Follicular Size Threshold for Ovulation Reassessed. Insights from Multiple Ovulating Dairy Cows

In <i>Bos. taurus</i> cattle, follicular deviation to dominance begins when the selected ovulatory follicle reaches a mean diameter of 8.5 mm. The dominant follicle acquires the capacity to ovulate when it reaches a diameter of about 10 mm. In this study, data derived from 148 cows in es...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fernando López-Gatius, Mònica Llobera-Balcells, Roger J. Palacín-Chauri, Irina Garcia-Ispierto, Ronald H. F. Hunter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1140
Description
Summary:In <i>Bos. taurus</i> cattle, follicular deviation to dominance begins when the selected ovulatory follicle reaches a mean diameter of 8.5 mm. The dominant follicle acquires the capacity to ovulate when it reaches a diameter of about 10 mm. In this study, data derived from 148 cows in estrus with one follicle of ovulatory size and another of 7–9 mm, reveal that the small follicle has the capacity to ovulate alone or with the dominant follicle; thus, giving rise to a single or twin pregnancy. This indicates that a follicle of deviation size may ovulate in the presence of a follicle of ovulatory size.
ISSN:2076-2615