Lecirelin and Buserelin (Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists) are equally effective for fixed time insemination in buffalo

Abstract

Buffalo has peculiar reproductive patterns, which make artificial insemination programs a hard and expensive task. Artificial insemination in fixed time is advantaged because females show low incidence of homosexual behaviour and strong dominance relationships, which leads to a poor accuracy in estrus detection. The aim of this experiment was to compare the efficiency of two different GnRH agonists in the GnRH/PGF2alpha/GnRH protocol (Buserelin vs Lecirelin). Two hundred and seventy buffaloes with 45 to 60 days postpartum were synchronized and fixed-time inseminated. The animals were kept on pasture in two farms at São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Cows in Group 1 (n = 132) received, intramuscularly, 20 µg of Buserelin at a random day of the estrous cycle and, seven days later, 15 mg of prostaglandin F2alpha. Two days after prostaglandin administration, 10 µg Buserelin were intramuscularly injected. Cows in Group 2 (n = 138) were treated with the same protocol, but with intra-muscular administrations of Lecirelin (50 µg in the first administration and 25 µg in the second). Artificial insemination was performed 16 hours after the last injection in both groups. Pregnancies were diagnosed by ultrasonography (Pie Medical 480, 5.0 and 7.5 MHz linear probe), 30 days after artificial insemination. Conception rates were not influenced by farm (P >; 0.05) and were similar in both groups [Group 1: 47.0% (62/132); Group 2: 50.0% (69/138); P >; 0.05]. Results show that Lecirelin is as efficient as Buserelin to synchronize ovulation for fixed-time artificial insemination in buffaloes.