The effects of progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (CIDR-B) on superovulatory response were investigated by the two experiments in Japanese Black cows. In the experiment 1, 172 beef cows were allotted to 4 groups by the superovulatory and CIDR-B treatments; group 1: PMSG injection without CIDR-B treatment, group 2: FSH injection without CIDR-B treatment, group 3: PMSG injection with CIDR-B inserted for 12 days, and group 4: FSH injection with CIDR-B inserted for 12 days, respectively. CIDR-B was inserted into the vagina at the unknown stages of the estrous cycle (Insertion day: day 0) PMSG or FSH were administered on the day 9 or 10, and CIDR-Bs were withdrawn and additional PGF_2α injections were done on the day 12. In the experiment 2 of repeated superovulation, 30 beef cows were divided into 3 groups by the treatments; group 1: CIDR-B treatment only at the time of second superovulation, group 2: CIDR-B traetment 2 times, and group 3: control without CIDR-B treatment. There were no statistical differences among the 4 groups (Exp.1) and 3 groups (Exp.2) on the ovulation rate, number of recovered and transferable embryos, and quality of embryos, respectively. However, mean superovulation intervals in the group 1, 2 and 3 (Exp.2) were 35, 35 and 68 days, respectively. The results suggest that the CIDR-B treatment in superovulation is useful for the shortening of superovulation interval.

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In this study, the serum levels of a1-acid glycoprotein and sialic acid, and changes of body condition score and extent of partial dolors in cases with abnormal limb and coffin of dairy cows were examined, and the correlations among these four sets of tests was studied. The abnormal limb and coffin was divided into the following four groups; 1) sole overgrowth, 2) hock flection, 3) hock celluitis, 4) sole ulceration. These four abnormalities were examined in 45 cows from 19 different farms. The test revealed sole overgrowth occurring in 16 of cows; hock flection in one cow; hock celluitis in one cow, and sole ulceration also in only one cow. The remaining 26 cows showed various combinations of two or more conditions. These findings were then measured against quantitative theory I whereby correlations were determined for the appearance of each of the abnormalities and the presence of each dolor, BCS, levels of a1-acid glycoprotein and levels of sialic acid. The correlation between sole ulceration and each dolor, levels of sialic acid and BCS was found to be positive, and that between each BCS and each hock flection was understood to be negative. Dolors were understood to have negative correlations with each BCS, and positive correlations with each levels of a1-acid glycoprotein and each levels of sialic acid. In addition, the BCS were showed to have negative correlations with each levels of a1-acid glycoprotein and of sialic acid, while each levels of a1-acid glycoprotein showed to have positive correlation with each levels of sialic acid. The conclusion found here is that out of the four Holstein abnormalities examined, it is sole ulceration which greatly increases dolor stress and levels of a1-acid glycoprotein and leads to decreased in BCS, which is in turn caused by a decrease in the immune faculties.

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