**14. Conclusions**

day and flunixin meglumine on the 16th day were administered. It was found out that the

Tek et al. [86] searched the effects of flunixin meglumine and oxytetracyclin combinations on the cows diagnosed with subclinical endometritis. They applied intramuscular flunixin meglumine (2 mg/kg) and oxytetracyclin (300 mg). They inseminated the animals in the first estrus seen after the application. When compared with the control group, pregnancy rates were higher in flunixin meglumine and oxytetracyclin administered group (25% vs. 55%).

In another study, animals with puerperal metritis were injected with ceftiofur (CEF) and/or flunixin meglumine. CEF was given to the first group for three days. A single dose of flunix‐ in meglumine (2.2 mg/kg) was given intravenous in addition to CEF to the animals in the second group. At the end of the study, researchers came to a conclusion that flunixin meglu‐ mine application does not have a beneficial effect on clinical recovery and reproductive per‐

Preparing a suitable environment inside uterus is aimed with NSAIDs applied in different times before embryo transfer to cows and heifers. In most of these studies, while flunixin meglumine or ibuprofen applications just before the embryo transfer increase the pregnancy rate has been reported [88-90], in a study it has been reported that it is ineffective [91], and

Elli et al. [88] investigated whether ibuprofen application increases implantation rates dur‐ ing embryo transfer in cattle. In their study done on 100 heifers, they gave half of them 5 mg/kg dose of intramuscular ibuprofen 1 hour before embryo transfer. Pregnancy rate in the

Purcell et al. [89], in a study they made on beef cattle applied either 500 mg dose of flunixin meglumine 2-12 minute before embryo transfer or they inserted CIDR shortly after the em‐ bryo transfer. The first of four groups was remained as control group, CIDR to 2nd group, flunixin meglumine to 3rd group, both flunixin meglumine given and CIDR inserted to 4th group. Pregnancy rates were found as 65%, 60,7%, 74.7% and 69.8%, respectively. The aver‐ age pregnancy rates of flunixin meglumine administered animals (3rd and 4th group) and un‐

In another study [90], 10 ml flunixin meglumine was injected to beef cattle 2-5 minutes be‐ fore the embryo transfer and when it was compared with control group, it was found that

McNaughtan [91] injected 10 ml flunixin meglumine to heifers just before the embryo transfer. He identified that during the pregnancy examination 90 days after the embryo transfer, the difference between the therapy and control group (n: 165) was nonsignificant

pregnancy rate was higher in flunixin meglumine given group (51.1% vs. 63.8%).

in another study [91] it has been reported that pregnancy rate has diminished.

treatment group reached 82% but stayed 56% in control group.

applied animals (1st and 2nd group) were identified as 72.3% and 63%.

group only cured with hCG on the 7th day showed a higher rate of pregnancy [85].

84 Success in Artificial Insemination - Quality of Semen and Diagnostics Employed

formance [87].

(50% vs. 45%).

**13. NSAID use before embryo transfer**

Artificial insemination is the first biotechnologic application used in domestic animal. It was first performed by Ivanow in 1899 in Russia on farm animals. This procedure was adopted in 1940s by animal breeders and then it has become prominent all over the world. Such asso‐ ciated technologies as cryopreservation, invitro fertilization and embryo transfer have then started to develop and they have resulted in successful pregnancies (93). NSAID implemen‐ tations have been used in recent years among the assisted reproductive technologies. NSAIDs are applied as a new strategy to increase the pregnancy rates of cows in artificial insemination. Nevertheless, the results obtained from the previous studies conflict with each other. Especially, there are different studies stating that flunixin application increases, does not change or decreases the pregnancy rate. For this reason, NSAIDs relation with interferon tau and endometrial proteins should be investigated in a more detailed way. Thus, from where the difference in pregnancy rates originate can be found and taking of necessary pre‐ cautions can be possible.
