim Reprod Sci 2006; 96: 297-311.
4. Royal MD, Darwash AO, Flint APF, Webb R, Woolliams JA, Lamming GE. Declining fertility in dairy cattle: changes in traditional and endocrine parameters of fertility. Anim Sci 2000; 70: 487-501.
5. Cartmill JA, El-Zarkouny SZ, Hensley BA, Lamb GC, Stevenson JS. Stage of cycle, incidence, and timing of ovulation, and pregnancy rates in dairy cattle after three timed breeding protocols. J Dairy Sci 2001; 84: 1051-1059.
6. Vasconcelos JLM, Silcox RL, Lacerda JA, Pursley JR, Wiltbank MC. Pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss and response to heat stress after AI at 2 different times from ovulation in dairy cows. Biol Reprod 1997; 56: 140.
7. Sreenan JM, Diskin MG. Early embryonic mortality in the cow: its relationship with progesterone concentration. Vet Rec 1983; 112: 517-521.
8. Maurer RR, Chenault JR. Fertilization failure and embryonic mortality in parous and nonparous beef cattle. J Anim Sci 1983; 56: 1186-1189.
9. Senger PL. The estrus detection problem: new conception, technology and possibilities. J Dairy Sci 1994; 77: 2745-2753.
10. Busch W, Löhle K, Peter W. Künstliche Besamung bei Nutztieren. 2st ed. Stuttgart, Germany: Fischer; 1991 (in German).
11. Busch W, Waberski D. Künstliche Besamung bei Haus- und Nutztieren. 1st ed. Stuttgart, Germany: Schattauer; 2007 (in German).
12. Alm-Kristiansen AH, Dalen G, Klinkenberg G, Bekk L, Thorkildsen LT, Waterhouse KE, Kommisrud E. Reproductive performance of immobilized cryopreserved bovine semen used for timed artificial insemination. Reprod Dom Anim 2017; 52: 1019-1024.
13. Standerholen FB, Waterhouse KE, Larsgard AG, Garmo RT, Myromslien FD, Sunde J, Ropstad E, Klinkenberg G, Kommisrud E. Use of immobilized cryopreserved bovine semen in a blind artificial insemination trial. Theriogenology 2015; 84: 413-420.
14. Wodaje HB, Mekuria TA. Risk factors of repeat breeding in dairy cattle. Advances in Biological Research 2016; 10: 213- 221.
15. Kommisrud E, Hofmo PO, Klinkenberg G. Preservation and controlled delivery/release of spermatozoa. European Patent No. EP2048943B1/US patent No. 8,178,130 B2. WIPO, World Intellectual Property Organization, Patentscope; 2008.
16. Alm-Kristiansen AH, Gaustad ER, Bai G, Standerholen FB, Klinkenberg G, Kommisrud E, Waterhouse KE. In vitro studies of Norwegian Red bovine semen immobilized and cryopreserved in alginate solid gel network. Reprod Dom Anim 2018; 53: 365-370.
17. Fraser L, Strzezek J, Kordan W. Effect of freezing on sperm nuclear DNA. Reprod Dom Anim 2011; 46: 14-17.
18. Kastelic JP, Mapletoft RJ. Ovarian follicular responses in dairy cows treated with GnRH and cloprostenol. Can Vet J 1998; 39: 107-109.
19. Wiltbank MC, Pursley JR. The cow as an induced ovulator: Timed AI after synchronization of ovulation. Theriogenology 2014; 81: 170-185.
20. Boldt A. Objektive Charakterisierung von reproduktiven Leistungen bei Hochleistungskühen unter Nutzung von dezentraler Hormonanalytik. PhD, Universität Rostock, Rostock, Germany, 2013.
21. Roche JF. The effect of nutritional management of the dairy cow on reproductive efficiency. Anim Reprod Sci 2006; 96: 282-296.
22. Wehrend A, Gröger S. Methods of controlling the postpartal period and its effects on reproductive performance. Tierärztliche Praxis 2008; 36: 20–24.
23. Walsh SW, Williams EJ, Evans ACO. A review of the causes of poor fertility in high milk producing dairy cows. Animal Reproduction Science 2011; 123: 127-138.