FOLLICULAR PUNCTURE
AT THE TIME OF INSEMINATION AS A METHOD FOR ELIMINATING TWIN PREGNANCIES IN DAIRY CATTLE
Twin pregnancies on dairy cattle farms have serious repercussions on herd economy owing to their elevated rate of pregnancy loss compared to single pregnancies, and high indirect costs when twins are actually born. Among these additional costs are an increased culling rate (reducing the average lifespan of the animals on the farm), and the costs of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic agents needed to treat postpartum illnesses.
These issues have prompted attempts worldwide to implement techniques designed to mitigate the negative impacts of twinning. These include ways of eliminating one twin through manual rupture of one of the amniotic vesicles within 28-41 days of artificial insemination (AI), or ultrasound-guided follicular drainage of one of the two follicles present at the time of AI. Although both techniques work acceptably well, the former increases pregnancy losses possibly attributable to placental anastomosis in this species. In contrast, ultrasound-guided follicular puncture reduces twin pregnancies and increases additional corpora lutea (CL). However, this practice cannot be implemented on the basis of weekly
reproductive visits, and besides, the equipment needed is costly. Recently, a follicular puncture technique has been described that is similar to Ovum Pick Up but does not require ultrasound guidance and can be conducted during weekly reproductive visits.
The use of this method has highly beneficial impacts on farm economy, animal welfare
and antibiotic use postpartum.
AREAS OF APPLICATION
Intensive system dairy or beef cows
Any technician can apply this technique but there are some minimum requirements:
-Experience with rectal palpation
-Knowledge of the anatomy of the cow’s reproduction system
Anaesthesia not required
Painless
Quick to do by a minimally experienced technician
High fertility rate
Reduces twin pregnancies to 0
DESCRIPTION
OF THE TECHNIQUE
STEPS TO BE TAKEN
MAIN
RESULTS
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNIQUE
For this technique, on the day of AI the smaller follicle is punctured without suction using a rigid cannula designed for follicular cyst puncture (Minitub Ibèrica S.L., la Selva de Camp, Tarragona, Spain). It is equally effective in animals both with bilateral and unilateral follicles. Although fertility is statistically similar to that of control cows (not undergoing follicular puncture but with two follicles present at AI), ovulation failure increases significantly.
Currently, it is proposed that animals to be subjected to this technique be treated with a potent ovulation inducer such as hCG. More work is needed to determine whether, in addition, the simplified technique with hCG treatment not only increases fertility over that produced in control animals, but also reduces pregnancy losses due to the additional CL and eliminates twin pregnancies. To facilitate the function of this induced additional CL, a dephereline (GnRH analogue) dose is administered 7 days after puncture.
FOLLICULAR PUNCTURE CAN BE DONE IN THE REPRODUCTIVE VISIT
![](https://bovinereproduction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/icon-reloj.png)
1-2 Min/Cow
![](https://bovinereproduction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/icon-reloj.png)
1-2 Min/Cow
STEPS
1. Detect follicles by ultrasound on the day of AI
2. Clean vulva using water with iodine
3. Insert the rigid cannula via the vulva as far as the fornix
4. With the other hand, guide the ovary to the fornix
5. Puncture without aspirating the smaller follicle
6. AI
7. At AI, administer an ovulation inducer (GnRH, dephereline, hCG)
8. On day 7, administer an ovulation inducer (GnRH, dephereline)
![](https://bovinereproduction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/punció-fol-licular.jpg)
PICTURES AND VIDEOS
![](https://bovinereproduction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Punció-fol-licular.jpg)
MAIN RESULTS
The technique reduces twin pregnancies
It can be performed both on bilateral and unilateral follicles
Subsequent fertility is similar to the farm average
An ovulation inducer is required at the time of AI
Número de fol·licles | Punció | Estrés per calor (>72 u THI) | Fracàs ovulatori** | Gestació | Bessons*** | Pèrdues de gestació*** |
One | No | No (n = 144) | 3 (2.1 %) | 43 (29.9%) | 0 | 9 (20.9%)a |
Si (n = 145) | 7 (4.8%) | 30 (20.7%) | 0 | 10 (33.3%)a | ||
Two | No | No (n = 69) | 2 (2.9€) | 26 (37.7%) | 8 (30.8%)a | 4 (15.4%)ab |
Si (n = 45) | 5 (11.1%) | 12 (26.7%) | 2 (16.7%)b | 3 (25%)a | ||
Si | No (n = 69) | 12 (17.4%) | 26 (37.7%) | 0 | 1 (3.8%)b | |
Si (n = 44) | 13 (29.5%) | 12 (27.3%) | 0 | 2 (16.7%)ab |
* of the smaller follicle
** in animals with two follicles upon AI: for all follicles of the group without drainage and for undrained follicles of the group with drainage.
*** of pregnant cows.
NEWS
Special issue in the magazine ANIMALS MDPI on ‘Therapeutics of twin pregnancies in dairy cows’
Special issue on “Therapeutics of twin pregnancies in dairy cattle”.
Third Prize in the IV Special Prize “Carlos Díaz de Pablo” for the best scientific communication of reproduction of the XXIV International Congress ANEMBE of Bovine Medicine 2019
Depherelin increases luteal activity as measured by Doppler ultrasound after follicular puncture to prevent twin pregnancies in bi-ovular cows.
Dissemination to the press
A new insemination technique eliminates double pregnancies in dairy cattle.
RESEARCHERS
Irina Garcia-Ispierto
Irina Garcia-Ispierto holds a PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2008). Currently, she is a tenured professor at the Department of Animal Science of the University of Lleida (UdL) and principal investigator (PI) in the Bovine Reproduction Group working at the research centre Agrotecnio and the UdL. Her area of research is reproduction in dairy cattle specializing in twin pregnancies, oestrus synchronization methods, reproductive
ultrasonography, and fertility problems. Irina is also interested in infection problems such as those caused by Coxiella burnetti or the parasite Neospora caninum. To date, Irina has had more than 100 articles published in indexed journals and participated in
100 scientific meeting, both national and international. She has also participated in symposiums organized by companies such as Ecuphar and Ceva and has written numerous articles for a more popular readership.
Irina is the PI of numerous projects with pharmaceutical companies and dairy farms in the Segrià area, and a SGR group of the Government of Catalonia. She is presently the Editor of the Animal Reproduction Section of the journal Animals, and a reviewer for journals such as Reproduction in Domestic Animals, Theriogenology and Journal of Dairy Science.
USEFUL LINKS
Articles in scientific journals
López-Gatius, Fernando and Garcia-Ispierto, Irina. 2020. Tranfer of a single embryo versus drainage of subordinate follicles to prevent twin pregnàncies in dairy cows. Why not both? Journal of Reproduction and Development, Advanced Epub April 7, 2020.
López-Gatius, Fernando; Garcia-Isperto, Irina; Serrano-Pérez, Beatriz; Balogh, Orsolya G.; Gábor, György and Hunter, Ronald H. F. 2019. Luteal activity following follicular drainage of subordinate follicles for twin pregnancy prevention in bi-ovular dairy cows. Research in Veterinary Science, 124: 439-443.
Articles in professional journals
Garcia-Ispierto, Irina. 2020. Prevención de las gestaciones gemelares en vacuno lechero: un camino hacia la innovación. Albéitar, 234: 4-6.