ABSTRACT
Syncro-mate-B (SMB) was designed to cause cows or heifers to ovulate in a predictable period of time. It works effectively in cycling cows and heifers and also has some application in anestrus cows and prepuberal heifers. This chapter outlines the rationale for each ingredient in the SMB treatment regimen and then data to show the effectiveness of the SMB treatment in heifers and cows. Several field trials were conducted using heifers selected from well-managed herds in which AI had been used at least 3 yr and where heifers had received adequate levels of nutrition. In the SMB treatment, an implant containing 6 mg of norgestomet is placed in the back portion of the ear for 9 days. Data available from the Colorado Station indicated that most heifers had a transitory increase in progesterone prior to reaching puberty. As a test, the SMB treatment was examined as a method for induction of puberty.
