• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.603-613
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• 1995

Plasma progesterone($P_4$) assay has been introduced to apply to the differential diagnosis of reproductive disorders and the monitoring of responses of ovarian dysfunction to $PGF_2{\alpha}$ or GnRH treatment in the 204 postpartum and postinsemination subestrus dairy cows. 1. The incidence rate of reproductive disorders in 204 subestrus cows, diagnosed by palpation per rectum and plasma $P_4$ determination using 'Two sample test'(Day 0+Day 10) were as follows; silent heat or error of estrus detection 110(53.9%), persistent corpus luteum 26(12.7%), follicular cyst 16(7.8%), inactive ovary 12(5.9%), luteal cyst 11(5.4%), granulosa cell tumor of ovary 1(0.5%), fetal mummification 1(0.5%), endometritis 15(7.4%) and pyometra 12(5.9%), respectively. 2. After the $PGF_2{\alpha}$ treatment to the 76 cows with silent heat or error of estrus detection, persistent corpus luteum, or luteal cyst, plasma $P_4$ concentrations at day 3 post treatment using 'Two sample test'(Day 0+Day 3) remained low(<1.0ng/ml) in all 76 cows. Therefore all 76 cows responded positively to $PGF_2{\alpha}$ treatment. Seventeen cows with follicular cyst or inactive ovary were treated with GnRH. All 7 cows with follicular cyst and 4 cows with inactive ovary remained high($${\geq_-}1.0ng/ml$$) a plasma $P_4$ concentrations at day 12 post treatment using 'Two sample test'(Day 0+Day 12), but 6 cows with inactive ovary remained low(<1.0ng/ml) a plasma $P_4$ concentrations. Therefore all 7 cows with follicular cyst and 4 cows with inactive ovary responded positively, but 6 cows with inactive ovary responded negatively to GnRH treatment. 3. The mean days from treatment to first service, number of cows conceived on first service(%), mean number of services per conception, mean days from initial treatment to conception, and mean number of cows conceived by 100 days post treatment(%) were 5.0 and 26.2 days, 45(59.2%) and 6(35.3%) cows, 1.5 and 1.7 services, 13.6 and 22.6 days, and 62(81.6%) and 9(52.9%) cows in group of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ and GnRH treatment, respectively. These results indicated that plasma $P_4$ assay was practical as an aid to diagnosing reproductive disorders and to monitoring responses of ovarian dysfunction to $PGF_2{\alpha}$ and GnRH treatment in subestrus cows.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the optimal physiologic mating time in Hanwoo for protection to decrease of reproductivity and improvement of production of offspring. We observed 32 cows that were devide into 4 parts of treatment : T1(12 months of age and 0.5kg daily gain), T2(12 months of age and 0.8kg daily gain), T3(15 months of age and 0.5kg daily gain) and T4(18 months and 0.5kg daily gain). The first heat of treated cows was 263.3$\pm$6.4 days and average weight was 181.1$\pm$11.3kg. It was revealed the conception rates of first insemination were 25%(T1), 75%(T4) and number of insemination of T3 and T4(both 1.5) was lower than T1 and T2(2.3 and 2.4). In return of estrus after heifer's first parturition, they(T1, T2, T3 and T4) showed 66.2 days, 76.7 days, 62.4 days and 68.5 days respectively and the average was 65.7 days. Plasma progesterone(P4) concentration was nearly the same during the observation periods of treated cows and P4 was released just after 12 months. Only 5 cows (15.6%) in 32 were showed normal estrus cycle and ovulation before 12 months. Before and after parturition, P4 concentration was decreased fastly and then there was no detection of P4 from after parturition to 40 days after milking. P4 would be released again on 45 day after parturition. The results were summarized as that the optimal mating time of Hanwoo heifers was decided by the 14 months of age, 110 cm height and 265kg weight.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.65-78
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• 2008

Objectives : this study was to access the effect of Hyeonggaeyeongyotang water extracts, a polyherbal formula has been used as folk medicine, on the fertility and early embryonic development of male and female Wistar rats when administered by oral gavage. Methods : In male rats, Hyeonggaeyeongyotang extract were dosed 4 weeks before pairing and 2 weeks after mating including the mating periods up to termination after necropsy of the majority of the females. In female rats, they were dosed 2 weeks before pairing, and from Day 0 to Day 7 of gestation. This study was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the KFDA Guideline [2005-60] for Detection of Toxicity to Reproduction for Medicinal Products. Results: 1. No Hyeonggaeyeongyotang extract treatment-related changes on the clinical signs and mortalities, the Food consumptions, the Body weights and gains were demonstrated in all dosed levels tested in this study except for 500ml/kg-dosing male group in which a significant(p<0.05) increase of body gains was detected during day 0-7 after dosing. 2. No Hyeonggaeyeongyotang extract treatment-related changes on the pre-coital intervals, the estrus cycles, the mating index, conception rate and fertility index were demonstrated in all dosed levels tested in this study. 3. No Hyeonggaeyeongyotang extract treatment-related gross findings on reproductive organs, the weights of reproductive organs, histopathological findings on reproductive organs, the corpora lutea number, implantation site number, live fetus number, number of resorpted embryo and pre-and post-implatation loss were demonstrated in all dosed levels tested in this study. Conclusions : Base on the results, it is considered that the NOAEL (No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level) for fertility and early embryonic development toxicity of Hyeonggaeyeongyotang extract was under 2000ml/kg/day in Wistar male and female rats because there no treatment-related changes on the fertility and early embryonic developmental index were demonstrated in all dosed levels tested.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2014

This work was conducted to study the improvement of reproduction rate from the breeding data collected from four farms from January 2007 to October 2010. The average numbers of service per conception were 1) A farm $1.7{\pm}0.1$ times, 2) B farm $1.5{\pm}0.1$ times, 3) C farm $1.5{\pm}0.1$ times, 4) D farm $1.4{\pm}0.1$ times. The average days from calving to conception was $77.4{\pm}4.8$ days in A farm, $150.8{\pm}11.2$ days in B farm, $90.4{\pm}4.5$ days in C farm, and $71.4{\pm}2.5$ days in D farm. Number of artificial insemination (AI) service per conception was higher at the 30 days before first AI ($2.1{\pm}0.2$ times) than at the 31 days after first AI, and the days from calving to conception were shorter at the 90 days before first AI than at the 91 days after first AI. After timed AI (TAI) treatment, the pregnancy rate was 60.3% for the 58 cows with reproductive disorder. In order to improvement of reproduction rates, the farms has to improve the accuracy of estrus detection, pregnancy diagnosis, check-up for reproductive health, and control of day for first AI periods after calving. The result suggests that farmers need the careful management and reproductive examination of farm animals to improve of reproductive efficiency.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.257-261
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• 2008

The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of seasons on reproductive performance of Hanwoo and Holstein heifers. Heat stress in summer or cold stress in winter stress to Hanwoo and Holstein heifers may bring reproduction failure, which would pose an important economic loss, even around Daegwallyeong region located in high mountainous area. Seasonal differences in the serum levels of LH, FSH and progesterone ($P_4$) in response to environmental factors (hot and cold) out of 20 pubertal Hanwoo heifers in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province and 20 non-lactating Holstein heifers in Chonan city of Republic of Korea at 2-3 years of age were compared. Blood samples for hormonal analysis were from jugular vein after detection of estrus repeatedly over four seasons within four-week intervals (Spring: May to June, Summer: July to August, Autumn: October to November and Winter: January to February). In Hanwoo heifer population, averages of LH and FSH concentration in spring and in summer were greater compared to those in winter (p<0.05). LH or FSH levels tended to be greater (p=0.06) in spring and less (p=0.09) in winter compared to the levels in autumn. Only in summer, cattle seemed to show lower LH or FSH secretion (p<0.05). Similar to the results in Hanwoo heifers, the serum concentrations of LH and FSH in Holstein heifers decreased further by heat stress in summer when P 4 levels were high during luteal phase. The results demonstrate significant effect of summer heat on reproduction of Hanwoo or Holstein heifers. Although parameters indicating the extent of heat stress were not measured in this study, we suggest that serum hormone levels could be considered as successful indicators of summer heat stress condition for Hanwoo and Holstein heifers even under rather cool summer climate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.460-466
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• 2004

This study was undertaken with the aim to establish a reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) system for urinary pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) and to employ it for monitoring the reproductive status of dairy cows. Urine and blood samples were collected from the Holstein cows both pregnant and non-pregnant. The samples were then investigated for evaluating the relationship between progesterone ($P_{4}$) in blood and PdG in urine adjusted with or without urinary creatinine basis. Biweekly urine collection was employed for three cows in estrous and those artificially inseminated, while urine from pregnant cows was collected on a monthly basis. P_{4}$ and PdG levels were measured by enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) and RIA techniques, respectively. Our results indicated the sensitivity of PdG for RIA being 35 pg/tube and the recovery rate of 100%. Urinary creatinine concentrations also fluctuated within a day, but change at midday was not noteworthy. Regardless of the time of urination the change in concentrations of PdG was relatively smaller and did not vary significantly. The urinary PdG concentration showed periodic changes as that with serum P_{4}$ levels during the cow's estrus cycle. The correlation coefficient rose when creatinine level in urine was adjusted but the change was also not significant. The concentrations of PdG during the luteal phase were detected between 8.2 and 17.4 ng/ml, three to five times higher than that in the follicular phase. The concentration of PdG from pregnant cows (21 days after conception) was three to four times higher than in the nonpregnant cows. Our finding suggests that the determination of urinary PdG could be reliably employed for early pregnancy detection. The urinary PdG level continued to raise until 30 days pre-partum while the concentration reached its peak at 30 ng/ml, after which it started to fall 18 to 30 days before parturition and finally fell to its nadir value one week after parturition. As the correlation coefficient between the urinary PdG and serum P_{4}$ was higher than that corrected by urinary creatinine it can be suggested that the adjustment is not needed. The concentrations of urinary PdG could be maintained stably for 2 days in urine samples stored at room temperature and extended to 8 days when the samples were pretreated by boiling for 30 minutes. In conclusion urinary PdG concentration even without the need for creatinine basis adjustment can be used directly for monitoring the reproductive status of dairy cows.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-72
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• 2002

Two trials were conducted in a commercial dairy on heifer synchronization with PGF$_2$$\alpha$. Animals showing estrous following the first injection were bred and animals not showing estrus were given the second injection 10 days later. In the first trial, the injection routes were rump and rump. In the second trial, the injection routes were rump and shoulder. Estrous detection were performed from 24 h after injection. Animals were bred by the same technician. In the first trial, the response rate for the first injection was 51.4% and the subsequent pregnancy rate of these animals was 60.0%. The response rate in the second injection was 57.1% and the pregnancy rate was 50.0%. In the second trial, the response rate in the first injection on the rump was 48.7% and the subsequent pregnancy rate was 70.6%. The second injection was given on the shoulder and the response rate was 60.0% and the subsequent pregnancy rate was 25.0%. The data suggest that the route of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ administration was critical to achieve success in estrous synchronization and pregnancy rates.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bST treatment on embryo recovery and pregnancy rate following embryo transfer. Donor cows were superovulated with Folltropin-V and PGF$_2$$\alpha$ combination method and then inseminated with frozen semen 3 times 12 hrs interval. Donor and recipient cows were assigned to control and bST group, of which was given a single injection of bST (500 mg, im) at insemination or estrus detection. Embryo collection of superovulated cows were flushed nonsurgical method at 7 to 8 days after artificial insemination. The percentare and Mean$\pm$S.E. of transferable embryo was not significantly different between control and bST treatment (72.8%/5.9$\pm$4.5 vs. 83.7%15.1 $\pm$ 1.6). The percentage and Mean$\pm$S.E. of transferable embryo in non-summer season was significantly higher than in summer (81.8%/5.4$\pm$2.1 vs. 68.7%14.774.6; P<0.05). The pregnancy rate after embryo transfer in bST treatment was significantly higher than in control (64.0 vs. 47.1%; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate between summer and non-summer (51.6 vs. 61.5%; P>0.05). The results indicated that InST treatment in recipient cows could improve the efficiency of transferable embryo production and pregnancy rate after embryo transfer, and non-summer season may be better far superovulation treatment and embryo transfer.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body condition score (BCS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estrous expression for the purpose of improving reproductive performance. In total, 37 ovulations and 28 estrous detection were observed among 51 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. The estrous inducement rate and estrous expression rate were significantly lower for cows with BCS below 2.0 than for cows with BCS above 2.0. There was 0% of rate of standing heat in cows with BCS below 2.0 whereas the rate of standing heat was markedly increased in cows with BCS above 2.0 (46.7% and 64.7% for BCS $2.0{\sim}2.49$ and BCS $2.5{\sim}3.0$ cows, respectively). The estrous expression rate was significantly lower for cows with BUN below 10mg/dl than for cows with BUN above 10mg/dl. There was no significant difference among duration time of estrus, estrous behavior patterns and BUN concentration. The rate of estrous expression and concentration of BUN was not significantly different between primiparous and multiparous cows. This result shows that the level of BCS and BUN affect the estrous expression. Considering the situation that estrous expression is decreased in recent years, effective nutritional management should be accompanied to improve reproductive performance.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2006

This study was carried out principally to obtain the basic data for the improvement of the reproductive performance and production using plasma progesterone assay and ultrasonography in dairy cow. The results obtained from this studies were as follows. The results of reproductive examination in 85,983 cows were ovarian diseases 40,399 (47.0%), uterine diseases 11,912 (13.9%), pregnancy or pregnant failures 26,587 (30.9%), adhesion of reproductive tracts 172 (0.2%), freemartin 8 (0.01%), and others 6,905 (8.3%), respectively. The treatment status of reproductive dysfunction in 30,241 cows were silent heat or error of estrus detection 14,909 (49.3%), follicular cysts 3,750 (12.4%), luteal cysts 907 (3.0%), inactive ovaries 665 (2.2%), granulosa cell tumor of ovary 3 (0.01%) and endometritis 6,986 (23.1%), respectively. The indices of reproductive efficiency after the periodical examination of reproductive status were as follows; the mean intercalving inteual was reduced from 475 days at the first examination to 381 days at the last examination of reproductive status, the mean interval calving to conception was reduced from 186 to 98 days, the mean interval calving to first service was reduced from 106 to 66 days, the cows showing heat by 60 days postpartum were increased from 32 to 90%, the mean conception rate to first service was increased from 42 to 64%, and the mean service per conception was reduced from 2.6 to 1.8 times, respectively.