Glycerol supplementation after artificial insemination increases conception rate in Holstein cows
2010
Ortega León, Alvaro | Hernández Cerón, Joel | Gutierrez G., Carlos
In the present study, the possibility to improve conception rate (CR) in Holstein cows, due to an increase in insulin concentration promoted by oral administration of a glycogenic substance (glycerol), was tested. A total of one to three inseminations from 190 Holstein cows, body condition 2.5 to 3 were used. At insemination (day 0), cows were divided at random in two groups, i) glycerol group (n=95) was given 1 L of a glycerol/water solution (90:10 v/v) orally, and again on d 2, 4 and 6, whereas the ii) Control group (n=95), was given 1 L water at the same time. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 45 d post insemination through rectal examination. Conception rate was compared by X2 (Chi Square) test. In six animals in each group, plasma insulin concentrations were determined through radioimmunoassay (RIA) before being drenched with glycerol and in the following 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 min and compared between groups by ANOVA for repeated measurements. CR was higher in the glycerol group (P<0.05) (47.4) than in control (31.6). Glycerol increased insulin concentration (P<0.05). It is concluded that glycerol administered in the first six days post insemination increases the conception rate in Holstein cows. The increase in insulin levels might be involved in this effect.
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