Estrous response and pregnancy rates following calf removal in beef cows treated with prostaglandin F(2)alpha.

Five hundred fifty-four suckled beef cows in three herds were allotted within postpartum interval to one of four treatments. All cows received two injections of prostaglandin F(2)alpha (PGF(2)alpha) 11 days apart. Treatment I served as a control. Calves were removed for 48 hr following the first injection of PGF(2)alpha in treatment II. Calves were removed similarly after the second injection of PGF(2)alpha in treatment III and after both injections of PGF(2)alpha in treatment IV. Pregnancy rates at the synchronized service, by 24 days and by 45 days of breeding were not (P>0.05) affected by treatment. Similarly, the treatments had no significant (P>0.05) effect on percentage of animals exhibiting estrus following the first and second injections of PGF(2)alpha.