International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O)

and Technology, Vol. 7, No 6, 2018, 1998 – 2003 2277-663X (P)

EFFECT OF CONTROLLED BREEDING USING CIDR AND PGF2α ON

FERTILITY IN REPEAT BREEDING CROSSBRED COWS
Rajkumar R1*, Vijayarajan A2, Jayaganthan P1, Prabaharan V1, Raja S1
and Palanisamy M2
1
Assistant Professor, 2Professor,
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics,
Veterinary College and Research Institute,
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Orathanadu – 614 625, Tamil Nadu, India
E-mail: drrajkumargr@[Link] (*Corresponding Author)

Abstract: The present study was designed to assess the effect of CIDR and PGF2∝
treatment on conception rate in repeat breeding crossbred Jersey cows. A total of twenty four
repeat breeding crossbred Jersey cows were divided into two group containing 12 cows in
each group. Cows in group I (n=12) served as control and inseminated at observed estrus.
Cows in group II (n=12) treated with CIDR+PGF2∝ and inseminated at fixed time following
the treatment. The first service conception rate in CIDR+PGF2∝ treatment group was 58.33
per cent whereas it was 33.33 per cent in control group. Thus, the CIDR based fixed time
insemination protocol can be effectively used to improve the conception rate in repeat
breeding cows.
Keywords: CIDR, PGF2∝, Fertility, Crossbred cows, Repeat Breeding.

Introduction
The success of dairy cattle husbandry lies in ensuring proper and optimal reproductive
rhythm of individual female in the herd. Impairment in the normal reproductive function
results into infertility and sterility leading to economic losses due to decrease in milk yield,
the number of calves produced and increase in culling rate (Bartlett et al., 1986). Repeat
breeding is one of the major causes of infertility in dairy cattle. It has been reported that 10-
24 per cent of reproductive cows in dairy farms are repeat breeders (Kimura et al., 1987).
Inadequate and inaccurate estrus detection is frequently a cause for cows becoming repeat
breeder. Incorrect timing of artificial insemination causes poor conception rate in dairy cows.
It has been reported that 15 to 20% of cows brought for artificial insemination to Veterinary
Institutions are not in estrus i.e. at the luteal phase of the estrous cycle (Agarwal et al., 2005).
The main reasons for these errors are poor estrus detection, lack of awareness about estrus
symptoms or negligence of cattle owner, subestrus or silent estrus. Repeat breeding is also
caused by anovulation and delayed ovulation in dairy cows. A luteal insufficiency and lower
Received Nov 10, 2018 * Published Dec 2, 2018 * [Link]
1999 Rajkumar R, Vijayarajan A, Jayaganthan P, Prabaharan V, Raja S and Palanisamy M

progesterone concentration are known to be causing early embryonic mortality and thereby
lowering the conception rates in dairy cows (Villarroel et al., 2004).
To increase reproductive efficiency in dairy cows, various estrus synchronization protocols
using Progesterone and PGF2α have been tried. Controlled breeding using Controlled
Internal Drug Release Device (CIDR) and PGF2∝ has been found to be effective in achieving
good fertility in normally cycling cows (Cavalieri et al., 1997). However, there are few
reports available about the effect of CIDR and PGF2∝ treatment on conception rate in repeat
breeding cows (Kothandaraman and John Christy, 2017). Hence, the present study was
conducted to assess the effect of controlled breeding using CIDR and PGF2∝ on fertility
in repeat breeding crossbred Jersey cows.
Material and methods
The study was conducted on 24 repeat breeding crossbred Jersey cows maintained at
the Dairy farm, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu. The body weights of
the cows ranged between 300-400 kg. Cows that were free from uterine infection, gross
genital tract abnormalities and having good body condition were selected for the study. The
selected 24 repeat breeding cows were randomly divided into two groups containing 12 cows
in each group. The selected cows were dewormed and supplemented with mineral mixture for
30 days before initiating treatment. Cows in group I (n=12) served as control and were
inseminated at observed estrus. Cows in group II (n=12) were treated with CIDR and PGF2∝.
Treatment protocol was initiated regardless of the stage of the estrous cycle of the cows. In
group II cows, CIDR (EAZI-BREED CIDR®, Pfizer Animal Health, Mumbai, India) was
inserted on day 0, and 500 μg of PGF2∝ (Pragma®, Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad,
India) was administered on day 8 and CIDR was removed on day 9. Fixed time AI was
performed at 48 and 72 hours after CIDR removal. Pregnancy diagnosis was done by rectal
examination on day 60 after the fixed time artificial insemination and the first service
conception rate was calculated. Animals returning to estrus were re-inseminated at the
subsequent estrus and the estrous cycle length was calculated.
Results and discussion
The result revealed that the first service conception rate for cows in the control group
(group I) was 33.33 per cent (4/12). Remaining eight cows returned to estrus with the mean
estrous cycle length of 20.75±0.64 days in group I. The first service conception rate for cows
in the CIDR+ PGF2∝ treatment group (group II) was 58.33 per cent (7/12). Remaining five
cows returned to estrus with the mean estrous cycle length of 21.40±0.61 days in group II.
 Effect of Controlled Breeding Using CIDR and PGF2α on Fertility ... 2000

All the cows treated with CIDR and PGF2∝ expressed estrus in group II. The first service
conception rate was 25.00 per cent greater in the CIDR+PGF2∝ treatment group than in
control group. Reshma et al. (2018) also reported higher conception rate in repeat breeding
cows treated with CIDR and PGF2∝ than in the control group (43.33 per cent versus 20.00 per
cent). They found that controlled breeding using CIDR and PGF2∝ led to increase in plasma
progesterone concentration and thereby improves the conception rate in repeat breeding
cows.
Kothandaraman and John Christy (2017) observed higher conception rate in in repeat
breeding cows treated with CIDR and PGF2∝ (46.42 per cent) as compared to ovsynch
treatment group of repeat breeding cows (33.33 per cent). They inferred that body condition
scoring and managemental practices of dairy cows influence the treatment methods in a
positive way. Vijayarajan and Sankar (2014) also reported first service conception rate of
76.79 per cent in CIDR and PGF2∝ treated repeat breeding buffaloes which was higher as
compared to 31.25 per cent in control group.
Lucy et al. (2001) and Romano and Fahning (2013) reported 53.00 per cent and 45.50 per
cent conception rate respectively, in dairy cattle treated with CIDR+PGF2∝ protocol.
Honparkhe et al. (2011) observed first service conception rate of 52.00 per cent in repeat
breeding cows treated with CIDR based protocol (PGF2∝+CIDR+GnRH). Mekonnin et al.
(2016) reported 72.70 per cent conception rate in repeat breeding dairy cows using CIDR
combined with PGF2∝ and eCG.
The first service conception obtained in CIDR+PGF2∝ treated group of the present
study was comparable with Honparkhe et al. (2011) and Lucy et al. (2001). The conception
obtained in the CIDR+PGF2∝ treated group was higher than the results of Reshma et al.
(2018) and Kothandaraman and John Christy (2017). However, the results obtained were
lower than Vijayarajan and Sankar (2014) and Mekonnin et al. (2016). The variations in the
conception rate of different workers might be due to differences in breed, climate, nutrition,
management and different CIDR protocols.
The higher pregnancy rate in CIDR+PGF2∝ treated group as compared to control
group of the present study might be due to fine regulation of plasma progesterone profile
during preconception period and priming of reproductive system with adequate amount of
circulating progesterone during the preconception period which is favourable for the better
development of preovulatory follicle that will yield a better developed corpus luteum and
hence successful conception occurs subsequently (Folman et al., 1990).
2001 Rajkumar R, Vijayarajan A, Jayaganthan P, Prabaharan V, Raja S and Palanisamy M

Plasma progesterone concentration was significantly higher in CIDR treated cows as

compared to control cows on Day 1. Furthermore, plasma progesterone concentrations in
CIDR treated cows remained elevated for 7 days (to the time of CIDR removal). Perhaps
these elevated progesterone concentrations increased the conception rate (Kawate et al.,
2004).
Poor estrus detection and insemination at incorrect time is frequently a cause for cows
becoming repeat breeder. Hence, the increase in conception rate of treatment group of the
present study might be due to fixed time insemination using CIDR and PGF2∝. Repeat
breeding is also caused by an ovulation, delayed ovulation and luteal insufficiency due to
endocrine dysfunctions in dairy cows (Reshma et al. 2018). Higher conception rate
reported in treatment group indicated that these endocrine dysfunctions might have
been eliminated by CIDR+PGF2∝ treatment.
Conclusion
In the present study, the first service conception rate was 25.00 per cent higher in
CIDR+PGF2∝ treatment group than in control group. Thus, conception rate in repeat breeding
cows can be increased by controlled breeding using CIDR and PGF2∝.
Acknowledgement
Authors thank the Dean, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu for the
facilities provided.
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