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The influence of GnRH treatment on the rate of reproductive development in bull calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

S. Madgwick*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
E.T. Bagu
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada.
R. Duggavathi
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada.
P.M. Bartlewski
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
D.M.W. Barrett
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada.
S. Huchkowsky
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada.
S. Cook
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada.
A.P. Beard
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
N.C. Rawlings
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada.
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Extract

Bull calves have an increase in Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) pulse frequency early in life that is responsible for a short-lived rise in circulating levels of LH. It has been shown that bulls with a higher early rise in LH attain puberty at younger ages and have comparatively enhanced semen quality once they mature (Evans et al., 1995). Furthermore testicular growth has been enhanced in calves by artificially inducing a premature increase in LH through administering GnRH i.v. every 2 hours between 4 and 6 weeks of age (Chandolia et al., 1997).

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

Chandolia, R.K, Honaramooz, A, Bartlewski, P.M, Beard, A.P. and Rawlings, N.C. 1997. Effects of treatment with LH releasing hormone before the early increase in LH secretion on endocrine and reproductive development in bull calves. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 111 4150.Google Scholar
Evans, A.C.O, Dacis, F.J, Nasser, L.F, Bowman, P. and Rawlings, N.C. 1995. Differences in early patterns of gonadotrophin secretion between early and late maturing bulls, and changes in semen characteristics at puberty. Theriogenology 43 4551.Google Scholar