[Indications for prostaglandins in the field of reproduction in farm animals (author’s transl)].

This research explores the implications of using prostaglandins in reproductive procedures for farm animals like horses, heifers, cows, and sheep. The study indicates that this biochemical can induce fertile oestrus and affect other reproduction-related factors.

Introduction to the Research

• The study investigates the impact of using prostaglandins in the field of reproduction, particularly focusing on farm animals. It outlines how administering prostaglandin F2alpha can induce regression of the corpus luteum and make the animals fertile for reproductive activity.
• Researchers have found that this prostaglandin F2alpha has an effect on horses, heifers, lactating cows, and sheep but it does not affect pigs in the same way.

Usage of Prostaglandins

• Researchers discovered that administering prostaglandins is not effective during the first four days of the animal’s reproductive cycle.
• Prostaglandins can be used for various reproduction-related procedures, such as inducing oestrus in cases of suboestrus, synchronizing oestrus, terminating unwanted gestation, and eliminating persistent corpus luteum.
• They can also be used to stimulate parturition and manage conditions such as chronic endometritis, hydroallantois, luteinized cysts, and suboestrus post weaning.

Potential Advantages and Further Research

• The authors suggest the key use of prostaglandins will be in the induction and synchronisation of oestrus for optimal breeding management. Such an application could potentially facilitate timed artificial insemination and improve pregnancy rates in farmed animals.
• Compared to treatment with progestagen, the fertility of synchronized oestrus induced by prostaglandins was found to be superior in cattle and horses. Nevertheless, it is still unknown if the fertility following spontaneous oestrus matches that of oestrus induced by prostaglandins, hence the authors call for more extensive field trials.