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Virginia Tech

Comparison of Luteolysis and Timed Artificial Insemination Pregnancy Rates after Administration of PGF2a in the Muscle or the Ischiorectal Fossa in Cattle

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is commonly given to female cattle intramuscularly (IM) for the synchronization of estrus. A novel site for administration of PGF2α that improves beef quality assurance is the ischiorectal fossa (IRF). The objective of this study was to determine whether administration of PGF2α in the IRF results in a similar physiologic response to administration of PGF2α given IM. Yearling angus-cross heifers (n=112) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned within blocks to be injected with 5 mL PGF2α either IM in the neck or in the IRF. Blood samples were taken at 0, 8, 16, 24, 36, and 48 h post-injection. Serum samples were analyzed for progesterone concentration using a radioimmunoassay. Progesterone concentration curves for each heifer were plotted to determine luteolysis. The median times to luteolysis for neck and IRF injections were 18.1 hrs and 20.0 hrs, respectively (p=0.06). Angus cross commercial beef cows (n=1471) at least 30 days post-partum were blocked by age and randomly assigned to be injected with 5 mL PGF2α either IM in the neck muscle or in IRF as part of a 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR ovulation protocol. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed via ultrasound at 60 days post insemination. Results were analyzed with Proc Glimmix (SAS). Pregnancy rates for neck and IRF injections were 52.6% and 57.2%, respectively (p=0.06). In summary, injection of PGF2α in the IRF for estrus synchronization and lysis of the corpus luteum did not differ from injection in the neck muscle. Utilizing the ischiorectal fossa as an injection site for PGF2α may be considered as an alternative that more closely aligns with beef quality assurance objectives.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
Department dc:contributor.department
Veterinary Medicine
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Holland, Sarah C.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Swecker, William S. Jr.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Whittier, William D.
  • Clark-Deener, Sherrie

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:5929
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/56575

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Holland, Sarah C.. Comparison of Luteolysis and Timed Artificial Insemination Pregnancy Rates after Administration of PGF2a in the Muscle or the Ischiorectal Fossa in Cattle. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/56575