Treatment of Infertile Cows: Efficacy of PGF2α and Gentamicin or Their Combination in a PRID Regime

The efficacy of PGF2α and intrauterine gentamicin or their combination in a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (PRID) regime was investigated for treatment of infertility in cows. From 46 infertile cows, body condition scores (BCSs) were recorded and the cows were then divided into 4 experimental groups according to the synchronisation protocol and intrauterine gentamicin administration as follows: i) PRID (1.55 g of progesterone and 10 mg of oestradiol benzoate) for 12 days plus artificial insemination (AI) at 48 and 72 h (group 1, n = 8), ii) PRID for 12 days plus an i.m. injection of 0.150 mg of cloprostenol on day 10 and 2 AIs (group 2, n = 10), iii) PRID for 12 days plus 2 AIs and intrauterine 250 mg of gentamicin sulphate after 30 min (group 3, n = 18), and iv) PRID for 12 days plus an injection of cloprostenol on day 10 and gentamicin administration after 2 AIs (group 4, n = 10). Following administrations, the oestrus rates and 60-120 day non-return rates (NRRs) were determined in all cows. The respective oestrus rates in groups 1 to 4 were 75.0 ± 16.4%, 90.0 ± 10.0%, 72.2 ± 10.9% and 100.0 ± 0.0% with no significant differences between them. Likewise, corresponding NRRs were 37.5 ± 18.3%, 30.0 ± 15.3%, 27.8 ± 10.9% and 60.0 ± 16.3%, and there were no significant differences between them. However, the oestrus rates and NRRs were higher in group 4. The results indicate that the combination of PGF2α and gentamicin in a PRID regime may be useful for the treatment of infertility in cows.