Ovarian follicular dynamics in crossbred Holstein-Zebu heifers

Twenty-six crossbred heifers were used to study daily ovarian follicular growth by ultrasonography from the estrus, for one or two consecutive estrous cycles. The follicle diameters of the first and second large follicles were determined for each ovary. The follicular dynamic in crossbred heifer was characterized by the predominance of three follicular waves (58.3%), over the two waves (33.3%). For cycles with three waves, the waves 1, 2 and 3 could be detected on days 0.4, 8.2 and 15.9 and for cycles with two waves, the waves I-and 2 begun, on average, on days 0.4 and 9.7. The dominant follicle maximum diameters were 12.7 and 13.3mm, and 12.2, 10.0 and 11.7mm, in the estrous cycles with two and three waves, respectively. The maximum diameter reached by the second largest follicle (subordinate) was 7.0mm, in the estrous cycle with two or three follicular waves. The growth rates (mm/day) for dominant and subordinate follicles were 1.1 and 1.0, and the atresia rates were 1.1 and 1.2, respectively. One heifer exhibited four follicular waves, while two others presented just one follicular wave.