Tadesse M., Thiengtham J., Pinyopummin A., Prasanpanich S., Tegegne A.
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Department of Large Animals and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tadesse, M., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Thiengtham, J., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Pinyopummin, A., Department of Large Animals and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; Prasanpanich, S., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The objectives of this study were to determine estrus behavior, interval to estrus, duration of estrus and time of ovulation of Boran, and Boran × Holstein Friesian (HF) breeds. A total of 113 cows and heifers from the two breeds were synchronized with two estrus synchronization protocols: 1) estradiol benzoate (EB) + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) + prostaglandin (PGF2α); and 2) gonadotrophin (GnRH) + CIDR + PGF2α. The results (mean ± SE) showed that the Boran breed had significantly longer interval to estrus (70.67 ± 5.9 versus 54.58 ± 4 h), shorter duration of estrus (8.65 ± 0.83 versus 12.1 ± 0.7 h) and lower behavioral score (mean ± SD; 883 ± 639 versus 3,399 ± 957) compared to Boran × HF crossbred cattle. Animals treated with EB + CIDR + PGF2α had a significantly shorter interval to estrus (46.75 ± 4 versus 78.5 ± 4 h), higher behavioral score (3,058 ± 1,223 versus 2,663 ± 991) and longer duration of estrus (11.31 ± 0.71 versus 9.4 ± 0.75 h) compared to animals treated with GnRH + CIDR + PGF2α. The interval from estrus to ovulation (26 ± 2.5 h) was not different between breeds and between synchronization methods. The Boran (Bos indicus) breed tended to have a longer interval to estrus, shorter duration of estrus and an estrus behavior score lower than Boran × HF crossbred cattle treated and managed under similar conditions. The protocol using EB + CIDR + PGF2α was more effective than GnRH + CIDR + PGF2α in terms of enhancing estrus behavior and creating tight synchrony.
