Lunar Cycle Influences Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Brahman Cows Under Tropical Conditions.

Evidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system. Data from 5869 reproductive records from two commercial farms localized in the Maracaibo Lake Basin of Zulia State, Venezuela, were analyzed. Variables studied were first service conception rate, calving frequency, first postpartum estrous frequency, and pregnancy frequency. In addition to the lunar cycle, the effects of farm, season, and predominant breed were also considered. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model from SAS. First service conception was affected by lunar phases and predominant breed, but not by farm or season. For frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy, there was no main effect of farm, season, and predominant breed, whereas the effect of lunar phases was highly significant. First service conception was significantly greater in waning than in crescent phase of the lunar cycle. Frequencies of calving, first estrus, and pregnancy were highly correlated and showed greater figures around full moon and new moon. In conclusion, lunar cycle influenced first service conception, attaining greater values in the waning phase of the moon cycle. Frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy in crossbred cows showed a clear bimodal rhythm, whose greatest values coincided with new moon and full moon.

Efecto de la Dosis de eCG sobre las Características Foliculares y Luteales, momento y Tasa de Ovulación de Novillas Mestizas Cebú Sincronizadas con Progestágeno Intravaginal / Effect of the eCG Dose on Follicular and Luteal Characteristics, Ovulation Time and Ovulation Rate of Crossbred Zebu Heifers Synchronized with an Intravaginal Progestagen Device

Para evaluar el efecto de una dosis reducida de la gonadotropina coriónica equina (eCG) sobre el crecimiento folicular, las características luteales, el momento de la ovulación y la tasa de ovulación en novillas mestizas cebú sincronizadas con un progestágeno intravaginal, se seleccionaron 41 novillas cíclicas. Para la sincronización se utilizó una esponja intravaginal (EI) impregnada con 250 mg de medroxi-acetato-progesterona (MAP), bajo el protocolo siguiente: Día 0: Inserción de la EI más 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol (BE) im y 25 mg de PGF2a im; Día 6: 12,5 mg de PGF2a, 21 novillas recibieron 400 UI de eCG im (T1; n=21) y 20 recibieron 200 UI (T2; n=20); Día 8: retiro de EI; Día 9: 0,5 mg de BE im. La evaluación ultrasonográfica se realizó entre los días 6 y 8, cada 24 h, para determinar la tasa de crecimiento folicular (TCF). A partir del día 8 hasta la ovulación, se evaluaron cada 8 h para determinar el diámetro del folículo ovulatorio (DFO), el momento de la ovulación (MO), el diámetro y área del cuerpo lúteo (DCL y ACL), así como la tasa de ovulación (TO). Las variables TCF, DFO, DCL y ACL se analizaron con el PROC GLM, mientras que el MO mediante el procedimiento NPAR1WAY y la TO mediantec2, utilizando el PROC FREQ del SAS. No hubo diferencias en las variables TCF, DFO y ACL (1,44±0,27 vs.1,72±0,27 mm/d; 12,61±0,47 vs.13,85±0,47 mm y 33,9±2,1 vs. 30,3±2,4 mm² para T1 y T2, respectivamente). Las ovulaciones ocurrieron en promedio 61,67±1,8 y 62,73±1,92 h, respectivamente después de retirado el dispositivo para T1 y T2. El DCL fue mayor (P<0,05) en T1 que en T2 (21,7±1,44 vs.16,9±1,56 mm). Se encontraron mayores porcentajes para la TO (P=0,06) en el grupo T1 que en T2 (95,25 vs. 75%). En conclusión, la dosis de 200 UI de eCG fue suficiente para inducir un adecuado crecimiento folicular y no afectar el momento de la ovulación y la dosis de 400 UI de eCG mejoró las características del cuerpo lúteo y permitió obtener un mayor número de ovulaciones en novillas mestizas cebú sincronizadas con un progestágeno intravaginal.

The effect of a reduced dose of eCG on follicular growth, luteal characteristics, ovulation time (OT) and ovulation rate (OR) was evaluated in crossbred Zebu heifers synchronized with an intravaginal progestagen device. A total of 41 cyclic heifers was selected and synchronized with an intravaginal sponge (IE) impregnated with 250 mg of medroxy-progesterone-acetate (MPA), using the following protocol. Day 0: insertion of IE plus 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) im and 25 mg of PGF2a im. Day 6: 12.5 mg de PGF2a, 21 heifers received 400 IU eCG im (T1; n = 21) and 20 received 200 IU (T2; n = 20). Day 8: IE withdrawal. Day 9: 0.5 mg of BE im. Heifers were timed-artificial inseminated (TAI) between 52 and 56 h after IE withdrawal. Ultrasound evaluation was performed between d 6 until d 8, every 24 h, to determine the rate of follicular growth (FGR). Then, from d 8 until ovulation, heifers were evaluated every 8 h to determine diameter of the ovulatory follicle (DOF), OT, and diameter (CLD) and area (CLA) of the corpus luteum. The OR was also assessed. The variables FGR, DOF, CLD and CLA were analyzed using PROC GLM, while OT was analyzed using the NPAR1WAY procedure and OR using Chi-square with PROC FREQ from SAS. No differences were found in FGR, DOF, and CLA (1.44±0.27 vs. 1.72±0.27 mm/d; 12.61±0.47 vs. 13.85±0.47 mm and 33.9±2.1 vs. 30.3±2.4 mm² for T1 and T2, respectively). Ovulations occurred at 61.67±1.8 h and 62.73±1.92 h, respectively, after IE withdrawal for T1 y T2, respectively. The CLD in T1 was higher (P<0.05) than T2 (21.7±1.44 vs. 16.9±1.56 mm). Higher OR (P=0.06) were found in T1 than in T2 (95.25 vs. 75.0%). In conclusion, the dose of 200 IU of eCG was sufficient to induce an suitable follicular growth without affecting OT and dosing with 400 IU of eCG improved the corpus luteum characteristics and allowed to obtain a greater number of ovulations in crossbred Zebu heifers synchronized with an intravaginal progestagen.