Using CIDRs to Improve Pregnancy Rates

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Peter Elsden

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Oct 2, 2011
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There have been many attempts to improve pregnancy rates by administering progesterone (PG) from injections to vaginal suppositories. Unfortunately, results have been well below expectations but have improved with the advent of controlled intravaginal releasing devices (CIDRs) for synchronizing estrus improving CLs (corpora lutea) resulting in larger follicles producing higher quality eggs.

CIDRs contain 1.9g of P4. They release 610mg of P4 averaging 87mg/day into the blood stream of the cow. High producing dairy cows metabolize high rates of P4 due to the large blood liver flow. Therefor one CIDR increases P4 by only 0.78ng/ml in a lactating cow after 7 days of application, compared to 4 to 5.8ng/ml in an untreated cow. From these findings one CIDR is insufficient to improve P4 levels needed to sustain a CL resulting in larger follicles and improved quality of eggs.

Recent studies with lactating cows (under stress due to milk production) have reported increased pregnancy rates when two CIDRs are inserted. It would seem reasonable to assume the same results are achieved in beef cattle under stress for example sudden large changes in temperature over a few hours, insufficient energy in a ration, too fat for optimum breeding and possibly too frequent synchronization and superovulation efforts. Therefore, it was hypothesized that two CIDRs in a difficult situation could improve pregnancy rates by obtaining better quality eggs.

In a recent study 1160 Holsteins of which 326 (29%) had no CL thus significantly reducing rates of circulating P4. Cows were divided into two randomized groups, one group received one CIDR and the second group received two CIDRs vaginally inserted. After removal of the CIDRs followed by heat, 7 days later cows were implanted with 7 day embryos. The cows recording low P4 and missing a CL (due to stress) at the start of the synchronizing and superovulation treatment and given two CIDRs resulted in higher pregnancy rates at Day 60 (27.6%) compared to the one CIDR cows. Previous studies have shown that increased P4 during follicular development can alter early embryo development and quality.

In conclusion it maybe judicious to attempt the two CIDR protocol for estrous synchronization when cows have been stressed or routinely produce poor quality embryos.

Dr. Peter Elsden
Owner / Instructor
International Embryo Transfer School
www.ETschool.com
 

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shortybreeder

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Feb 23, 2015
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Just to clarify, you're saying the 2 CIDR's are inserted at the same time? And the 2 CIDR groups had an additional 27.6% pregnancies at 60 days?
 

CAB

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I have better luck both AIing off of natural heats and implanting embryos using natural standing heats. What are other peoples experiences? I often wonder if the Cidrs cause some minor infections and therefore reduce conception rates.
 

shortybreeder

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Feb 23, 2015
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CAB said:
I have better luck both AIing off of natural heats and implanting embryos using natural standing heats. What are other peoples experiences? I often wonder if the Cidrs cause some minor infections and therefore reduce conception rates.
We wipe the vulva with a paper towel soaked in Nolvasan, and the CIDR's/implant gun go straight from the bucket of hot Nolvasan into the cow and we don't get any infections. If they get contaminated in any way they get sanitised again. We have a lot of luck with AI, but embryos are more hit or miss. Natural is the way to go if you can catch them, but I'm not around enough to catch every cow in a natural heat
 

b_kackley

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Mar 4, 2014
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Guernsey County OHIO
The original CIDR's had more progesterone than needed and many people used them twice. Myself included. I was there when the initial testing was done before the product was released to the public. Of the thousands of cattle they have been used on the average conception rate on timed AI was 70%. The numbers I saw with the 5 day protocol increased conception rate by about 5%. Mind that the 5 day protocol numbers I saw had a smaller group of cattle. I have used the 5 day the last 5 years, and my conception rates have improved slightly. I have had years when i got 60% and years when I got 90% but I average them out and I am about 75%. Natural heat is by far the best nearing 90% on average for conception single service. All of this can change due to condition of cattle, nutrition, semen quality and handling, and the list goes on. This two CIDR's thing makes me curious but why would they not just put more progesterone on one, or make one bigger with more surface area to increase absorbtion so I have to buy a new implant gun:) I fully agree with CAB sanitation is important. I started using nolvasan mixed in with my lube to implant CIDR's and I no longer have trouble with infections.
 

Hopster1000

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Feb 18, 2014
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Does reinserting the CIDR or PRID 4 days after the AI and removing it 10 days later make any difference to conception rates? I have only recently heard of people doing this.
 

Hopster1000

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Feb 18, 2014
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KAXX said:
Haven't heard about that and personally for the risk of infection and stress on the cows I will not try it.

I used a PRID in a heifer this week for the first time. AI'd on Tues. The semen supplier and a vet both advised to put the PRID back in. Was dubious for your reasons. I did clean it, dry it, seal it in a bag and refrigerate just it in case.
 
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Mar 19, 2017
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Alberta, Canada
CAB said:
I have better luck both AIing off of natural heats and implanting embryos using natural standing heats. What are other peoples experiences? I often wonder if the Cidrs cause some minor infections and therefore reduce conception rates.

We have found the same. I would say that cidrs do improve the rates, but we've had much better luck with a product called super sync. No cidrs involved at all. We do try to AI on natural heats as well, but we all work off the farm so we don't always catch them.
 
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