Bethany Johnston and Aaron Berger explain the fundamentals of shortening the calving season using estrus synchronization. While simple in practice, producers need to remember that a number of factors affect pregnancy rate including cow body condition score, plane of nutrition, cattle health and bull fertility.
Utilizing natural service with estrus synchronization requires adequate bull power.
Source: Drovers, May 22, 2019. Link. The injection of prostaglandin causes any cows with a corpus luteum present on one of their ovaries to regress, ceasing progesterone production. This then triggers the cows to come into heat/estrus.
Breeding bulls should undergo a breeding soundness exam prior to the breeding season.
INSIGHTS: Synchronization is frequently associated with artificial insemination. Johnston and Berger reveal how synchronization can be used with natural service from healthy, powerful bulls.