1.

Prostaglandin:
An injection of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2α) is given at a random stage of the cycle. Animals with an
active corpus luteum (CL) will undergo CL regression after the PGF2α challenge and will come into
heat between 2-7 days after the shot. Animals detected in estrus can be bred. Only those animals not
showing heat (and not bred) after the first shot, will receive a second PGF2α injection 11-14 days
after the first PGF2α and should be bred accordingly. It is not recommended to conduct TAI after a
PGF2α synchronization program, since the follicular wave was not synchronized and the stage of
follicular maturation is uncertain.
Important: prostaglandin cannot be used in pregnant animals – it will likely induce abortion.

FEATURES:
* Effective and inexpensive.
* Young heifers (i.e. 11-12 months of age) and early postpartum cows (less that 30 DIM) should not
be bred after the first shot.
* By rectal palpation or ultrasound examination, you can also determine the presence of a Corpus
Luteum (CL), and only these animals will receive the first shot. The second shot will be given to
animals not bred and/or not receiving the first shot.

2. MGA
(This product is not approved for lactating dairy cows.) Feed 0.5 mg/head/day of MGA (Melengestrol
Acetate) for 14 days. MGA is generally fed in a grain carrier and either top dressed onto other feed or
batch mixed with larger quantities. Inject a prostaglandin 31 days following the first MGA feeding.
PROCEDURE:
DAYS 0-14: Feed MGA.
DAY 31: Inject PGF2α.
DAY 33-37: Breed after synchronized estrus.
3. Synch( seven, eleven,18)
Seven-eleven Synch is a short term MGA program. Cows are bred after 19-23 days compared to 33-
37 days described for MGA.

PROCEDURE:
DAY 0-7: Feed MGA (0.5mg/head/day) for 7 days.
DAY 7: Inject Lutalyse (PGF2α) on the last day of MGA feeding. DO NOT BREED after this heat.
DAY 11: Inject GnRH.
DAY 18: Inject Lutalyse (PGF2α).
DAY 19-23: Breed after synchronized estrus.

4. OVSYNCH -48h
OvSynch uses PGF2α and GnRH to synchronize ovulation in lactating dairy cows. OvSynch was the
first synchronization protocol developed that allowed for timed AI (TAI) resulting in conception rates
similar to that of A.I. after a detected estrus.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle and start a new follicular wave ( i.e: 3-5 pm)
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α to regress CL (ie: 3-5 pm)
DAY 9: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle (ie: 3-5 pm)
DAY 10: Timed AI 12-16 hours after second GnRH - (ie: 7-9 am)

FEATURES:
* GnRH causes ovulation and initiation of a new follicular wave.
* Prostaglandin causes regression of the corpora lutea.
* The second GnRH synchronizes the time of ovulation of the dominant follicle of the follicular wave
that began growing after the first GnRH injection.
* Cows don't necessarily need to respond to the first GnRH injection to synchronize to the second
GnRH injection.

5. OVSYNCH-56
OvSynch-56 is a new modification of the original protocol that gives the second GnRH injection 56
hours after PGF2α and TAI 16 hours later (72 hours after the PGF2α. OvSynch-56 improved
conception rates in almost 10 percent compared to OVSynch.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle and start a new follicular wave (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α to regress CL (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 9: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 10: Timed AI 12-16 hours after second GnRH - (ie: 6-8 am)

FEATURES:
* Should be used in conjunction with PreSynch.
* OvSynch-56 improved conception rates in almost 10 percent points compared to OvSynch.
* Cows detected in estrus should be bred accordingly.
* Allows more time for follicular maturation compared to OvSynch.

6. PRESYNCH with two PGF + Ovsynch (only for first postpartum AI)
PreSynch is a modification of OvSynch in which two PGF2α injections 14 days apart are
administered, with the second PGF injection 12 days before initiation of the first GnRH injection of
OvSynch. PreSynch improves first service conception rate compared to OvSynch and is a good
strategy for programming cows to receive their first postpartum timed A.I. Some people prefer to keep
using 14 days between the second PGF and the initiation of Ovsynch, but the need to be aware of a
small decrease in fertility compared to the 12 day interval.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: PGF to start pre-synchronization
DAY 14: Second PGF should be used .
DAY 26: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle and start a new follicular wave
DAY 33: Inject PGF2α to regress CL.
DAY 35: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle .
DAY 36: Timed AI 12-16 hours after second GnRH

FEATURES:
* This system requires a long duration and timing. It is good for dairy cows that will receive their first
postpartum timed A.I.
* Not a good resynchronization tool because of the long duration.
* Studies have shown that conception rate was greater for cows receiving PreSynch vs. OvSynch.

7. CIDR SYNCH (48h or 56h)

CIDR Synch is an OvSynch program with the addition of a CIDR inserted for 7 days (inserted at the
time of first GnRH and removed at the time of PGF2α injection). When using this program
in Dairy or Beef heifers, the first GnRH shot may not be given, achieving similar results. Two days
after CIDR removal and PGF2α, administer GnRH and TAI 16 hours later.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH + insert CIDR.
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α + remove CIDR.
DAY 9: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle.
DAY 10: Timed AI 12-16 hours after second GnRH

FEATURES:
* CIDRs provide progesterone as a means to deal with variation in stage of the estrus cycle.
* CIDRs induce cyclicity in anestrous females increasing their probability of a fertile ovulation.
* Early heats are prevented.
* CIDRs is the most reliable strategy for TAI in dairy heifers.

8. SELECT SYNCH( zero, 7 AI, 11)

In the Select Synch program, the second GnRH is not administered, and cows are observed for estrus
and inseminated after heat detection following the PGF2α injection. Select Synch can be used in
conjunction with TAI in a program called Hybrid Synch, by inseminating cows detected in heat after
PGF2α and conducting TAI+ GnRH injection for animals not detected in estrus by 84 hours after
PGF2α.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle and start a new follicular wave.
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α to regress CL.
DAY 7-10: Inseminate animals observed in estrus.
DAY 11: TAI and GnRH for animals not observed in estrus by 72 hours after PGF2α.

8. Select Synch + CIRD-6d also known as CIDR 6(cidr protocol)

It is a short term progesterone treatment that allows synchronization of estrus with acceptable
conception rates. It is especially useful to synchronize estrus in dairy heifers and beef cows and
heifers.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH + insert CIDR .
DAY 6: Inject PGF2α to regress CL
DAY 7: Remove CIDR .
DAYS 7-11: Inseminate on detected estrus
FEATURES:
* Progesterone release through controlled diffusion within the insert.
* Plasma progesterone level rises to 4µg/ml in one hour.
* One use only for biosecurity control of venereal and blood borne diseases.
* PGF2α allows for regression of the CL, follicular maturation, therefore, estrus behavior, and
ovulation.
* Progesterone induces anestrus/prepubertal animals to cycle.

9. Select Synch + CIDR-7d also known as CIDR 7

Similar to CIDR 6, but PGF2α injection and CIDR removal occur simultaneously on day 7. If you want
to conduct timed A.I., administer GnRH and A.I. simultaneously 48 hours after the CIDR removal and
PGF.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH + insert CIDR (ie: 6-8 am).
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α to regress CL + remove CIDR (ie: 6-8 am).
DAYS 7-11: Inseminate on detected estrus

FEATURES:
* Best program for timed A.I. heifers.
* Similar to CIDR 6.
* One less handling compared to CIDR 6.
* Similar estrus expression and fertility as compared to CIDR 6.

10. 5-Day-CIDR synch

(recommended for heifers – research to validate its use in dairy cows is ongoing, but preliminary
results indicate that 2 PGF treatments 24h apart is required in cows).
Similar to CIDR 7, but PGF2α injection and CIDR removal occur simultaneously on day 5. Allow 5
days (not 4 and ½!) between CIDR insertion and removal and PGF2α. Important: do not use half dose
of PGF at any time to assure luteolysis. Timed A.I. should be performed at the same time of GnRH
treatment at 72h after CIDR removal and PGF2α.

11. G-6-G protocol( 0pg,2g+ovsynch)

3PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject PGF2α to start pre-synchronization (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 2: Inject GnRH (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 8: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle and start a new follicular wave (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 15: Inject PGF2α to regress CL (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 17: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 18: Timed AI 12-16 hours after second GnRH - (ie: 6-8 am)

FEATURES:
* This system requires a long duration and timing. It is recommended for dairy cows that will receive
their first postpartum timed A.I.
* May not be ideal for resynchronization because of its relative long duration.

12. Double-Ovsynch-56h (normally for first postpartum AI only)

PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH to start the “pre-synch-Ovsynh” (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 10: Inject GnRH (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 17: Inject GnRH to start the “breeding” Ovsynch (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 24: Inject PGF2α to regress CL (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 26: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 27: Timed AI 12-16 hours after second GnRH - (ie: 6-8 am)

FEATURES:
* This system requires a long duration and timing. It is recommended for dairy cows that will receive
 their first postpartum timed A.I.
* Proven to produce better conception rates at 1st postpartum AI than regular pre-synch with two
PGF2α.
* Only recommended for producers performing 100% timed AI at the 1st postpartum AI.
* May not be ideal for resynchronization because of its relative long duration. * Proven to minimize
double ovulations in high producing cows and, thereby, reducing twin pregnancies.

13. Heat Synch (prot1ocol not authorized in USA) ECP 1 day b4 2nd gnrh
Important: Since ECP was withdrawn from the market by the Federal Drugs Administration (FDA),
there is not commercial Estrogen for use in dairy cattle available in the United States. HeatSynch is
an alternative to OvSynch in which 1.0 mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP) is administered 24 hours after
the PGF2α injection ofOvSynch to induce ovulation rather than administering GnRH 48 hours after
PGF2α. Overall, HeatSynch results in similar reproductive performance to OvSynch but may not be
effective for synchronizing anovular cows.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Inject GnRH to ovulate follicle and start a new follicular wave (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 7: Inject PGF2α to regress CL (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 8: Inject 1mg of estradiol cypionate (ECP) to induce ovulation (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 10: Timed AI 48 hours after ECP (ie: 6-8 am)

FEATURES:
* ECP is administered 24 hours after the PGF2α injection instead of 48 hours used GnRH.
* Timed A.I. is 48 hours after the ECP injection.
* Not as effective as GnRH for inducing ovulation in anovular/anestrus cows.
* Lower cost compared with GnRH.
* Study recommendation is to breed any cows detected in standing estrus by 24 hours after the ECP
injection to improve overall response to the protocol. Cows not detected in estrus at 24 hours then
receive timed A.I. at 48 hours after ECP.

14. RESYNCH 0
Based on 35% average conception rate in the U.S., you will have around 65% non-pregnant cows
after a single insemination. Since your goal is to get them all pregnant, it makes sense to identify open
cows as early as possible and resubmit them for a second AI service in a reduced period of time.
Resynchronization is a strategy by which non pregnant cows are resubmitted for a second AI service
quickly after pregnancy diagnosis using OvSynch type protocols. In this program, the first GnRH for
the resynchronization is given to open cows at herd check (day 0), which should be day 26-33 after
first insemination. It is not recommended to start resynchronization before day 26 because of low
fertility experienced in research trials.
 PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Timed AI
DAY 33: Pregnancy check, and Inject GnRH only to open cows.
DAY 40: Inject PGF2α to resynchronized cows on day 33.
DAY 42: Inject GnRH and TAI according to the program selected.

FEATURES:
* Resynchronization is an aggressive strategy that should be combined with early pregnancy
diagnosis (ideally ultrasound) to get the greatest advantage. If you are not using ultrasound go to day
33-40 for pregnancy diagnosis.
* If using HeatSynch, give ECP on Day 8 instead of GnRH on Day 9 and TAI on Day 10.

15. RESYNCH -7
ReSynch -7 is an even more aggressive resynchronization strategy in which the first GnRH injection
for the second synchronization (resynchronization) is given 7 days before the pregnancy diagnosis
(day 0). Although cows receive a GnRH at unknown pregnancy status, GnRH does not have negative
impact on pregnant cows. By using resycnh -7 open cows receive PGF2α immediately after
pregnancy diagnosis, and are inseminated 2 (CoSynch) or 3 (OvSynch) days after pregnancy check.
With this program you will resubmit all open cows for a second A.I. one week earlier compared
to ReSynch 0.

PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Timed AI
DAY 26: Inject GnRH to all cows (unknown pregnancy status).
DAY 33: Pregnancy check. INJECT PGF2α ONLY TO OPEN COWS.
DAY 35: Inject GnRH and Timed AI according to the program selected.
 FEATURES:
* Do not conduct ultrasound before day 33 post breeding, since you would be giving GnRH earlier that
Day 26. Administration of GnRH before Day 26 post TAI may reduce you possibilities of success.
* Rapid ReSynch, a modification of ReSynch, gives PGF2α to open cows at the time of pregnancy
diagnosis, but does not administer the first GnRH. This program might yield inconsistent results
because no follicular wave is synchronized, thus stage of follicular development at Timed AI is
unknown.
16. EB + CIDR (protocol not authorized in USA)
It is an 8-day progesterone treatment that allows very good synchronization rates in cycling and
anovular animals. It is especially useful to synchronize ovulation in dairyheifers and beef cows and
heifers.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Insert CIDR + 2mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) - (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 8: Inject with PGF2α + Remove CIDR (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 9: Inject 1mg of estradiol benzoate (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 10: Timed A.I. 30h after last EB treatment (ie: noon-2 pm)
 FEATURES:
* The combination between estrogen and CIDR will synchronize follicular wave very effectively.
* Progesterone release through controlled diffusion within the insert.
* PGF2α allows for regression of the CL, follicular maturation, therefore, estrus behavior, and
ovulation.
* Progesterone induces anestrus/prepubertal animals to cycle. * Last estrogen will synchronize
ovulation and allow for timed A.I.

17. EB + eCG + CIDR (protocol not authorized in USA)

Similar to EB + CIDR protocol. The additional equine gonadotropin (eCG) at CIDR removal increases
CL function, circulating progesterone, and conception results particularly in heifers and cows that
were not cycling before the protocol.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Insert CIDR + 2mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 8: Inject with PGF2α + eCG + Remove CIDR (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 9: Inject 1mg of estradiol benzoate (ie: 6-8 am)
DAY 10: Timed A.I. 30h after last EB treatment (ie: noon-2 pm)
 FEATURES:
* The combination between estrogen and CIDR will synchronize follicular wave very effectively.
* Progesterone release through controlled diffusion within the insert.
* Progesterone induces anestrus/prepubertal animals to cycle.
* PGF2α allows for regression of the CL, follicular maturation, therefore, estrus behavior, and
ovulation.
* eCG will enhance CL function and circulating progesterone after ovulation. * Last estrogen will
synchronize ovulation and allow for timed A.I.

18. EB + GnRH + CIDR (protocol not authorized in USA)

Similar to EB + CIDR protocol. However, GnRH is used at the end of the protocol to induce ovulation
instead of estradiol benzoate (EB). Conception rates are very similar to EB + CIDR, but GnRH will
trigger more synchronized ovulations, which may be beneficial in some situations.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Insert CIDR + 2mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) - (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 8: Inject with PGF2α + Remove CIDR (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 10: Inject GnRH (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 11: Timed A.I. 16h after last GnRH treatment (ie: 6-8 am)
 FEATURES:
* The combination between estrogen and CIDR will synchronize follicular wave very effectively.
* Progesterone release through controlled diffusion within the insert.
* Progesterone induces anestrus/prepubertal animals to cycle.
* PGF2α allows for regression of the CL, follicular maturation, therefore, estrus behavior, and
ovulation.
* eCG will enhance CL function and circulating progesterone after ovulation.
* GnRH will synchronize ovulation very precisely and allow for timed A.I.

19. EB + eCG + GnRH + CIDR (protocol not authorized in USA)

Similar to EB + CIDR protocol. The additional equine gonadotropin (eCG) at CIDR removal increases
CL function, circulating progesterone, and conception results particularly in heifers and cows that
were not cycling before the protocol.
PROCEDURE:
DAY 0: Insert CIDR + 2mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) - (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 8: Inject with PGF2α + eCG + Remove CIDR (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 10: Inject GnRH (ie: 2-4 pm)
DAY 11: Timed A.I. 16h after last GnRH treatment (ie: 6-8 am)
FEATURES:
* The combination between estrogen and CIDR will synchronize follicular wave very effectively.
* Progesterone release through controlled diffusion within the insert.
* Progesterone induces anestrus/prepubertal animals to cycle.
* PGF2α allows for regression of the CL, follicular maturation, therefore, estrus behavior, and
ovulation.
* eCG will enhance CL function and circulating progesterone after ovulation.
* GnRH will synchronize ovulation very precisely and allow for timed A.I.

20. Superovulation protocol for Bos Taurus cattle

(Approved for outside the USA - use under Veterinary discretion)
 22. Superovulation protocol for Bos Indicus cattle
(Approved for outside the USA - use under Veterinary discretion)

Superovulation protocol without estrogen (Bo et al., 2008)

(approved for USA - use under Veterinary discretion)