The treatment of cystic ovarian disease (COD) in dairy cows is still controversial, and some researchers recommend using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regardless of the type of cysts. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the reproductive performance of cows diagnosed with follicular or luteal cystic structures, after treatment with either buserelin acetate (GnRH agonist) or dinoprost (prostaglandin F2-alpha or PGF2α). The diagnosis was established by ultrasonographic examinations performed twice a month starting 40–45 days after calving, until the cows were diagnosed pregnant after artificial insemination. Both types of cysts were treated either with 21 µg buserelin acetate or 25 mg dinoprost, resulting in four subject groups. After treatment, the estrus rate in cows with follicular cysts treated with dinoprost (55.1%) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than in cows treated with buserelin acetate (77.5%) or in cows diagnosed with luteal cysts (77.2% for dinoprost and 72.4% for buserelin acetate). The conception rate was higher (P<0.05) in cows with follicular cysts treated with buserelin acetate (67.7%) than in those treated with dinoprost (60%) or in those with luteal cysts (56.9% for dinoprost and 47.5% for buserelin acetate). These results show that it is preferable to differentiate between the two types of ovarian cysts before treatment. Luteal cysts can be treated with either PGF2α or GnRH analogues, with better results when PGF2α is used. Contrastingly, follicular cysts are better treated with GnRH analogues. When differentiation is not possible, GnRH analogues are recommended over PGF2α.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of propylene glycol on metabolic variables of hepatic function, body condition score, milk fat-protein concentration and reproductive performance of dairy cows after ending administration. Postparturient dairy cows (n = 200) of Holstein Friesian breed were divided into two groups of 100 individuals. The experimental group received during days 0-7 post partum an oral daily dose of 600 ml of propylene glycol; the control group was without any supplement. The hepatic enzymes, glucose, cholesterol and serum albumin were measured on days 10-15, 45-50 and 70 post partum. Reproduction indicators of dairy cows were calculated from the farm recording data and the milk data record from a regular dairy control (days 10, 20, 30, and 50 post partum). Animals that received propylene glycol in the first 7 days post partum had reduced activities of aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, elevated cholesterol concentration (P < 0.05) and low milk fat percentage (P < 0.05) compared to control animals. Direct influence of propylene glycol drenching on the calving to first oestrus interval was observed, the smallest values being detected for the cows in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that some blood indicators of hepatic function, milk fat concentration and calving to first oestrus interval can be improved for 70 days post partum by the use of propylene glycol drenching in the first 7 days post partum. The beneficial effect of this treatment could be evaluated by easily available data, which can be used by practitioners in the field to analyze fertility problems in dairy herds and more exactly to examine whether metabolic stress, among other factors, is involved in the fertility problem.

ABSTRACT. The in vitro production (IVP) of bovine embryos increases the selection intensity in cattle and reduces the generation interval, which is very important in the genetic gain. In Romania, this reproductive biotechnology has shown a timid evolution in the last years, although the need for genetic improvement in the area is present. The aim of this paper is to describe the work that resulted in first bovine embryos obtained through IVP in North-Eastern Romania. Oocytes were collected by slashing ovaries from slaughtered cows, matured in a TCM199-based medium and fertilized in TL-based medium microdrops with sperm processed by swim-up procedure. The presumptive embryos were cultured one day in TCM199 and 8 days in SOF-based medium and evaluated in days 7, 8 and 9 after fertilization. We retrieved an average number of 83 usable oocytes/IVF session, which represents 73.8% from the total harvested oocytes. The average number of cleaved embryos was 50.8 per IVF, reflecting an average cleavage rate of 61.2%. An average of 8.6 blastocysts/IVF session was obtained, representing 10.4% of the selected oocytes or 16.9% of the number of cleaved embryos. Although suboptimal, the results were comparable with other reports on IVP in cattle. The adapted IVP protocol, based on maturation with TCM199, fertilization in microdrops of TL and culture of presumptive embryos one day in TCM199 and afterwards in SOF seems to offer acceptable results and will be used for further attempts to produce bovine embryos.Keywords: IVP; TCM199 medium; TL medium; SOF medium; swim-up. REZUMAT. Producerea in vitro S.I. BORŞ ET AL.110 creștere a intensității de selecție a bovinelor și o reducere a intervalului între generații, elemente importante în realizarea câștigului genetic. În România, această biotehnică de reproducere asistată la taurine a prezentat o evoluție timidă în ultimii ani, deși există o nevoie crescută în ceea ce privește ameliorarea șeptelului de bovine pentru lapte. Scopul acestui studiu este de a descrie rezultatele obținute ca urmare a cercetărilor efectuate pentru producerea primilor embrioni in vitro la specia Bos taurus în zona de Nord-Est a României. Ovocitele au fost recoltate prin realizarea unor incizii multiple în corticala ovarelor provenite de la vaci sacrificate în abator, apoi maturate în mediul TCM 199 și fertilizate în mediul TL, cu material seminal procesat prin metoda swim-up. Embrionii au fost apoi cultivați o zi în mediul TCM 199 și 8 zile în mediul SOF, evaluarea lor făcându-se pe parcurs în zilele 7, 8 și 9 după fertilizare. S-a obținut o medie de 83 ovocite de bună calitate recoltate/sesiune fertilizare in vitro (FIV), ceea ce reprezintă 73,8% din totalul ovocitelor recoltate. Numărul mediu de embrioni divizați a fost de 50,8/sesiune FIV, ceea ce reflectă o rată de clivaj de aproximativ 61,2%. Din totalul acestora s-a obținut un număr mediu de 8,6 blastociști/sesiune FIV, reprezentând 10,4% din totalul ovocitelor selectate sau 16,9% din numărul de embrioni clivați. Deși rezultatele nu sunt optime, pot f...

The early resumption of estrous cycles following calving is important for high reproductive efficiency, but also for the cows which haven't been observed in estrus during the first 60 days after calving, the last ones having a significantly higher risk of being culled than cows that have displayed estrus .The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hormonal treatment on reproduction period in cows, and also to establish if there is any significant difference in some reproductive parameters between cows treated with hormonal medication and cows which resumed ovarian cyclicity before 60 days postpartum.This study was performed in a dairy cow's farm in North-Eastern Moldavia, over a period of 2 consecutive years, on Romanian Black Spotted cows, in order to determine hormonal treatments influence over reproduction period. Hormonal treatments used for the above mentioned diseases were represented by luteolytic agent prostaglandin F2α, one of its potent analogues (Proliz, Biotur, Romania) and by administration of exogenous gonadotrophin releasing hormone (Receptal, Intervet, Romania).We noticed that average reproduction period (52.1 days) and the other breeding intervals that were taken under study (over a two years period), presented different values for cows that have been under hormonal medication treatment, compared to those which resumed ovarian cyclicity before 60 days postpartum (52.7 days).Thus, this preliminary study supports the development of a more detailed study on several dairy cows' farms in order to investigate the answer of different types of hormonal treatments against persistent corpus luteum and cystic ovarian disease.

ABSTRACT. Three groups of HolsteinFriesian cows were used to test the effect of two intravenous solutions on metritis, mastitis prevalence and reproductive performance. The first solution containing 3000 mg Butaphosphan (100 mg/ml) and 1.5 mg B12 Vitamin (0.05 mg/ml) was administered to BB12 group in the first 3 days after parturition and the second solution containing 3000 mg Butaphosphan (100 mg/ml), 1.5 mg B12 Vitamin (0.05 mg/ml) and 7 g of C vitamin (0.1 g/ml) was administered to BB12C group in the same period. The control group (C) didn't receive any intravenous solution. The TukeyKrammer multiple comparison tests were used to compare the results. The prevalence of clinical metritis, puerperal metritis and clinical mastitis was lower in the BB12C group (p< 0.05), compared to BB12 and C groups. Regarding the prevalence of metritis and mastitis no differences was observed in the BB12 group, compared with the C group (p>0.05). However, no difference was observed in the prevalence of the clinical endometritis (p>0.05) for the all three groups of cows. Also, the BB12C group registered the best calving to first insemination interval and calving to conception interval (p< 0.05). In conclusion, the intravenous cocktail containing Butaphosphan, B12 and C Vitamin can reduce the prevalence of some uterus and udder infection in the first 7 days after parturition in dairy cows.

Research on bovine oocytes cryopreservation is important for successful preservation of genetically valuable animal. The transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular puncture coupled with in vitro embryo production has become competitive and alternative method for MOET (Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer) in dairy cattle. The aim of this preliminary research is to presents the result of Bălțată cu Negru Românească (BNR) cows oocytes recovery by two different protocols and its cryopreservation by slow freezing method. By applying the recovery oocytes from slaughterhouse ovary we obtained an average of 16.34 ± 6.71 oocytes per cow, much higher compared with the Ovum Pick Up (OPU) method, which reveals an average of 2.75 ± 0.2 oocytes per cow. After applying the slow freezing procedures using the ethylene glycol cryoprotectant we observed the oocytes with cumulus cells normal with the spherical shape and normal zone pellucida.