Effect of Oxytocin and Epinephrine on the Conception Rate of Cows

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Abstract
The effect on conception rate of injecting oxytocin just after or epinephrine just before natural mating and artificial insemination was tested with 3 groups of normal cows and two groups of "hard-to-settle" cows. Intravenous injections of 15 IU oxytocin within 5 minutes after natural mating brought about a significant increase in conception in one group of normal cows (56 vs. 84% actual calvings). A similar trend (not statistically significant) was found with a 2d group of normal cows (48 vs. 56%) and with both groups of "hard-to-settle" cows (39 vs. 52% and 21 vs. 58%). An intravenous injection of 2 ml of a 1/1000 solution of epinephrine within 5 minutes before natural mating in one experiment resulted in an increase in the percent of cows that conceived (controls 48 vs. treated 58%, not significant). The increase was similar to that shown by oxytocin injections. Neither oxytocin nor epinephrine treatment significantly affected conception rate in one group of artificially inseminated cows as compared to controls (controls 73 vs. oxytocin 67 vs. epinephrine 68%, 60 to 90 day non-returns to service).

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