Sixteen dairy cattle (14 Holstein cows and 2 heifers) were randomly divided into 2 groups. In group 1, 110 mg of luteum depot was administered to 9 cows and 2 heifers at an interval of 7 to 10 days. In group 2, 220mg of luteum depot was given to 5 cows at the same interval as this. The period of treatment extended from 43-138 days to 121-277 days of pregnancy. Serum progesterone, urinary pregnanediol (p-diol), estrone (E1) and estradiol-17 β(E2) were measured by radioimmunoassay.
The results obtained are as follows. 1. Fourteen animals calved normally.
2. There was no significant difference in the proportion of mummification or abortion between the two doses (110 and 220mg) of luteum depot.
3. There was no significant difference in serum progesterone level between the two groups.
4. By measuring p-diol, there was a significant difference between mummification and normal calving (p<0.001).
5. Urinary El levels of the mummified animal were lower than those of the normal calving animals at 150 or 180 days of pregnancy.
In conclusion, habitual abortion could be prevented by treatment with long-acting progesterone, 110-220mg of which was injected intramuscularly at intervals of 7 to 10days over a period from one month before the predicted time of abortion up to 7 months of pregnancy.
View full abstract