EFFECT OF NORGESTOMET ON PERIPHERAL LEVELS OF PROGESTERONE AND ESTRADIOL-17-BETA IN BEEF-COWS

Peripheral levels of progesterone and estradiol-17.beta. [E2] were quantified in 27 cycling cows following administration of a single Hydron ear implant containing 2, 4 or 6 mg norgestomet or controls which received no implant. Implants were inserted s.c. in the ear on day 15 of the estrous cycle (day of estrus = day 0) and removed 9 days later. The 4 mg (7 of 7 cows) and 6 mg (6 of 6 cows) implants suppressed estrus; however, 3 of 8 cows in the 2 mg group exhibited estrus prior to implant removal. The 6 mg implant group had a significantly longer interval from implant removal to estrus than either the 2 or 4 mg group. Failure to detect differences in the rate at which progesterone declined indicated norgestomet treatment did not affect normal corpus luteum regression. E2 levels rose at a similar rate approaching estrus in all treatments. There was no indication of increased endogenous E2 levels due to norgestomet treatment.