Assessment of Fertility, Progesterone Profiles and Oxidative Stress Parameters after Estrus Induction and Artificial Insemination in Cows

Abstract

Artificial insemination (AI) has been identified as a means to intensify local production and optimize the availability of proteins of animal origin in Africa. Some factors are seemingly responding to the failure of this application in rural areas. This study was conducted to evaluate the fertility, progesterone profiles, and oxidative stress parameters after estrus induction and artificial insemination in cows according to age, breeds, and body condition score after the implementation of two estrus synchronization protocols. The induction of estrus was realized using two protocols with each protocol corresponding to one group of cows. Oxidative stress parameters were studied by measuring the concentrations of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase. Protocol 1 was applied with CIDR+Cidirol-CIDR removal+Lutalyse+Cidirol-A, which resulted in a synchronization rate of 94.47%, and the second protocol with CIDR+Cidirol-CIDR removal+Lutalyse-IA+Cidirol (protocol 2), which gave an estrus rate of 70% and was significantly different from the first one (p < 0.05). The overall success rate of artificial insemination recorded was 69.23%. With respect to the protocols, protocol 1 gave a significantly higher gestation rate (80%) compared to protocol 2 (50%). Fertility was affected by the breed, age, and body condition score (p < 0.05). The later injection of the Cidirol (Day 9) in protocol 2 induced the lowest rate of fertility after artificial insemination. The present study also suggests that estrus synchronization methods and artificial insemination contribute to the variation of oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase which leads to an imbalance resulting in oxidative stress.