Pregnancy Rates Following Timed Artificial Insemination in Estrumate(R)-Treated Sokoto Gudali Cattle

Abstract

Pregnancy rates (PR) following timed artificial inseminations with frozen semen were investigated in 192 Sokoto Gudali (SG) cattle that were subjected to 11- and 12- day treatment intervals with prostaglandin F2alpha (Estrumate®). Two point inseminations at 60 h and 72 h post Estrumate®treatments were used. All cattle were randomly allocated to 2 groups i.e. A and B, such that each sub-groupof A1, A2, B1 and B2 had sixteen (16) cows and thirty two (32) heifers.Cattle in sub-groups A and B were administered Estrumate® at 11- and 12-day intervals, respectively. Cattle in sub-groups A1 and B1 were inseminated at 60 h while A2 and B2 were inseminated at 72 h, post second Estrumate® injection. Pregnancy was confirmed via rectal palpation. The results showed the following PR: 33%, 83%, 33% and 33% for cattle in sub-groups A1, A2, B1 and B2, respectively.It is concluded therefore thattimed artificial insemination at 72 h in SG cattle treated with double Estrumate® injections at 11-day interval produced the best pregnancy rate. This information will be useful when planning breeding with Estrumate® and possibly other prostaglandins as synchronizing agent in Sokoto Gudali cattle.