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Genomic prediction of daughter pregnancy rate (GDPR) and cow conception rate (GCCR) are fertility traits developed to help improve selection for reproductive performance. Although these traits overlap, their denominator can vary, and programs with different strategies combining estrus detection (ED) and timed AI might experience different associations with these traits (e.g., shorter interval for first service for high GDPR quartiles, but not for GCCR). The objectives were to assess days from calving to first service (TP1), AI at ED (AIE), pregnancy at the first service (P1), pregnancy loss for the first service (PL), and number of services to conception (NSFC) in 2 reproductive programs (RepP) combining variable ED length and timed AI (TAI) and their relationship with GDPR and GCCR. Holstein cows from a single farm were randomly allocated to 2 different programs, the short RepP (n = 982) or long RepP (n = 942). In the short RepP, cows were enrolled in a Presynch-Ovsynch (PGF 2α : 36 ± 3 and 50 ± 3 DIM) followed by ED and AI from 50 ± 3 to 62 ± 3 DIM. Cows not detected in estrus underwent in the Ovsynch (GnRH: 62 ± 3, PGF 2α : 69 ± 3, GnRH: 71 ± 3 and TAI :72 ± 3 DIM). In the long RepP, cows received a PGF 2α at 50 ± 3 DIM followed by AI at ED up to 81 ± 3 DIM. Cows with no ED were enrolled in an Ovsynch (GnRH:82 ± 3, PGF 2α :89 ± 3, GnRH:91 ± 3 and TAI:92 ± 3 DIM). Cows were categorized into quartiles (Q1 to Q4) considering their GDPR (qGDPR) and GCCR (qGCCR). Statistical analyses included logistic regression used for AIE, P1, and PL; Poisson regression for the NSFC; and linear regression for TP1. Models included AIE, P1, PL, NSFC, and TP1 as dependent variables, with RepP and qGDPR for GDPR and RepP and qGCCR for GCCR as independent variables. Time to pregnancy was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. The short RepP had a shorter TP1 (short = 64.3 vs. long = 72.1) and fewer NSFC than the long RepP (short = 2.9 vs. long = 3.1). The long RepP had a higher AIE (short = 45.2% vs. long = 73.2%). The P1 tended to be greater in the short than the long RepP (short = 33.7% vs. long = 30.0%). Cows in Q4 (GDPR and GCCR) had lower TP1 and NSFC, greater AIE and P1 compared with the lowest quartiles (Q1). Interactions between RepP and GDPR were present for TP1, AIE, and P1, but no interactions were observed between RepP and GCCR. The short program had a shorter interval from calving to pregnancy than the long program. Cows in the highest quartiles for GDPR and GCCR had shorter intervals from calving to pregnancy and higher pregnancy hazards than the lowest quartiles. The current study revealed that cows enrolled in long RepP that relied on longer ED intervals had lower reproductive outcomes than short RepP cows, and cows ranked in the highest GDPR and GCCR quartile for most responses had better outcomes independent of the RepP used., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

The objective was to determine the effect of exogenous progesterone (P4) in a timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol initiated at 2 different times post-AI on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. Cows (n=1,982) in 5 dairy herds were assigned randomly at a nonpregnancy diagnosis 32 ± 3 d post-AI to 1 of 4 resynchronization (RES) treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the Ovsynch-56 (GnRH, 7d later PGF2α, 56 h later GnRH, 16 h later TAI) protocol. Treatments were as follows: cows initiating RES 32 ± 3 d after AI with no supplemental P4 (d 32 RES-CON; n=516); same as d 32 RES-CON plus a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert containing P4 at the onset of Ovsynch-56 (d 32 RES-CIDR; n=503); cows initiating RES 39 ± 3 d after AI (d 39 RES-CON; n=494); and same as d 39 RES-CON plus a CIDR (d 39 RES-CIDR; n=491). Cows were inseminated if observed in estrus before TAI. The P/AI was determined 32 and 60 d after TAI. In a subgroup of cows (n=1,152), blood samples were collected and ovarian structures examined by ultrasonography on the days of the first GnRH (G1) and PGF2α of Ovsynch-56. Percentage of cows with a corpus luteum (CL) at G1 was unaffected by timing of treatments, but percentage of cows with a CL at PGF2α was greater for d 32 than for d 39 cows (87.9 vs. 79.4%). In addition, percentage of cows with P4 ≥ 1 ng/mL at G1 was unaffected by timing of treatments, but was increased for d 32 compared with d 39 RES cows on the day of the PGF2α of the RES protocols (86.5 vs. 74.3%). Treatment did not affect ovulation to G1 or P/AI 32 d after RES TAI (d 32 RES-CON=30.1%, d 32 RES-CIDR=28.8%, d 39 RES-CON=27.5%, d 39 RES-CIDR=30.5%). A greater percentage of d 39 RES cows underwent premature luteolysis during the RES protocol compared with d 32 RES cows. An interaction was detected between day of RES initiation and CIDR treatment, in which the CIDR increased P/AI 60 d after TAI for d 39 (CON=23.7% vs. CIDR=28.0%), but not for d 32 (CON=26.9% and CIDR=24.2%) cows. Pregnancy loss was unaffected by treatment. In addition, cows had improved P/AI 60 d after TAI when they received a CIDR and did not have a CL (CON-CL=28.2%, CON-No CL=19.2%, CIDR-CL=27.0%, and CIDR-No CL=26.5%) or had P4 <1 ng/mL (CON-High P4=27.8%, CON-Low P4=15.0%, CIDR-High P4=25.0%, and CIDR-Low P4=29.4%) at G1, but not if a CL was present or P4 was ≥ 1 ng/mL at G1. In conclusion, addition of a CIDR insert to supplement P4 during the RES protocol increased P/AI for cows initiating RES 39 ± 3 d after AI but not 32 ± 3 d after AI., (Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)