Progesterone circulation and follicular growth in adapted Bos taurus cows

The creole breed Blanco Orejinegro (Bos taurus adapted) is an important animal genetic resource in Colombia. However, very little is known about the reproductive physiology of the breed. The objective was to determine the dynamics of progesterone circulation and follicular growth in Blanco Orejinegro cows throughout the estrous cycle. Fifteen cyclic Blanco Orejinegro cows were used and subjected to hormonal protocol for estrous and ovulation synchronization. Once the time of ovulation was identified by monitoring the ovarian dynamics with ultrasonography equipment. For description of the results, the mean was used as a measure of central tendency and the standard error of the mean. Statistical analysis was longitudinal descriptive. Blood samples were collected every 24 hr throughout the estrous cycle for serum quantification of progesterone (P4), monitoring of corpus luteum (CL) growth dynamics and follicular dynamics. It was possible to verify that 76.92% of the Blanco Orejinegro cows presented two follicular waves during the estrous cycle and the highest circulating levels of P4 (> 6.00 ng mL(-1)) were observed on the 14(th) day of the estrous cycle. It was concluded that the creole cows of the Blanco Orejinegro breed presented two follicular waves per estrous cycle. In addition to, the size of the CL was consistent with the secretion of progesterone presenting higher circulating levels at the end of the luteal phase.