Effect of estrus synchronization with Syncro-Mate-B((R)) on serum luteinizing hormone, progesterone and conception rate in Brahman heifers

Twenty-two estrous cyclic, 2-yr-old Brahman heifers were randomly assigned to receive either estrus synchronization with Syncro-Mate-B((R)) (SMB; 11) or no treatment (Control; 11). Blood samples were collected via tail vessel puncture at onset of estrus and daily thereafter until Day 11 after estrus. Blood samples were also collected from five SMB and five Control heifers at 0, 4, 8 and 12 h after the onset of estrus. All samples were processed to yield serum and stored at -20 degrees C until radioimmunoassay. Heifers were inseminated by one technician using semen from a single ejaculate of a Brahman bull 12 h after the onset of estrus. All SMB heifers exhibited estrus within 72 h of implant removal. All heifers had corpora lutea (CL) detected by rectal examination 8 to 12 d following estrus. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was not affected by treatment, time (4 - h intervals) or an interaction of treatment by time (P > 0.10). Independent analysis with h indicated that at h 12, SMB (2.2 +/- 0.06 ng/ml) had lower LH than did control heifers (8.9 +/- 2.1 ng/ml). Serum progesterone increased from Day 1 through Day 12 in all heifers, which is indicative of functional CL. Serum progesterone was affected by treatment (P < 0.0001) and time (d intervals; P < 0.10). Progesterone elevation was lower (P < 0.05) and area under the progesterone curve was lower (P < 0.03) in SMB (5.6 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, 32.0 +/- 4.5 units, respectively) when compared with control heifers (7.0 +/- 4 ng/ml, 43.7 +/- 2.4 units, respectively). Conception rate was lower (P < 0.01) in SMB heifers (2 of 11) than in control heifers (8 of 11). The lowered conception rate in SMB treated Brahman heifers may be due to altered timing of LH release following estrus, resulting in an altered time of ovulation.