During early lactation dairy cows often experience health disorders, which are usually associated with decreased production and reproduction variables. Following parturition, cows use more energy for maintenance and milk production than they consume and enter into a state of negative energy balance. Negative energy balance in early lactation is thought to contribute to decreased milk production, reduced reproductive performance, and increased health disorders. Flunixin meglumine (FM) is an anti-pyretic (fever reducing) and anti-inflammatory drug that is commonly used in the dairy industry. This study evaluated the effect of FM on pyrexia, production and bioenergetic variables in postparturient dairy cows.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of flunixin meglumine (FM), an inhibitor of PGF2a synthesis, administered at the time of embryo transfer (ET) and insertion of an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR) at the time of ET on pregnancy rates (PR) and the resynchronization of estrus. Beef cows (n = 796) and heifers (n = 108) at three locations were assigned randomly within age to one of four groups in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with injection of FM (500 mg i.m.; Phoenix Scientific, St. Joseph, MO) 2 to 12 min prior to ET and insertion of a CIDR (1.38 g progesterone; Pfizer, New York, NY) for 13 d immediately following ET as main effects. Fresh or frozen embryos (Stage = 4 or 5; Grade = 1 or 2) were randomly assigned to be transferred to recipients on d 6 to 9 of the estrous cycle. At Location 2 a subset of fresh embryos were split and transferred as fresh half embryos (n = 192). Recipients at Location 2 only (n = 493) were observed for signs of return to estrus beginning 9 d after ET. Recipients that returned to estrus at Location 2 were either bred by AI 12 h after estrus or received an embryo 7 d after estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Pregnancy rates were analyzed using the LOGISTIC procedure of SAS. Pregnancy rates of split embryo recipients were analyzed separately using the same statistical procedure. Variation in the timing of the return to estrus was determined by an F-test for heterogeneity of variances. Following the initial ET, pregnancy rates of recipients receiving whole embryos were not affected by CIDR administration (P > 0.05; 65% with CIDR, 70% without CIDR), however, there was a significant FM x location interaction on PR (Location 1, 89 vs. 57%; Location 2, 69 vs. 64%; Location 3, 64 vs. 67% for FM vs. no FM, respectively). There was a significant CIDR x FM interaction on PR of recipients receiving split embryos. Pregnancy rates of split embryo recipients receiving CIDR treatment (54%) or FM treatment alone (41%) were less than controls (64%). However, recipients receiving both CIDR and FM had PR similar to controls (60%). The timing of the return to estrus was more synchronous (P < 0.01) for recipients fitted with a CIDR, but PR of recipients bred following a return to estrus did not differ in cows receiving or not receiving a CIDR (P > 0.13; 68 and 62%, respectively). Effects of FM on PR were location dependent and CIDR insertion at ET improved synchrony of the return to estrus. / Master of Science

Manipulation of the reproductive tract results in increased levels of prostaglandin, which may, in turn, reduce pregnancy rates in embryo recipients. Administration of a prostaglandin inhibitor prior to embryo transfer improves pregnancy rates in cows. Embryo transfer into heifers is more difficult and often requires additional manipulation of the uterus. This study was designed to determine whether administration of the prostaglandin inhibitor, flunixin meglumine, immediately prior to embryo transfer increases pregnancy rates in heifers. Heifers (n=466) were divided into two equal groups based on BCS (range=6-7) and weight (range=256-455). Estrus was synchronized in heifers by giving two injections of prostaglandin F_2" (PGF) eleven days apart with a two day stagger between groups. Heifers in each group were watched for estrus for four days following the second PGF injection. Each heifer detected in estrus (n~389; 83%) was palpated seven days later for the presence and location of an acceptable corpus luteum; development of the reproductive tract (uterine tract score; 1=prepubertal, 5=mature tract) and amount of uterine tone (uterine tone score; l=high tone, 2=medium tone, 3=low tone) were also estimated. The 352 heifers that had an acceptable CL were paired based on day of detected estrus, body condition score, body weight, and uterine tone score. One heifer of each pair was randomly assigned to receive 10ml of flunixin meglumine (IM) just prior to embryo transfer. Time between injection until completion of embryo transfer ranged from 2-25 minutes. All heifers received a single frozen/thawed embryo transferred by one of two experienced technicians. Data collected at the time of transfer included cervix score (1-3; 1=easily penetrated, 3=difficult), ease of transfer score (1-3; l=gun easily manipulated to site of transfer, 3=difficult), embryo placement in the uterine horn (U=upper 1/3, M=middle 1/3, L=lower 1/3), and technician. Pregnancy results were obtained 90 days after transfer via rectal palpation. The logistics procedures and chi-square analysis of SAS were used for data analysis.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / John Jaeger / Cattle grazing dormant native range (< 7% crude protein; CP) require supplementation of additional protein to sustain body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS). Daily delivery of these supplements is an economic burden to cattle producers faced with challenging economic circumstances. Supplementing cows infrequently (as little as once/week) has produced equivalent BW and BCS changes compared to daily delivery. Dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) provides more ruminally-undegradable protein (RUP; 50-60%) compared to traditional oilseed-meal supplements (i.e. soybean meal) that are >50% ruminally-degradable protein (RDP). Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementation frequency on performance, reproductive success, eating behavior, and subsequent calf performance of spring-calving cows supplemented with DDGS. No differences in ending BW (P = 0.69) and BCS (P = 0.49), or changes in BW and BCS over the supplementation period (P = 0.82 and 0.70, respectively) were observed among cows supplemented every d, every 3 d, or every 6 d. Calf BW at birth, weaning weight (WW), and average daily gain (ADG) were similar among treatments (P = 0.19, 0.12, and 0.10, respectively). First-service conception rate (FSCR) and final pregnancy rate (PR) were also not affected by supplementation frequency (P = 0.62 and 0.76, respectively). The development of replacement heifers is a large expense for cow-calf producers. Improved breeding and heifer development strategies aimed at ensuring the success of replacement females have been developed but reproductive failure still remains a problem. The stress associated with breeding and handling procedures may decrease reproductive success. Therefore, the objective was to determine if intramuscular administration of flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg BW) 14 days post-breeding would improve FSCR and PR in non-transported replacement heifers. Under the conditions of our study, flunixin meglumine did not improve (P = 0.87) first service conception rate above that of control heifers (41.2% and 42.3%, respectively). Final pregnancy rate also was not different between treatments and averaged 81.8% (P = 0.40).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:37:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_viviane_rabassa.pdf: 236038 bytes, checksum: 5cfc0f0e2ed580d8304a3d1d8257390c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-05 / The artificial insemination (AI) with frozen semen in sheep is limited by the high costs of the laparoscopic technique and the variability of the results obtained from transcervical technique. This technique requires attachment of cervix, a procedure that can cause located injuries, further, the extensive uterine manipulation, which can lead to an exacerbated endometrial prostaglandin synthesis, could modify the uterine environment at the moment of conception. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of transcervical AI, through the technique of cervix attachment and retraction, in comparison to laparoscopic AI, as well as, to determine the effect of flunixin meglumine application at the moment of AI, on pregnancy rate of ewes, using frozen semen. In fixed-time inseminated ewes, during seasonal anestrous, there was no difference in the pregnancy rate between the transcervical and laparoscopic techniques, which was 40%. In respect to flunixin meglumine, the experiment was carried out during the breeding season and was performed using AI with estrus detection. There was no difference in the pregnancy rate between ewes receiving or not flunixin meglumine (p>0.05), which was 68.9% for the control group and 60.0% for the group that received flunixin meglumine at the moment of transcervical AI. These results were probably due to the minimum manipulation exerted on the cervix of these females, which don t cause injuries that could lead to exacerbated production of embryotoxic substances. Thus, when the transcervical AI technique is carried out through trained inseminators and without extreme manipulation of cervix, it becomes a good alternative for costs reduction in sheep AI, allowing the use of frozen semen in commercial applications. / A inseminação artificial (IA) com sêmen congelado em ovinos é limitada pelos altos custos da técnica por laparoscopia e pelos resultados variáveis obtidos com a IA transcervical. A IA por via transcervical requer pinçamento da cérvix, um procedimento que pode causar lesões localizadas, além de extensa manipulação uterina, podendo levar a uma síntese exagerada de prostaglandina pelo endométrio, alterando o ambiente uterino no momento da concepção. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficiência da IA transcervical, através da técnica de fixação e tracionamento da cérvix, em relação a IA por laparoscopia, bem como, determinar o efeito da aplicação de flunixin meglumine sobre a taxa de prenhez de ovelhas, inseminadas com sêmen congelado. Em ovelhas inseminadas em tempo-fixo, durante o período de anestro estacional, não houve diferença entre as técnicas transcervical e laparoscópica, quanto à taxa de prenhez (40%). Com relação ao uso de flunixin meglumine, o experimento foi realizado durante a estação reprodutiva da espécie ovina, efetuando-se a IA com observação de cio. Neste estudo não observou-se diferença quanto à taxa de prenhez entre ovelhas recebendo ou não flunixin meglumine (p>0,05), sendo de 68,9% no grupo controle e 60,0% no grupo em que foi aplicado flunixin meglumine uma hora antes da IA transcervical. Estes resultados se devem, provavelmente, à manipulação mínima exercida sobre a cérvix destas fêmeas, não causando lesões que pudessem levar à produção exacerbada de substâncias embriotóxicas. Assim, quando a técnica de IA transcervical é realizada por inseminadores treinados e sem manipulação excessiva da cérvix, esta se torna uma adequada alternativa de redução de custos na IA de ovinos, permitindo a utilização de sêmen congelado na ovinocultura.