“Double ovsynch is our choice of presynch method for all first services. We have tried other synch programs and have even gone without a synch program, but no alternatives have delivered the consistent results we get from double ovsynch,” said Kevin Pearson, a Platinum winner of the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council’s 12th annual awards competition. “We carry out our program with two prostaglandins in the last week of the synch program 24 hours apart. We saw a 9 percent improvement in conception in the first-lactation cows. For all services to sexed semen, we wait 20 to 24 hours to A.I. cows after administering the final GnRH,” said the Flandreau, S.D., dairyman.
“For open cows at preg check, we enroll them into a regular ovsynch program but still give the two prostaglandins,” continued the dairyman who milks Jerseys. “On a biweekly basis for the cows that are eligible to be preg checked the week the veterinarian isn’t there, we give a GnRH so we don’t lose more DIM if she is found open at reproductive check. By using this approach, the cow would be part way into to the ovsynch program.”
All six of this year’s Platinum winners of the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council’s awards share additional insight in this Hoard’s Dairyman Intel as well as the Round Table found on pages 675 to 678 of the November issue of Hoard’s Dairyman. This year’s competition drew 105 nominations — the second most to date.
Here are additional responses to the question, “Do you use any presynch programs?”
Holmesville Dairy, Argyle, Wis.: We use presynch programs. It starts with a first prostaglandin (Lutalyse) at 74 days (do not breed). The second prostaglandin is given at 88 days, and if the cow is in heat, we breed. If not bred, we start the presynch program.
In that program, we give GnRH (Cystorelin) in the morning 12 days after the second. That is followed by prostaglandin seven days after GnRH in the morning. Next, we give GnRH 2-1/2 days after the second GnRH in the afternoon. We breed midday the next day.
Kayhart Dairy, Addison, Vt.: We use two different synch programs for cows. We use double ovsynch on first-lactation cows. The protocol starts at about 43 DIM in order to be breeding at 70 DIM. For second-lactation and greater cows, we use a G-6-G protocol. The presynch program starts around 52 DIM.
Red Top Jerseys, Chowchilla, Calif.: We inseminate the entire milking herd on the first service via double ovsynch.
Schilling Farms, Darlington, Wis.: Every animal is given prostaglandin (Lutalyse) at 21 to 24 DIM to help clean up metritis/endometritis. No formal presynchronization program is used.
Wenzel Hilltop Dairy, Hilbert, Wis.: We use double ovsynch.
This Hoard’s Dairyman Intel article is part of a six-part series detailing top reproduction tips from the Platinum winning herds for the 12th annual Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council awards competition.
Click below to view previous reports from this DCRC series:
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