Master of Science / Department of Animal Science and Industry / David M. Grieger / Controlling reproductive cycles during active cyclicity and seasonal anestrous in small ruminants is critical for profitability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on estrous response and interval to estrus of two CIDR protocols in sheep and goats during breeding and non-breeding seasons. In experiment 1, 133 ewes were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments during the breeding season. In the CIDR-7 group, ewes received a CIDR insert for 7 d. In the CIDR-7 + PGF treatment, ewes received a CIDR insert for 7 d and 20 mg of prostaglandin-F[subscript]2[subscript]α (PGF[subscript]2[subscript]α) upon CIDR removal. Ewes in the CIDR-14 treatment received a CIDR insert for 14 d. Following CIDR removal all ewes were exposed to a ram every 12 h until breeding. There was a shorter interval from CIDR removal to estrus in the CIDR-14 treatment compared to the CIDR-7 and CIDR-7 + PGF treatments (P<0.05). There was no difference in number of ewes per treatment displaying estrus. In experiment 2, 54 ewes were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups during the anestrous season. Ewes in CIDR-7 and CIDR-14 treatments received a CIDR insert for 7 d and 14 d, respectively. Upon CIDR removal ewes were exposed to a ram every 12 h until breeding. There was a significantly shorter interval from CIDR removal to estrus in CIDR-14 ewes when compared with CIDR-7 ewes (P<0.05). For experiment 3, 37 Boer does were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. In the CIDR-10 treatment, does received a CIDR insert for 10 d and 20 mg of PGF[subscript]2[subscript]α at time of CIDR removal. In the CIDR-19 treatment, does received a CIDR insert for 19 d. Upon CIDR removal, does were exposed to a buck fitted with a marking harness and chalk marks were recorded every 12 h. The number of does displaying estrus was not different (CIDR-7, 85%; CIDR-14, 95%). There was no difference in interval from CIDR removal to estrus between treatments. Results from experiments 1 and 2 supported the hypothesis that long-term protocols yield a shorter interval to estrus when compared with short-term protocols.

Objectives were to: 1) Evaluate the effectiveness of presynchronization with GnRH before the CO‐Synch + CIDR protocol with timed AI (TAI) at 66 h in Bos indicus‐influenced cattle; 2) Characterize ovarian events associated with the presynchronization; 3) Evaluate the efficacy of measuring vaginal electrical resistance (VER) to assess follicular maturity at TAI; and 4) Compare serum concentrations of progesterone (P4) in ovariectomized cows bearing new or previously used CIDR devices with or without autoclaving. In Exp. 1 and 2, cattle received either GnRH or saline on day ‐7. The CO‐Synch + CIDR protocol included a CIDR insert and GnRH (GnRH‐1; day 0), removal of CIDR and PGF2α on day 7, and GnRH (GnRH‐2) and TAI 66 h after CIDR removal. In Exp. 1, pregnancy rate of females with BCS ≥ 5 tended to differ (P=0.085) between Presynch (38%) and CO‐Synch + CIDR (54%). In Exp. 2, ovulatory response to GnRH‐1 was greater (P<0.01) in the Presynchronization (58%) than in the CO‐Synch + CIDR (27.1%) group. Emergence of a follicular wave after GnRH‐1 and ovulation rate after GnRH‐2 did not differ between groups. More (P<0.01) females that developed a follicular wave after GnRH‐1 ovulated (82%) after GnRH‐2, compared to those that did not (29%). Mean VER (ohms) was greatest (101.4±0.8) on day 0 and declined (P<0.01) to 95.2±0.8 and 82±0.8, respectively, on days 7 and 10. We observed a low negative but significant relationship (r=0.38; P<0.001) between VER and follicular size on day 0, 7, and 10. VER difference (day 10 minus day 7) did not differ between females with small and large follicles at TAI. Mean concentrations of P4 during the 7‐day insertion period were greater (P<0.03) for new (3.7 ng/ml) and re‐used autoclaved (3.4 ng/ml) than for re‐used disinfected CIDRs (2.8 ng/ml). In summary, Presynch improved ovulation rate after GnRH‐1, but did not improve pregnancy rates compared to CO‐Synch + CIDR. Follicular maturity estimation was not feasible using VER as applied in this study. Autoclaving may be the best option when re‐using CIDR inserts because it creates greater concentrations of P4 during the first 48 h.

Objectives were to: 1) Evaluate the effectiveness of presynchronization with GnRH before the CO‐Synch + CIDR protocol with timed AI (TAI) at 66 h in Bos indicus‐influenced cattle; 2) Characterize ovarian events associated with the presynchronization; 3) Evaluate the efficacy of measuring vaginal electrical resistance (VER) to assess follicular maturity at TAI; and 4) Compare serum concentrations of progesterone (P4) in ovariectomized cows bearing new or previously used CIDR devices with or without autoclaving. In Exp. 1 and 2, cattle received either GnRH or saline on day ‐7. The CO‐Synch + CIDR protocol included a CIDR insert and GnRH (GnRH‐1; day 0), removal of CIDR and PGF2α on day 7, and GnRH (GnRH‐2) and TAI 66 h after CIDR removal. In Exp. 1, pregnancy rate of females with BCS ≥ 5 tended to differ (P=0.085) between Presynch (38%) and CO‐Synch + CIDR (54%). In Exp. 2, ovulatory response to GnRH‐1 was greater (P<0.01) in the Presynchronization (58%) than in the CO‐Synch + CIDR (27.1%) group. Emergence of a follicular wave after GnRH‐1 and ovulation rate after GnRH‐2 did not differ between groups. More (P<0.01) females that developed a follicular wave after GnRH‐1 ovulated (82%) after GnRH‐2, compared to those that did not (29%). Mean VER (ohms) was greatest (101.4±0.8) on day 0 and declined (P<0.01) to 95.2±0.8 and 82±0.8, respectively, on days 7 and 10. We observed a low negative but significant relationship (r=0.38; P<0.001) between VER and follicular size on day 0, 7, and 10. VER difference (day 10 minus day 7) did not differ between females with small and large follicles at TAI. Mean concentrations of P4 during the 7‐day insertion period were greater (P<0.03) for new (3.7 ng/ml) and re‐used autoclaved (3.4 ng/ml) than for re‐used disinfected CIDRs (2.8 ng/ml). In summary, Presynch improved ovulation rate after GnRH‐1, but did not improve pregnancy rates compared to CO‐Synch + CIDR. Follicular maturity estimation was not feasible using VER as applied in this study. Autoclaving may be the best option when re‐using CIDR inserts because it creates greater concentrations of P4 during the first 48 h.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:47:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 568384 bytes, checksum: 3f28da52ad1ef87aa0545fb76b3263ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-07 / Aiming to study the effect of different estrus synchronization protocols on the pregnancy rate in Bos taurus indicus x Bos taurus taurus recipient cattles, transferred with in vitro produced embryos, this study used 1,933 recipients (3,649 treatments) divided into 6 groups. In the first group, recipients received 2.0 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and 500 mg of cloprostenol, in addiction to an intravaginal device (1.9 g of progesterone) that remained for 8 days. Upon withdrawal of the intravaginal device each recipient received a single dose of 0.5 mg of estradiol cypionate (EC), 500 mg of cloprostenol and 400 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). In the second group, recipients received the same treatment as the first group, but without the 500 mg dose of cloprostenol at the placement of the progesterone intravaginal device. In the third group, recipients received at the time of intravaginal progesterone device placement a single dose of 500 mg cloprostenol and 2.0 mg of EB, and the device remained for 9 days. Two days before the intravaginal device removal (day 7) females received a single dose of 500 mg cloprostenol, and at the time of device removal, received a single dose of 0.5 mg of EC and 400 IU of eCG. In the fourth group, the recipients received the same treatment as the third group, but without cloprostenol in the intravaginal progesterone device placement. In the fifth group, recipients received 2.0 mg of EB, and an intravaginal progesterone device that remained for 8 days. Upon withdrawal of the intravaginal device, each recipient received 0.5 mg of EC, 500 mg of cloprostenol and 300 IU of eCG. In the sixth group, recipie nts received 2.0 mg of EB and an intravaginal progesterone device for 9 days. Two days before the withdrawal, (day 7), received 500 mg of cloprostenol and at the time of device removal received 0.5 mg of EC and 300 IU of eCG. All recipients that had corpus luteum were transferred on average 10 days after implant removal, in other words, about 8 days after estrus, and evaluated by ultrasonography 58 days after embryo transfer to pregnancy diagnosis. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics analysis (means, standard deviations and frequency distribution) and qualitative data were arranged in contingency tables and analyzed by chi-square at 5% of probability. Fourth group showed the best recovery rates (84.9%). However, the number of treatments performed (n=86) in group 4 was reduced in comparison with other protocols. Recipients who received Prostaglandin F2&#945; (PGF2&#945;) 48 hours before device removal showed better recovery rates than others and protocol 4 females had better pregnancy rates. The recipients that were in estrus longer than 91 days before device placing had worse recovery rates than recipients in estrus earlier (p<0.05), although did not influence pregnancy rate (p>0.05) . Despite some recipients peculiarities who presented estrus less than 16 days, the interval form estrus day to device placement did not influence positively these assessments (p>0.05). The uterus classified as normal in protocol 4 showed the best percentages of recovering and pregnancy rates (p<0.05) compared to the values of other protocols. However, comparing all protocols, the uterus classified as flaccid showed better recovery responses and classification did not influence uterine pregnancy rate. As the ovarian activity, the presence of corpus luteum influenced recipients recovery rates (p<0.05), whereas the follicles presence only interfered with the pregnancy rate of protocol 4 animals (p<0.05). The number of uses of the device did not influence the recipients recovery pregnancy rates (p>0.05). The reproductive status and protocol number in the history did not affect the recipients recovery rate (p>0.05). However, recipients who did not received PGF2&#945; before intravaginal device placing, had better results than those who received (p<0.05). The recipients which were transferred with expanded blastocyst had better pregnancy rates than they which were transferred with blastocyst (p<0.05). No differences were found in the cow and heifer categories in recipient donor estrus synchrony in relation to pregnancy rate (p>0.05). No influence of the time trial on the pregnancy rate (p>0.05). The protocols which employed PGF2&#945; 48 hours before the withdrawal had better recipients recovery rates than the protocols that applications were made on intravaginal device removal (p<0.05). Protocol 4 recipients had higher pregnancy rates, although it was a group of low numbers of animals. The used protocols interfered with the recipients recovery rate, and the applications of PGF2&#945; 48 hours before intravaginal device removal, resulted in improved estrus synchronization responses, so the answer was more pronounced when females were cyclical in occasion of the beginning of synchronization; intervals from the last estrus to intravaginal device placement over 90 days (anestrus) influence negatively the responses to estrus and ovulation synchronization protocols. However, the classes of interval from estrus to intravaginal device placement (CLAPROT), the covariates showed no marked effect on the recipients recovery response; The female categories (cows and heifers) did not influence the responses to estrus synchronization treatments, although heifers in the pre-puberty are less responsive to PGF2&#945; application in the beginning of the protocol. Regardless of the females category, the presence of the corpus luteum and flaccid uterine tone at the time of intravaginal device placement proved to be positively related to the recipients recovery response; Reusing intravaginal device has no influence on the recovery and pregnancy rates in embryo recipients; Females with histories of prior use of synchronization protocols with the use of PGF2&#945; become less responsive to new synchronization protocols, while not presenting the same behavior with respect to protocols with progesterone associated with PGF2&#945;. / Com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de diferentes protocolos de sincronização de estro (Uso de cloprostenol no momento da colocação do implante intravaginal e sua permanência por período de oito e nove dias) sobre a taxa de prenhez em receptoras bovinas Bos taurus indicus x Bos taurus taurus, inovuladas com embriões de PIV, o presente estudo utilizou 1933 receptoras (3.649 tratamentos) divididas em 6 protocolos. No protocolo 1, as receptoras receberam 2,0 mg de Benzoato de estradiol (BE) e 500 &#956;g de cloprostenol, e um dispositivo intravaginal (1,9 g de Progesterona) que permaneceu por 8 dias. No momento da retirada do dispositivo intravaginal cada receptora recebeu uma dose única de 0,5 mg de Cipionato de estradiol (CE), 500 &#956;g de Cloprostenol e 400 UI de gonadotrofina coriônica eqüina (eCG). No protocolo 2, as receptoras receberam o mesmo tratamento que o primeiro grupo, porém sem a dose de 500 &#956;g de Cloprostenol na colocação do dispositivo intravaginal de progesterona. No protocolo 3, as receptoras receberam no momento da colocação do dispositivo intravaginal de progesterona uma dose única de 500 &#956;g de Cloprostenol e 2,0 mg de BE, sendo que o dispositivo permaneceu por 9 dias. Dois dias antes da retirada do dispositivo intravaginal (dia 7) as fêmeas receberam uma dose única de 500 &#956;g de Cloprostenol, e no momento da retirada do implante, receberam uma dose única de 0,5 mg de CE e 400 UI de eCG. No protocolo 4, as receptoras receberam o mesmo tratamento que o protocolo 3, porém sem Cloprostenol na colocação do dispositivo intravaginal de progesterona. No protocolo 5, as receptoras receberam 2,0 mg de Benzoato de estradiol, e um dispositivo intravaginal de progesterona por 9 dias. Dois dias antes da retirada, no dia 7, receberam 500 &#956;g de Cloprostenol e no momento da retirada do implante 0,5mg de CE e 300 UI de eCG. No protocolo 6, as receptoras receberam 2,0 mg de BE, e um dispositivo intravaginal de progesterona que permaneceu por 8 dias. No momento da retirada do dispositivo intravaginal, cada receptora recebeu 0,5 mg de CE, 500 &#956;g de Cloprostenol e 300 UI de eCG. Todas as receptoras que apresentaram corpo lúteo foram inovuladas em média 10 dias após a retirada do dispositivo, ou seja, por volta de 8 dias após estro; e avaliadas por meio de ultrassonografia aos 58 dias após inovulação para o diagnóstico de gestação. Os dados foram submetidos a análises estatísticas descritivas (distribuição de freqüência) e os dados qualitativos foram arranjados em tabelas de contingência e analisados pelo teste de qui-quadrado a 5 % de probabilidade de erro. As receptoras do quarto protocolo apresentaram as melhores (p<0,05) taxas de aproveitamento (84,9%). No entanto, o número de tratamentos realizados (n=86) para o protocolo 4 foi reduzido em relação aos demais protocolos, mais estudos tornam-se necessários para confirmar a eficácia desse protocolo. Receptoras que receberam PGF2&#945; 48 horas antes da retirada do dispositivo apresentaram melhores índices de aproveitamento de receptoras (p<0,05) e as fêmeas do protocolo 4 apresentaram melhores índices de prenhez (p<0,05). As receptoras que apresentaram estro em período superior a 91 dias antes da colocação do dispositivo apresentaram piores taxas de aproveitamento que receptoras que apresentaram estro mais recente (p<0,05). Apesar de algumas particularidades das receptoras que apresentaram estro em período inferior a 16 dias, o intervalo dia do estro a colocação do implante não influenciou positivamente nessas avaliações (p>0,05). O útero classificado como normal no protocolo 4 foi o que apresentou melhores valores percentuais de taxa de aproveitamento e de prenhez em relação aos valores dos demais protocolos (p<0,05). Entretanto, comparando todos os protocolos, o útero classificado como flácido apresentou melhores respostas de aproveitamento de receptoras (p>0,05) e a classificação uterina não influenciou a taxa de prenhez (p>0,05). Quanto a atividade ovariana, a presença do CL influenciou na taxa de aproveitamento de receptoras (p<0,05), já a presença de folículos só interferiu na taxa de prenhez dos animais do protocolo 4 (p<0,05). O número de utilização do dispositivo não influenciou na taxa de aproveitamento de receptoras e na taxa de prenhez (p>0,05). O status reprodutivo e o número de protocolo no histórico não interferiram na taxa de aproveitamento de receptoras (p>0,05). No entanto, receptoras que não receberam PGF2&#945; antes da colocação do dispositivo intravaginal, apresentaram melhores resultados que as receptoras que receberam PGF2&#945; (p<0,05). As receptoras que foram inovuladas com blastocisto expandido apresentaram melhores taxas de prenhez do que as receptoras que foram inovuladas com blastocisto (p<0,05). Não houve diferença nas categorias vacas e novilhas na sincronia do estro receptora doadora, em relação à taxa de prenhez (P>0,05). Não houve influência da época experimental sobre a taxa de prenhez (p>0,05). Os protocolos que empregaram PGF2&#945; 48 horas antes da retirada apresentaram melhores taxas de aproveitamento de receptoras do que os protocolos em que as aplicações foram feitas no momento da retirada do dispositivo intravaginal (p<0,05). As receptoras do protocolo 4 apresentaram melhores taxas de prenhez, embora tenha sido um grupo de baixo número de animais. Os protocolos utilizados interferiram na taxa de aproveitamento de receptoras, sendo que, as aplicações de PGF2&#945; 48 horas antes da retirada do dispositivo intravaginal, resultaram em melhores respostas de sincronização de estro, sendo a resposta mais acentuada quando as fêmeas estavam cíclicas na ocasião do início das sincronizações; Os intervalos do ultimo estro à colocação do dispositivo intravaginal superiores a 90 dias (anestro) influenciam negativamente as respostas aos protocolos de sincronização de estro de ovulaç ão. No entanto, as classes de intervalo do estro à colocação do dispositivo intravaginal (CLAPROT), as co-variáveis estudadas não apresentaram efeito marcante sobre a resposta de aproveitamento de receptoras; As categorias de fêmeas (vacas e novilhas) não influenciam a respostas aos tratamentos de sincronização de estro (p>0,05), embora novilhas na fase pré-puberal são menos responsivas a aplicação de PGF2&#945; no início do protocolo. Independente da categoria de fêmeas, a presença do corpo lúteo e tonicidade uterina flácida no momento da colocação do dispositivo intravaginal mostraram-se positivamente relacionado à resposta de aproveitamento de receptoras; A reutilização de dispositivo intr avaginal não apresenta influencia sobre a taxa de aproveitamento e prenhez em receptoras de embriões; Fêmeas com históricos prévios de uso de protocolos de sincronização com uso de PGF2&#945; a apresentam-se menos responsíveis a novos protocolos de sincronização, embora não apresentam o mesmo comportamento com relação aos protocolos com progestagenos associado a PGF2&#945;.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Jeffrey S. Stevenson / Lactating dairy cows from 2 Kansas farms were used to determine the effectiveness of exogenous progesterone in the form of an intravaginal insert (controlled internal drug release; CIDR) in conjunction with an ovulation-synchronization protocol. Cows were enrolled in a Presynch + Ovsynch protocol after parturition, where they received 2 injections of PGF[subscript]2[alpha], 14 d apart (Presynch) beginning between 30 and 36 DIM. Cows (n = 155) detected in estrus after the second PGF[subscript]2[alpha] injection of Presynch were inseminated (early AI). Remaining cows were assigned randomly to be treated with the Cosynch-72 protocol (GnRH 12 d after last Presynch PGF[subscript]2[alpha] injection, PGF[subscript]2[alpha] 7 d after GnRH, and timed AI + GnRH injection 72 h later) and served as controls (n = 159), or to be treated with the Cosynch-72 protocol and receive a progesterone insert (Ovsynch + CIDR; n = 175) for 7 d between GnRH and PGF[subscript]2[alpha]. Blood was collected at d −22 and −10 (relative to TAI at d 0) to determine cycling status based on progesterone concentrations and again at d 11 post AI to determine luteal competency. Treated cows were assigned body condition scores (BCS) on d −22 and −10. Pregnancy status was confirmed by palpation of the uterus per rectum and its contents on d 38 post-timed AI and verified again 4 wk later. Treatment with the progesterone insert increased timed AI pregnancies per AI in Cosynch- 72 + CIDR-treated cows when compared with controls (38 vs. 24%), but did not differ from early AI cows (38%). Pregnancy loss was numerically less in progesterone-treated cows than in controls (4.4 vs. 11.8%). Our study shows that increased pregnancies per AI can be achieved by the use of a progesterone insert in a reduced population of cows not yet inseminated, but treated with a progesterone insert.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Jeffrey S. Stevenson / Our objectives were to determine: the effectiveness of upfront PGF2α injection to regress the corpus luteum; ovulation response to GnRH; and pregnancy outcomes. Dairy heifers (n = 545) from three locations (Florida, Kansas, and Mississippi) were assigned randomly to each of two treatments: 1) 25 mg of PGF2α injection and insertion of previously used autoclaved CIDR on d 7 followed by 100 µg of GnRH administered on d 5, and a 25 mg PGF2α injection at CIDR removal (7D) on d 0; 2) 100 µg of GnRH and insertion of previously used autoclaved CIDR on d 5 and 25 mg of PGF2α injection at CIDR removal (5D) on d 0. Artificial insemination (AI) occurred after detected estrus from d 0 to 3. Those heifers not detected in estrus were inseminated on d 3 and given a second 100 µg of GnRH. Blood collected on d 7 and 5 was assayed to determine concentrations of progesterone, presence of a CL (progesterone ≥1 ng/mL) on d 7, and whether luteolysis occurred in 7D heifers. Blood progesterone concentration from d 0 and 3 determined if luteolysis occurred in all heifers. Ovarian structure maps on d 5 and 0 were used to determine ovulation in response to GnRH on d 5. Pregnancy was determined on d 32 and 60 and intervening pregnancy loss was calculated. Of those heifers in the 7D treatment having progesterone ≥1 ng/mL on d 7, the proportion having progesterone <1 ng/mL 2 d later (luteolysis) was greater (P < 0.05) than that in the 5D treatment (43.0 vs. 22.9%, respectively). Total proportion of follicles that ovulated per heifer was numerically greater in the 7D treatment but only differed (P < 0.05) between locations. A treatment x location interaction was detected for pregnancy rates per AI. The Kansas location had no detectable treatment differences. In contrast, the 7D treatment produced greater (P < 0.05) pregnancy rates in the first replicate of the Florida location and at the Mississippi location. We concluded that the 5D protocol was not effective in producing acceptable luteolysis, pregnancy, and ovulation rates in comparison with the modified 7D protocol.

Na década de 60, começaram a ser utilizadas técnicas e sincronização do estro, e durante os últimos trinta anos tem sido despertado o interesse do desenvolvimento de métodos para sincronizar o estro de ovelhas. Na maioria das vezes a IA está associada à um protocolo de sincronização do estro podendo assim ser realizada a Inseminação Artificial em Tempo Fixo (IATF). Três experimentos foram realizados com objetivo de avaliar a influência do efeito macho e tipos de rufião, reutilização do dispositivo e o método de inseminação utilizado, na sincronização do estro através do uso de dispositivos intra-vaginais (CIDR®- Control Internal Drog Release), associado com a aplicação intramuscular de eCG e PGF2 , sobre a taxa detecção e tempo médio para aparecimento do estro, taxa de prenhez na IATF e no primeiro estro após a sincronização. Exp. I: Foram utilizadas 270 ovelhas, separadas em três tratamentos: SM = (controle) sem rufiões; DL= recebeu rufiões com Desvio lateral peniano e o VS= recebeu rufiões vasectomizados. Os tratamentos foram submetidos ao mesmo protocolo, CIDR® por 7d, aplicação de 300UI de eCG e 6,71 mg de Dinoprost trometamina, na retirada do CIDR. As ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF pelo método transcervical em 55h após a retirada do CIDR. EXP.II: Foram utilizadas 275 ovelhas, divididas em 4 tratamentos: 7N= 7d com CIDR novo; 7U= 7d com CIDR já usado por 7d; 11N= 11d com CIDR novo; 11U= 11d com CIDR já usado por 7d. No dia da retirada do CIDR (D7 ou D11) foi realizada a aplicação de 300 UI de eCG e 6,71 mg de Dinoprost trometamina. As ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF pelo método transcervical, 49h após a retirada do CIDR. Exp.III: Foram utilizadas 247 ovelhas, divididas em 4 tratamentos: MN= as ovelhas foram sincronizadas e submetidas a monta natural com carneiros; IATF = as ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF por laparoscopia 48h após a retirada do CIDR; IATF+GnRH= as ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF por laparoscopia + 0,05 mg de Gonadorelina, quando 50% das ovelhas apresentaram sinais de estro; IA= as ovelhas foram inseminadas por laparoscopia no sistema AM/PM, 12h após o início dos sinais de estro. Todos os tratamentos foram submetidos ao mesmo protocolo, CIDR por 11 dias, aplicação de 300UI de eCG e 6,31 mg de Dinoprost trometamina, na retirada do CIDR. Nos experimentos I e II as ovelhas foram submetidas ao repasse com carneiros por 20 dias. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos incompletos ao acaso, analisados pelo teste do Qui-quadrado e Tukey (estro). A taxa de detecção de estro no tratamento IATF (exp. III) foi de 59,7% sendo menor que os demais tratamentos (P<0,05). A taxa de prenhez da sincronização do tratamento MN (61,1%), foi maior (P<0,05) que os tratamentos IATF e IATF+GnRH. A inseminação artificial transcervical apresentou resultados médios que variaram de 21 a 35% e não apresentaram diferença (P>0,05). O efeito macho e o tipo de macho não apresentaram diferença na IATF. O protocolo de 11 dias, mostrou-se eficiente em induzir o estro em 79% das ovelhas sincronizadas. A IA realizada 12h após o estro propiciou, índice de prenhez semelhante à monta natural, proveniente do estro sincronizado. / In the 60s, estrus synchronization techniques began to be used, and during the last 30 years has attracted the interest of developing new methods to synchronize estrus in ewes. Three experiments were performed to determine: I) influence of male effect and type of teaser; II) Effect of new and used CIDR® (Control Internal Drug Release) with different time of implant; III) Different time to perform IA after CIDR removal and comparison of laparoscopy method with natural breed, on heat detection and onset of estrus and pregnancy rate of ewes. Exp. I: 270 ewes were used, divided into three treatments: SM = (control) without teaser; DL = teaser with lateral penis deviation and VS = vasectomized teaser. All ewes were subjected to the same protocol: CIDR® for 7 days and received im. 300UI of eCG plus 6.71 mg tromethamine dinoprost at CIDR withdrawal. Ewes were artificially inseminated by transcervical method, 55h after CIDR removal. There was no difference on onset of estrus for LD (55.7%) and VS (50.5%). Similarly, the distribution of estrus was similar (P>0.05) between treatments, where the averages were of 45:01 ± 14:30 h for LD 12:10 h and 44:00 ± 12:10h for VS. Pregnancy rate did not differ (P> 0.05) among treatments and was 34.0, 34.4 and 35.0% for LD, VS and SM, respectively. The male effect showed no influence on pregnancy rate when fixed-time artificial insemination was used. EXP.II: 275 ewes were used and divided into 4 treatments: 7N = 7d with new CIDR; 7U = 7d with already used CIDR for 7d; 11N = 11d with new CIDR; 11U = 11d with CIDR already used for 7d. On the withdrawal of the CIDR (D7 or D11) ewes received im. 300IU of eCG plus 6.71 mg tromethamine dinoprost at the time of CIDR removal. Ewes were submitted to FTAI, using the transcervical method, 49h after CIDR withdrawal. Total pregnancy rate in treatment 11N was higher (86.6%, P = 0.03) as compared with treatment 7U (71.4%). The protocols for estrus synchronization of 7 and 11d were effective in inducing the expression of estrus. The reuse of CIDR did not influence the rate of onset and average time to onset of estrus and pregnancy rate in the FTAI. Exp.III: 247 ewes were used and divided in four treatments: MN = ewes were synchronized and exposed to males during 20d; IATF = ewes were synchronized and inseminated by laparoscopy 48h after CIDR removal; AITF+GnRH= ewes were synchronized and inseminated by laparoscopy using 0.05 mg gonadorelin, when 50% of the ewes showed signs of estrus; AI = ewes received im. 300IU of eCG plus 6.71 mg tromethamine dinoprost at the time of CIDR removal and were inseminated by laparoscopy, 12h after the onset of signs of estrus. All treatments were subjected to the same protocol: CIDR for 11 days, intramuscular injection of 300UI of eCG plus 6.31 mg tromethamine dinoprost at CIDR removal. In all experiments ewes were exposed to rams (natural breeding), 10 days after FTAI. The experimental design was an incomplete randomized block, analyzed by chi- square and Tukey (estrus). The rate of detection of estrus in the treatment AITF (exp.III) was 59.7%, being lower than the other treatments (P <0.05). The pregnancy rate of the synchronization treatment MN (61.1%) was higher (P <0.05) that the treatments AITF and AITF+GnRH.Transcervical artificial insemination had average results that ranged from 21 to 35% and showed no difference (P> 0.05). The purpose and type of ram showed no difference in the AITF. The protocol of 11d, was effective in inducing estrus in the 79% of ewes synchronized. The IA conducted 12h after estrus provided, similar to pregnancy rate of natural builders, after the synchronization of estrus.

Na década de 60, começaram a ser utilizadas técnicas e sincronização do estro, e durante os últimos trinta anos tem sido despertado o interesse do desenvolvimento de métodos para sincronizar o estro de ovelhas. Na maioria das vezes a IA está associada à um protocolo de sincronização do estro podendo assim ser realizada a Inseminação Artificial em Tempo Fixo (IATF). Três experimentos foram realizados com objetivo de avaliar a influência do efeito macho e tipos de rufião, reutilização do dispositivo e o método de inseminação utilizado, na sincronização do estro através do uso de dispositivos intra-vaginais (CIDR®- Control Internal Drog Release), associado com a aplicação intramuscular de eCG e PGF2 , sobre a taxa detecção e tempo médio para aparecimento do estro, taxa de prenhez na IATF e no primeiro estro após a sincronização. Exp. I: Foram utilizadas 270 ovelhas, separadas em três tratamentos: SM = (controle) sem rufiões; DL= recebeu rufiões com Desvio lateral peniano e o VS= recebeu rufiões vasectomizados. Os tratamentos foram submetidos ao mesmo protocolo, CIDR® por 7d, aplicação de 300UI de eCG e 6,71 mg de Dinoprost trometamina, na retirada do CIDR. As ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF pelo método transcervical em 55h após a retirada do CIDR. EXP.II: Foram utilizadas 275 ovelhas, divididas em 4 tratamentos: 7N= 7d com CIDR novo; 7U= 7d com CIDR já usado por 7d; 11N= 11d com CIDR novo; 11U= 11d com CIDR já usado por 7d. No dia da retirada do CIDR (D7 ou D11) foi realizada a aplicação de 300 UI de eCG e 6,71 mg de Dinoprost trometamina. As ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF pelo método transcervical, 49h após a retirada do CIDR. Exp.III: Foram utilizadas 247 ovelhas, divididas em 4 tratamentos: MN= as ovelhas foram sincronizadas e submetidas a monta natural com carneiros; IATF = as ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF por laparoscopia 48h após a retirada do CIDR; IATF+GnRH= as ovelhas foram submetidas a IATF por laparoscopia + 0,05 mg de Gonadorelina, quando 50% das ovelhas apresentaram sinais de estro; IA= as ovelhas foram inseminadas por laparoscopia no sistema AM/PM, 12h após o início dos sinais de estro. Todos os tratamentos foram submetidos ao mesmo protocolo, CIDR por 11 dias, aplicação de 300UI de eCG e 6,31 mg de Dinoprost trometamina, na retirada do CIDR. Nos experimentos I e II as ovelhas foram submetidas ao repasse com carneiros por 20 dias. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos incompletos ao acaso, analisados pelo teste do Qui-quadrado e Tukey (estro). A taxa de detecção de estro no tratamento IATF (exp. III) foi de 59,7% sendo menor que os demais tratamentos (P<0,05). A taxa de prenhez da sincronização do tratamento MN (61,1%), foi maior (P<0,05) que os tratamentos IATF e IATF+GnRH. A inseminação artificial transcervical apresentou resultados médios que variaram de 21 a 35% e não apresentaram diferença (P>0,05). O efeito macho e o tipo de macho não apresentaram diferença na IATF. O protocolo de 11 dias, mostrou-se eficiente em induzir o estro em 79% das ovelhas sincronizadas. A IA realizada 12h após o estro propiciou, índice de prenhez semelhante à monta natural, proveniente do estro sincronizado. / In the 60s, estrus synchronization techniques began to be used, and during the last 30 years has attracted the interest of developing new methods to synchronize estrus in ewes. Three experiments were performed to determine: I) influence of male effect and type of teaser; II) Effect of new and used CIDR® (Control Internal Drug Release) with different time of implant; III) Different time to perform IA after CIDR removal and comparison of laparoscopy method with natural breed, on heat detection and onset of estrus and pregnancy rate of ewes. Exp. I: 270 ewes were used, divided into three treatments: SM = (control) without teaser; DL = teaser with lateral penis deviation and VS = vasectomized teaser. All ewes were subjected to the same protocol: CIDR® for 7 days and received im. 300UI of eCG plus 6.71 mg tromethamine dinoprost at CIDR withdrawal. Ewes were artificially inseminated by transcervical method, 55h after CIDR removal. There was no difference on onset of estrus for LD (55.7%) and VS (50.5%). Similarly, the distribution of estrus was similar (P>0.05) between treatments, where the averages were of 45:01 ± 14:30 h for LD 12:10 h and 44:00 ± 12:10h for VS. Pregnancy rate did not differ (P> 0.05) among treatments and was 34.0, 34.4 and 35.0% for LD, VS and SM, respectively. The male effect showed no influence on pregnancy rate when fixed-time artificial insemination was used. EXP.II: 275 ewes were used and divided into 4 treatments: 7N = 7d with new CIDR; 7U = 7d with already used CIDR for 7d; 11N = 11d with new CIDR; 11U = 11d with CIDR already used for 7d. On the withdrawal of the CIDR (D7 or D11) ewes received im. 300IU of eCG plus 6.71 mg tromethamine dinoprost at the time of CIDR removal. Ewes were submitted to FTAI, using the transcervical method, 49h after CIDR withdrawal. Total pregnancy rate in treatment 11N was higher (86.6%, P = 0.03) as compared with treatment 7U (71.4%). The protocols for estrus synchronization of 7 and 11d were effective in inducing the expression of estrus. The reuse of CIDR did not influence the rate of onset and average time to onset of estrus and pregnancy rate in the FTAI. Exp.III: 247 ewes were used and divided in four treatments: MN = ewes were synchronized and exposed to males during 20d; IATF = ewes were synchronized and inseminated by laparoscopy 48h after CIDR removal; AITF+GnRH= ewes were synchronized and inseminated by laparoscopy using 0.05 mg gonadorelin, when 50% of the ewes showed signs of estrus; AI = ewes received im. 300IU of eCG plus 6.71 mg tromethamine dinoprost at the time of CIDR removal and were inseminated by laparoscopy, 12h after the onset of signs of estrus. All treatments were subjected to the same protocol: CIDR for 11 days, intramuscular injection of 300UI of eCG plus 6.31 mg tromethamine dinoprost at CIDR removal. In all experiments ewes were exposed to rams (natural breeding), 10 days after FTAI. The experimental design was an incomplete randomized block, analyzed by chi- square and Tukey (estrus). The rate of detection of estrus in the treatment AITF (exp.III) was 59.7%, being lower than the other treatments (P <0.05). The pregnancy rate of the synchronization treatment MN (61.1%) was higher (P <0.05) that the treatments AITF and AITF+GnRH.Transcervical artificial insemination had average results that ranged from 21 to 35% and showed no difference (P> 0.05). The purpose and type of ram showed no difference in the AITF. The protocol of 11d, was effective in inducing estrus in the 79% of ewes synchronized. The IA conducted 12h after estrus provided, similar to pregnancy rate of natural builders, after the synchronization of estrus.

With the ever growing forwarding tables of the internet and the large amount of traffic that flows through them, efficient algorithms to handle search are needed. One of these algorithms is the Multibit trie (prefix tree). The Multibit trie is a search trie that looks at several bits at a time, which is called a stride, to reduce the memory accesses for the algorithm. It is assumed that the trade-off for this is that the memory consumption will increase. To test this claim an implementation in python was written and two data sets with different sizes were used to build the Multibit trie. The two data sets that were used was the NY and the MAE-WEST data set. Search tests for different stride values were performed on the two data sets to get measurement of the average amount of memory accesses and the number of nodes were measured on different stride values. The results were that stride values 2 and 3 had less average memory accesses and less nodes than stride value 1. Stride value 6 had a significantly larger increase in nodes compared to its smaller stride values. It was concluded that stride value 2 and 3 did not follow the claim that the memory consumption does increase with larger stride values for these data sets. On these two data set no benefit was found for using stride value 1 compared to stride value 2 and 3. Furthermore stride value 6 was found to have a large increase in memory consumption for a minimal decrease in memory accesses.

Estrus synchronization (ES) is a valuable technology that can help beef cow-calf producers to overcome infertility caused by prolonged anestrus. Protocols for ES that use progesterone (P4) supplementation are of particular value to cows with prolonged postpartum anestrus as P4 triggers them to begin cycling and allows them to have fertility similar to that of cycling cows. Supplementation of P4 intravaginally with the use of a controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) improves cycle induction when compared to oral administration of P4. Vaginitis has been reported as a side effect to CIDR use in cattle, which raises concerns about its downstream effects on fertility. More specifically, the effects of CIDR use on the vaginal environment requires exploration, as no studies have explored the changes in vaginal microbiome in response to CIDR based ES protocols. In cattle, the vaginal microbiome has not been widely explored. On the contrary, the human vaginal microbiome is a well-defined environment, rich in bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus, which are responsible for promoting an environment of acidic pH. The dominance of Lactobacillus in the human vagina, however, fluctuates according to steroid hormone concentrations, and disruptions in the vaginal environment will cause depletion of Lactobacillus species, increase in vaginal pH and decreased fertility. Based on this data in humans, our objectives were to describe incidence of vaginitis caused by the CIDR in beef cows, as well as the vaginal microbiome changes in response to CIDR based protocols, and explore their relation to fertility. We found high incidences of vaginitis caused by CIDR use, yet CIDR-induced vaginitis did not negatively affect pregnancy outcomes. However, at CIDR withdrawal, there was decreased bacterial diversity, increased vaginal pH, increased bacterial abundance, and increased vaginal inflammation when compared to what was observed prior to CIDR insertion. Furthermore, abundance of bacteria, vaginal inflammation, and bacterial diversity, but not vaginal pH, were restored to normal values by the day of timed artificial insemination. This important finding suggests that although the vaginal microbiome was disrupted by the use of CIDR, the vaginal microbiome is resilient and capable of restoring its natural conditions without intervention. Finally, cows that ultimately became pregnant were found to have had increased bacterial diversity and decreased vaginal pH prior to protocol initiation, suggesting that the vaginal microbiome may play a role in individual cow fertility. In conclusion, our results indicate that for beef cows a more diverse vaginal microbiome with decreased vaginal pH presents greater resilience of the microbiome towards disruptions caused by an ES protocol, which is translated in greater pregnancy success. / Doctor of Philosophy / According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the world population is expected to grow by 51% by the year of 2100. The efficiency of food production must therefore be optimized, given the finite availability of farmable land. In beef production, cow fertility is of great importance, since it will ultimately determine the number of animals available for slaughter. The main reproductive issue that cow-calf producers face is that after calving, cows will undergo a period known as postpartum anestrus, in which cows fail to ovulate. Artificial insemination (AI) can help to optimize beef production efficiency, since it allows for the dispersal of semen from valuable bulls to facilitate the genetic enhancement of herds. The use of estrus synchronization (ES) protocols allows for induction and synchronization of ovulation, which allows AI to be performed at the same time for large groups of cows. Progesterone is often used in ES protocols and is the hormone responsible for inducing cyclicity in postpartum cows. Progesterone can be administered either orally or intravaginally via the use of a controlled internal drug release (CIDR). While the CIDR seems to be more effective at inducing cyclicity of cattle compared to oral progesterone administration, vaginal inflammation as response to the CIDR has been reported in cattle. Little is known about the downstream effects of this inflammation on the normal vaginal microbiota and fertility in cattle. In humans, the vaginal microbiome is predominated by a single genus of bacteria (Lactobacillus), that has an essential role in producing lactic acid, which results in the human vagina being remarkably acidic. In humans, depletion of this bacteria, a condition called bacterial vaginosis (BV), allows for other types of bacteria to grow, which results in an increased vaginal pH and decreased fertility. The bovine vaginal microbiome composition and pH in response to the hormones administered during ES protocols and its relation to fertility have not been widely explored. Our objectives were to document the incidence of vaginitis caused by the CIDR in beef cows and evaluate its effects on the vaginal microbiome changes and fertility. We found high incidences of vaginitis caused by the CIDR, yet no effects of CIDR-induced vaginitis were seen on pregnancy success to the protocol. However, decreased bacterial diversity, followed by increases in vaginal pH, abundance of bacteria and vaginal inflammation are all detected at CIDR withdrawal when compared to before CIDR insertion. Furthermore, abundance of bacteria, vaginal inflammation, and bacterial diversity, but not vaginal pH, were restored to normal values by the day of timed AI, indicating that although the vaginal microbiome was disrupted using CIDR, the vaginal microbiome can restore to natural conditions, and indicate resilience of the vaginal microbiome. Finally, cows that became pregnant to the protocol presented increased bacterial diversity and decreased vaginal pH prior to the protocol. In conclusion, our results indicate that for beef cows a more diverse vaginal microbiome with decreased vaginal pH presents greater resilience of the microbiome towards disruptions caused by an ES protocol, which is translated in greater pregnancy success.