By Kalyn Waters
Beef producer and UF/IFAS Extension Holmes County Agent Kalyn Waters artificially inseminating (A.I.) a cow
Synchronization protocols can be confusing, especially for producers new to Artificial Insemination (A.I.), however with a new product on the market, even the most experienced producers need to be aware of dosage differences in prostaglandin products, even if they have been using them for years.
Prostaglandin available for use in beef cattle.
First off, this article is not meant to endorse one product over any other, but simply to make producers aware of the risk of confusion over dosage and administration of different products.
Prostaglandins are used as a key component of estrous synchronization protocols for both cows and heifers. There are several different prostaglandin products available on the market (Table 1), most of which have been available for some time. However, this breeding season there is a new prostaglandin product option on the market.
One common trade name that many producers are aware of is the Zoetis product Lutaylse®. New to the market is Lutaylse® HighCon, which allows for a smaller dosage to be administered, while providing the same amount of hormone to the animal.
There is no difference in the amount of “hormone” that each product is providing to the cattle, even though the doses differ (Table 2). In addition, all products have been researched and proven to effectively induce luteolysis in beef cattle, the ultimate goal of administering prostaglandins in your synchronization protocol.
Dosage and Administration of two different prostaglandin products from Zoetis.
Cattle producers simply need to be aware of the differences in dosage and administration of these two products to avoid issues in your synchronization success, especially at chute side! When in doubt, always check the label before administering any drug or health product. If you have any questions about your synchronization protocol please contact me or your county extension agent.