Breeding programs for dairy herds using prostaglandin F2α products to save labor

Three reproductive management systems designed to use prostaglandin F2α (PGF) to save labor needed for estrous detection and artificial insemination (AI) were compared to conventional dairy herd reproductive management to evaluate their potential to maintain herd reproductive performance. The four experimental groups were: (1) CONTROL = daily estrous detection for AI with no PGF intervention, (2) Appointment (APPT) AI = double PGF injection at a 12-day interval followed by single appointment AI at 72 hrs for first AI, with repeat AI based on estrous detection, (3) 7-DAY = weekly (Monday) PGF injection for all cows ready for first or repeat AI with AI based on estrous detection which occurred only four days (Wednesday through Saturday) of each week, and (4) 21-DAY = repeating 21-day blocks of 13 days of AI based on estrous detection with PGF given on day 8 to cows yet to be inseminated and 8 days with no estrous detection or AI. All cows in all groups became eligible for breeding after a voluntary waiting period (VWP) of 54 days.