EFFECT OF A CIDR INSERT AND FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE ADMINISTERED AT THE TIME OF EMBRYO TRANSFER ON PREGNANCY RATE AND RESYNCHRONIZATION OF ESTRUS IN BEEF CATTLE by SCOTT

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of flunixin meglumine (FM), an inhibitor of PGF2α synthesis, administered at the time of embryo transfer (ET) and insertion of an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR) at the time of ET on pregnancy rates (PR) and the resynchronization of estrus. Beef cows (n = 796) and heifers (n = 108) at three locations were assigned randomly within age to one of four groups in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with injection of FM (500 mg i.m.; Phoenix Scientific, St. Joseph, MO) 2 to 12 min prior to ET and insertion of a CIDR (1.38 g progesterone; Pfizer, New York, NY) for 13 d immediately following ET as main effects. Fresh or frozen embryos (Stage = 4 or 5; Grade = 1 or 2) were randomly assigned to be transferred to recipients on d 6 to 9 of the estrous cycle. At Location 2 a subset of fresh embryos were split and transferred as fresh half embryos (n = 192). Recipients at Location 2 only (n = 493) were observed for signs of return to estrus beginning 9 d after ET. Recipients that returned to estrus at Location 2 were either bred by AI 12 h after estrus or received an embryo 7 d after estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Pregnancy rates were analyzed using the LOGISTIC procedure of SAS. Pregnancy rates of split embryo recipients were analyzed separately using the same statistical procedure. Variation in the timing of the return to estrus was determined by an F-test for heterogeneity of variances. Following the initial ET, pregnancy rates of recipients receiving whole embryos were not affected by CIDR administration (P > 0.05; 65% with CIDR, 70% without CIDR), however, there was a significant FM x location interaction on PR (Location 1, 89 vs. 57%; Location 2, 69 vs. 64%; Location 3, 64 vs. 67% for FM vs. no FM, respectively). There was a significant CIDR x FM interaction on PR of recipients receiving split embryos. Pregnancy rates of split embryo recipients