DOI: 10.31196/huvfd.1939767 ISSN: 2146-717X

Follicular Development in Cattle: Synchronization Protocols, Vasoactive Mechanisms, and Herd-Level Selection

Şifanur Aydin, Vefa Tohumcu
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Reproductive efficiency in high-producing dairy herds is strongly affected by disruptions in follicular dynamics, which become particularly evident during the postpartum period. Negative energy balance, increased steroid catabolism, and suppressed luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility delay dominant follicle selection, postpone the first postpartum ovulation, and compromise oocyte quality. This review examines follicular wave physiology in cows based on current evidence and comparatively evaluates existing hormonal induction protocols, including GnRH-based approaches such as Ovsynch, Double-Ovsynch, and presynchronization variants, as well as progesterone-estradiol- and eCG-supported protocols. It also discusses the intraovarian sympathoadrenergic system as an emerging but as yet incompletely characterized regulatory domain, noting that preliminary in vivo evidence suggests β-adrenergic stimulation may influence utero-ovarian hemodynamics and follicular development, though the clinical relevance of these findings remains to be established. The review further considers how indicators such as body condition score, anovulation prevalence, antral follicle count, and anti-Müllerian hormone may contribute to herd-level protocol selection. Overall, the available evidence indicates that a uniform protocol-based approach may not always be sufficient for managing follicular development in dairy cows. Instead, systematic assessment of herd-specific biological variation may support more individualized protocol selection and thereby contribute to improved reproductive efficiency.

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