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Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Repeat breeder syndrome in dairy cows: influence of breed and age on its prevalence and the success of a hormone therapy*

Robert ZOBEL1, Suzana TKALCIC2, Vlatka BUIC1, Ivana PIPAL1, Darko GERES3, Marko SAMARDZIJA3

1Veterinary practice Struzec, VETMED d.o.o.; Popovaca - CROATIA
2Western University of Health Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, California - USA
3Clinic of Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb - CROATIA

Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of repeat breeder syndrome (RBS) in different breeds and reproductive ages of cattle in central Croatia and to assess the effectiveness of hormone therapy as a treatment option. A total of 1088 dairy cows were observed, 218 heifers and 870 multiparous cows. After the third unsuccessful artificial insemination (n = 164) and a thorough clinical and gynecological examination, the cows were tested for sexually transmitted diseases. An RBS diagnosis was based on failure to conceive, negative laboratory tests for sexually transmitted diseases, and the absence of other reproductive disorders. The highest prevalence of RBS was found in crossbreed cows, followed by the Holstein-Friesian, Red Holstein, and Simmental breeds. RBS was not detected in cows of the Swiss Brown breed. The prevalence of RBS was significantly higher in heifers in comparison to multiparous cows. Cows diagnosed with RBS were administrated hormone therapy based on the Double Ovsynch protocol with applications of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and a prostaglandin analogue (cloprostenol). This hormone treatment resulted in a higher conception rate in all treated animals and significantly impacted the culling rate due to the subfertility.

Key words: Repeat breeder syndrome, cattle, Croatia, prevalence, treatment


Turk. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 2011; 35: 405-411.
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Other articles published in the same issue: Turk. J. Vet. Anim. Sci.,vol.35,iss.6.