J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1977. 44:438-441.
© 1977 American Society of Animal Science
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Use of Prostaglandin F2{alpha} to Induce Parturition in Beef Heifers1

D. M. Henricks, N. C. Rawlings2, A. R. Ellicott, J. F. Dickey and J. R. Hill3

Clemson University,4, Clemson, SC 29631

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of prostaglandin F2{alpha} for induction of parturition in beef heifers. Forty-one heifers were assigned to one of three treatment groups on day 260 of gestation. Heifers in group I received no treatment. Those in groups II and III were injected with 30 mg of PGF2{alpha}-THAM salt intramuscularly (im) on day 267 of gestation. In addition, heifers in group III were injected with 400 µg of estradiol-17ß (E2ß) im on day 268 and daily thereafter until parturition. Treatment with PGF2{alpha} alone or in combination with E2ß significantly (P<.01) decreased gestation length by 10 and 8 days, respectively, compared to gestation length of control animals. In group II, 67% of the heifers calved within 72 hr after treatment compared with 43% of the heifers in group III. Prostaglandin F2{alpha} increased the incidence of retained placenta (P<01). Therapy with E2ß did not significantly (P>.05) lower the incidence of retained placenta. Heifers treated with PGF2a or PGF2{alpha} + E2ß had calves with significantly (P<.05) lighter birth weights than the untreated heifers, but the incidence of dystocia and calf mortality were similar among all three groups (P>.05). There were more abnormal presentations of calves among the treated heifers than among the untreated heifers. Udder development was also significantly (P<.05) less in the treated animals.

Footnotes

1 Technical Contribution No. 1325 of the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson University, Clemson 29631.

2 Present address: Department of Veterinary Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

3 The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Dr. S. Woods, G. Sauer, J. Dantzler, L. Blankenship and S. Frawley, the advice of Dr. W. Johnston on the statistical analysis and the gift of PGF2{alpha}-THAM salt from Dr. J. Lauderdale, Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, MI.

4 Departments of Food Science, Animal Science and Dairy Science.






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Copyright © 1977 by the American Society of Animal Science.