DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF AN AUTOMATED DEVICE FOR SYNCHRONIZING OVULATION IN COWS: THE E-SYNCH

The long-term goal of this research is to automate aspects of cattle breeding to reduce labor, simplify herd management, increase efficacy, and improve animal well-being compared to the elaborate needle-injection methods presently used. The immediate aims of the research are to (1) develop and test a programmable, vaginally implantable hormone-release device, the "e-Synch," to control cow fertility in preparation for artificial insemination, and (2) demonstrate synchronized herd fertility treatment using the e-Synch under working farm conditions. Under the firstaimof this project the specific objectives are to: (1A)Develop and refine a fully functional e-Synch device and controlling app,(1B)Evaluate precision, accuracy, and repeatability of electronically controlled in-vitro release patterns with the e-Synch, and (1C)Evaluate IVG retention of e-Synch and reproductive-tract and overall cow response to different periods of e-Synch retention.Under the secondaim the specificobjectives are to:(2A)Test the feasibility of synchronizing ovulation by administering GnRH and PGF and of sensing behavioral and physiological parameters with e-Synch and (2B)Demonstrate comparable reproductive performance for e-Synch and commercial methods for synchronizing the estrous cycle.