This study evaluated the effects of reproductive management factors on the conception rate of Girolando cows. Data were obtained from a commercial dairy farm located in Patrocínio, Minas Gerais, Brazil, using the Ideagri software. Reproductive records from 145 Girolando cows of different breed compositions, collected between January 2020 and August 2025, were analyzed. The variables evaluated included insemination condition (natural estrus or reproductive protocol), type of reproductive protocol, insemination center, and year of bull birth. Three reproductive protocols were assessed: protocol 1 consisted of two doses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administered on days 0 and 10, with insemination using conventional semen on day 12; protocol 2 involved natural estrus paired with prostaglandin (PG) administration on day 0, followed by insemination after 48 hours using conventional semen; protocol 3 included pre-synchronization with a progesterone implant, followed by GnRH and estradiol administration on day 0, PG on day 7, estradiol plus PG on day 9, and insemination with sexed semen on day 10. Semen from 46 Holstein bulls, born between 1989 and 2024 and originating from two artificial insemination centers, was used. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test at a 5% significance level, and Fisher’s exact test was applied when expected frequencies were below five. Significant associations were observed between conception rate and insemination condition, reproductive protocol, insemination center, and year of bull birth (p<0.0001). Cows subjected to reproductive protocols showed higher conception rates than those inseminated during natural estrus (40.59% vs. 31.88%). Protocols 1 and 3 resulted in higher conception rates compared to protocol 2 (40.63% and 40.00% vs. 31.88%, respectively). Insemination center 1 showed superior performance compared to center 2 (36.40% vs. 28.29%). The highest and lowest conception rates were observed with semen from bulls born in 2010 and 2019, respectively (52.27% vs. 26.62%). It is concluded that reproductive management strategies and bull-related factors significantly influence the conception rate of Girolando cows.
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Effect of factors related to reproductive protocols on conception rate in girolando cows
Published:
12 March 2026
by MDPI
in The 4th International Online Conference on Animals
session Animal Physiology, Reproduction, and Sustainable Animal Production
Abstract:
Keywords: artificial insemination; estrus; hormone; reproductive protocol.
