Using the Right Progesterone Device

There are multiple progesterone devices on the market for fixed time assisted breeding programs in cattle and they all contain progesterone – so do they all work in the same way? Mostly yes; they all deliver progesterone through extraction via mucous flow around and through the device. However if you're chasing optimal results from your artificial insemination or embryo transfer programs, using the right device for your program can yield signficantly better results. This may range from an extra few calves in every 100; or conversely if you don't use the right device (and for example the progesterone runs out early) or infection is introduced, the results can be catastrophic. Most producers simply use the device they are provided without realising there is a range available and there may be an alternate device that better suits their needs and requirements. Some questions you may not have asked or considered include: • Are all devices created equal? • Is there a “right dose” when it comes to progesterone? • When do you use a “low dose” device? • Can you re-use a device? and • Which device is the most environmentally friendly? The first step in choosing the right device starts with considering the females in your selected group and how much progesterone they are likely to need to maintain sufficient levels of progesterone for the full synchronization program. Generally speaking, larger animals will require more progesterone, and smaller or young animals less, so it may be advisable to contact an expert to discuss the specific requirements for your herd. There may even be different recommendations within your herd. If you are looking to maximise the results from your program or improve your previous result by a few percent, then it may not be a one size fits all approach. There can be just as large an impact on results by having too little progesterone as too much, so it’s important to get this right. Using low dose devices in cows means they sometimes run out of progesterone a day or two before the device is scheduled to be removed. It is therefore important to keep an eye out for any early signs of oestrus (or use an Estrotect patch) and advise your vet or technician immediately. This can be a costly mistake as you may not only incur the AI costs but also skip a whole cycle meaning their progeny will be born later and will be lighter as yearlings or replacement heifers. On the flip side heifers may benefit from a lower dose. If there is too much progesterone in the blood stream, there may not be a sufficient drop in progesterone levels to enable the rise of other key hormones necessary to initiate ovulation. If this is the case, heifers could ovulate well after the insemination date or fail to respond completely, thereby producing poor and costly results. There are a number of risks and disadvantages when re-using a device but the biggest one is that there is no way of telling how much progesterone is left in a device after it has been used. If you do reuse a devise (off-label or against the manufacture’s recommendation); you run the same risk as using a device with insufficient progesterone. Cue-Mate® is the only device with an on-label registered re-use claim (which applies only to the wishbone). Cue-Mate® devices have a reusable wishbone requiring only the pods to be replaced. This may be with either two active pods for cows (1.56g progesterone) or an active pod and a blank for heifers (0.78g progesterone). If you are simply provided with devices from a vet or technician, it is worth ensuring they haven’t already been used (possibly in someone else’s herd). Whilst most operators wouldn’t do this, it is worth being aware of the potential risk of disease as well as insufficient progesterone should this occur. People often ask which is the optimal device for heifers? Cue-Mate® is the smallest device on the market and with the soft silicon pods on each end has proven cow comfort*. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly device, Cue-Mate® is the only device with a registered re-use claim. Wishbones can be used for many years provided they are washed and stored correctly (i.e. clean, dry and out of direct sunlight). To conclude, not all devices are created equal and if optimal results is what you are striving for, then fine-turning your AI programs to increase your pregnancy rate by a few extra percentage points can result in more calves on the ground. Cutting corners can be very costly as while it might seem cheaper to wash and reuse a device off-label, or choose the cheapest product available, the perceived cost saving is soon lost if you get even one less pregnancy. *data on file