Learning Objectives

To understand the different parts of the estrous cycle.

To understand the hormonal changes during the estrous cycle.

To understand how the estrous cycle coordinates the events of

female reproduction so it can be successful.
Anestrus

Female is not cycling (No expression of heat over time)

Cow has a 21 Day Estrous Cycle: Day 0 first Day of Standing Heat
Proestrus Day 17­20 (Follicular Phase)

Prior to estrus, CL is undergoing regression, progesterone

levels fall below 1 ng/mL which allows final follicular development
Tertiary follicle(s) and oocytes undergo final maturation
Estrogen levels ­ One dominant follicle ­ Graafian Stage
Stimulated to final maturation by FSH and LH
Female starts to become receptive ­ Estrogen
Estrogen prepares uterus and oviducts for sperm transport and
fertilization ­ Smooth muscle contractions and cilia movement

Estrogen initiates uterine changes for later embryo

development Uterine glands and oviduct secretion
ESTRUS

Picture provided by Dr. Robert P. Wettemann

Estrus ­ Day of Standing heat! Day 0 of estrous cycle
Lasts 12 to 20 hours in cow
Female in heat

High estrogens cause LH surge

Estrogen from the Graafian follicle stimulate increase in GnRH
which stimulates increase in LH
LH surge causes ovulation
GnRH increases to cause a large increase in LH (surge release)
Ovulation occurs during estrus in ewe, sow and mare but
metestrus in cow
LH surge initiates corpus luteum formation
Following ovulation ­ LH stimulates development of luteal cells
from the granulosa and thecal cells of the ovulated follicle wall.
Theca and granulosa cells luteinize by LH stimulation to
differentiate in luteal cells
Metestrus Day 2­4 of Estrous Cycle

In cow, ovulation occurs after the end of estrus

Estrogen levels have decreased
Graafian follicle has ovulated
Corpus luteum is forming
Developing from Corpus Hemorrhagicum
Progesterone levels start to ­
Second increase in FSH occurs to stimulate another
wave of follicular development
Progesterone begins preparing the uterus for the embryo

Embryo partially develops in the oviduct and moves into the

uterus Moves into uterus on Day 4 ­ 5 depending on species
Diestrus Day 5 ­ 17 of Estrous Cycle

Maximum corpus luteum size

Mature at Day 12 of estrous cycle
High progesterone levels inhibit final follicular development,
ovulation and estrus
Inhibits final maturation of follicle and estrus
Negative feedback on GnRH
Embryo continues to develop in the uterus

Embryo signals the uterus it is present ­ no CL regression

If embryo is not present ­ uterus releases PGF2α to cause CL

regression

If CL regresses, progesterone in blood decreases and Graafian

follicle(s) begin final development that occurs in proestrus for
ovulation at estrus. Estrous Cycle starts over!!!!
 Hormonal Profiles During the Estrous Cycle
Follicle will become atretic and regress as a
new follicle grows to ovulate with CL regression
Second Follicular
ng = nanogram 10­9 grams Wave
LH, FSH, Progesterone First Follicular
pg = picogram 10­12 grams Wave
Estrogen, PGF2α

When progesterone is
less than 1 ng/ml it
usually means the cow
has regressed the CL Increases for CL
and is coming into heat regression Second increase of FSH for
during the estrous cycle LH surge follicle development. Inhibin
for ovulation is low as is progesterone

Estrus
Mare

Estrus Estrus

Adapted from Ginther, O.J. 1992. 2nd Edition

Reproductive Biology of the Mare. p288
Phases of the Estrous Cycle

Follicular
Phase of the female estrous cycle when she is under
estrogen stimulation
Proestrus and Estrus

Luteal
Phase of the female estrous cycle when she is under
progesterone stimulation
Metestrus and Diestrus
 Species Variation in Estrous Cycle Characteristics

Estrous Cycle EWE SOW COW MARE

Length of
Estrous Cycle 14 ­ 19 Days 18 ­ 22 Days 18 ­ 24 Days 16 ­ 24 Days

Length of Estrus 24 ­ 36 hours 48 ­ 72 hours 12 ­ 19 hours 2 ­ 11 Days

Time of 24 ­ 36 hours 35 ­ 45 hours 10 ­ 11 hours 1 ­ 2 Days

Ovulation After the onset After the onset After the end Before the
of estrus of estrus of estrus end of estrus

12 ­ 18 hours 16 ­ 14 hours 7 ­ 18 hours Second day and

Time of AI After the onset After the onset of After onset every other day
of estrus estrus and again of estrus in estrus
8 ­ 24 hours later
 Learning Objective

To understand how estrus synchronization works and how

to use it successfully.
Estrus synchronization:

Why

1. Group females for parturition:

a. Labor, Calving period Reduce calving season

b. More uniform weaning weights.

2. Reduce time required for estrus detection.

3. Eliminate estrus detection with timed insemination:

Hopefully in future, not always most efficient!!!

Cattle:

Prostaglandins: PGF2α
Half­life
in blood
Lutalyse ­ Natural compound 25 mg dose I.M. 2­3 min

Estrumate ­ Analogue 500 µg dose I.M. 3­4 hrs

Prosolvin ­ Analogue 15 mg dose I.M. 2 hrs

Bovilene ­ Analogue 1 mg dose s.q. 18­24 hrs

Equimate ­ Analogue used in Mare

Principle ­ Regress active corpus luteum
PGF2α is not effective between Day 0 ­ 4 of Estrous Cycle

Regresses Day 5­17 corpus luteum.

In estrus 2­5 days after injection

heifers ~50 hours cows ~72 hours

~60­65% of herd should respond to injection.

To single one time injection
To get whole herd synchronized, give 2nd injection 11 days
after 1st
Cows responding to 1st injection have day 6­9 corpora lutea
11 Days following 1st injection
Cows which did not respond to 1st injection now have day 6­17
corpora lutea Therefore, all cows now have a CL which
will respond to PGF2α on day 11
Reasons for variation of response.

Young and old corpora lutea may respond different

Older CL have a larger mass
Day 6­9 CL in heat within 40­50 hrs
Day 10 ­16 CL in heat within 60­72hrs

Heifers react sooner than cows

Difference in body weight
Can adjust dosage based on body weight for larger
breeds ­ standard dose Lutalyse 25 mg/1100 lbs
give additional 5 mg/500 lbs over 1100 lbs
Animal may be pregnant ­ Abortion

Females do not have a corpora luteum, i.e. are anestrus

Brahman cattle respond poorly to the two injection
system of PGF2α

Recommended:

Inject and breed all responders

Inject 2nd treatment 11 days later to all those

not bred to 1st injection and breed on estrus
detection
Management Consideration:

Have proper facilities to handle animals

Good reproductive records

Have enough A.I. technician help

One technician/100 cows will cause problems
Should be around 30­50 cows/technician
Be sure cows & heifers cycling
Anestrus cows don’t respond to PGF2α

No CL!!!!!!

Use good fertility semen

Breeding with prostaglandins:

Conception Rate
1. Breed 80 hours after 2nd injection 31 ­ 80 %
Timed AI ­ variation in response over 2­5 days
2. Breed based on estrus after PGF2α 67%

3. Control cows bred based on estrus 75%

Based on estrus ­ Breed 12 hours after the 1st observed estrus

activity
AM/PM rule ­ Twice daily heat detection
Improving ovulation synchronization

48 hours after PGF2α

­Give GnRH
Cystorelin (GnRH Analogue)

Cause LH surge; achieved slight

increase in conception rates

Maybe a better quality CL.

Improve conception rate 3­4%

Used mostly in problem breeding cows

Use of progestogens for Estrus synchronization

Principle:

Maintain the cow under the influence of progesterone until

corpus luteum regresses, remove progesterone ­
animal respond to progesterone with estrus 2­5 days later.

Administration:

Injection Time Consuming

Feed Mix in ration

Implant Place in ear

Place in
Pessary or Control Internal Drug Release (CIDR)
Vagina
Synchromate B system:

Day 1 Inject 5 mg estradiol valerate & 3 mg norgestomet

Implant Norgestomet (Progestagen) 6 mg
Injection allows for rapid increase in progestin in blood
while the implant initiates its release over several hours

Remove implant 9 days later

Rapid decrease in progestin in blood allows animal to
return to heat 2 to 3 days
Breed 48 to 60 hours later or 54 hours later
If you use timed AI at 54 hours
Better to heat check and breed

Estradiol ­ Luteolytic to d 3­9 corpora lutea

Norgestomet ­ Inhibits early C.L. development
Therefore treatment blocks proestrus,estrus and early CL
development. Wait 9 days for diestrus cows to regress CL
Sychromate B System can be used on noncycling
cows which may induce them to come into heat.

System is not dependent on having a CL as with the

prostaglandin system.

However, cows need to be in good condition and close

to cycling to respond

Brahman cattle recommend to implant norgestomet

No Injection ­ Estradiol causes a problem
Inject PGF2α on Day 8 and pull implant on Day 9
 Melengesterol Acetate (MGA) System

Feed progestogen for 9 days (0.5 mg/head/day)

Prevents estrus in diestrus and proestrus animals

Give PGF2α on Day 8 to regress C.L.'s

Remove progestogen on Day 9

Cows are in heat in 2­5 days

Alternative
Feed MGA for 14 days ­ Don’t breed on first heat (poor fertility)
Inject PGF2α 16 days after withdrawal of MGA and breed on
estrus detection
EAZI-BREED CIDR System

Insert CIDR (progestin) with CIDIROL capsule (estrogen)

in vagina

Day 6 inject with PGF2α

Remove CIDR Day 7 and breed on heat detection

Can inject with CIDIROL on Day 8 and breed by timed

insemination 50 hours from CIDR removal
 EAZI-BREED
CIDR
Beef Cow
Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9-11

7 Days

Insert CIDR Inject PG Remove Inject Detect Estrus

with CIDIROL CIDR 2mL or
capsule CIDIROL Inseminate
Fixed-time
50 hours
Ewe estrus synchronization:

Implant progestogen for 12­14 days

Use 1/2 of a new norgestomet implant
Remove implant, ewes in heat in 36­60 hours

May use PMSG at implant removal to stimulate follicular growth

400 ­ 800 IU

Fertility good 1 ram/10 ewes

Procedure will also work with CIDR and Pessary (Vaginal Sponge

Can use PGF2α if during the breeding season

Give 20 mg Lutalyse 9 days apart ­ No Effect If Anestrus
Sow estrus synchronization:

PGF2α will not cause C.L. regression until day 12 of the cycle
Reason ­ LH binds to luteal cell receptor with strong
affinity following ovulation and is not released until day 12
Repeated injections over two to three days will regress CL
before Day 12 but is not practical

Common progestogens will synchronize estrus but cause

ovarian cysts

Progestogen ­ In Horse tradename Regumate is effective

Allyl trenobolone fed at 20 mg/head/day for 18 days ­ remove

from feed ­ in heat in 4­8 days. Fertility normal ­ a minor
incidence of cysts.
Prepubertal gilts (noncycling) can be effectively
synchronized with P.G. 600

P.G. 600
400 IU PMSG (eCG) and 200 IU HCG
Gilts cannot be cycling

Need to be greater than 51/2 months of age

Gilts should express heat 3­4 days following

treatment
Mare estrus synchronization:

Luteolytic PGF2α in diestrus, in heat in 4­5 days

Will only work during diestrus when CL is present
Remember heat is over 5­11 days
Use of prostaglandins in horses:

Equimate (Fluprosterol) Give 250 µg

~1/5 cow dose If you use Lutalyse or Estrumate

Mare CL more sensitive than cow, ewe

Problems with smooth muscle stimulating
properties of PGF2α which occur within 15 mins
Side Effects:
1. Sweating in neck, shoulders and central
abdominal region
2. Increase Heart rate and Respiration
3. Increase motility of GI Tract (Colic)

These should disappear within 1 hour

Treatments with PGF2α
Mares can exhibit what is called Prolonged Diestrus
Caused by persistent luteal function
­ CL form after ovulation fails to undergo luteolysis during
normal diestrus ­ remains 3­4 weeks
­CL maybe deep ­ unable to produce enough progesterone
for stimulation of endometrial PGF2α release or caused by
low grade uterine infection
Failure of embryo to survive but extended CL lifespan as in
normal pregnancy Equimate can be used to induce estrus
when mares arrive to be bred by a stud
Use of progestins in horses
Can inject progesterone daily
Regumate 150­200 mg i.m.
.044 mg/Kg body weight in feed
Liquid Regumate 1 mL/110lbs
Feed for 12 days or 15 days without equimate injection

Remove from feed; give equimate

In heat 3­4 days later
Remember will not ovulate until day 8 of estrus
Utilization:
1. Can use on show mares to suppress heat during events
2. Transport mare to breeding farm to time estrus
3. Regulate number of mares in heat to utilize a stallion over
time. Synchronize mating