Use of gnrh antagonists in mammals to synchronize follicular wave emergence

A non-therapeutic method of synchronizing ovulation in a population of female mammals, the method comprising:

• I)
• a) synchronizing follicular wave emergence (FWE) by administering an effective amount of a GnRH antagonist;
• and
• b) administering an effective amount of an ovulation inducing agent at a fixed time following the administration of the GnRH antagonist, to each mammal of the population of female mammals;
• or
• II)
• a) synchronizing follicular wave emergence (FWE) by administering an effective amount of a GnRH antagonist and an effective amount of progesterone or a progesterone analog;
• b) withdrawing administration of the progesterone or progesterone analog and administering an effective amount of prostaglandin (PGF) or a PGF analog at a fixed time following the administration of the GnRH antagonist;
• and
• c) administering an effective amount of an ovulation inducing agent at a fixed time following the withdrawal of progesterone or progesterone analog and/or administration of the PGF or PGF analog, to each mammal of the population of female mammals.

A non-therapeutic method of inducing ovulation in a female mammal, the method comprising:

• I)
• a) initiating follicular wave emergence (FWE) by administering an effective amount of a GnRH antagonist to the female mammal;
• and
• b) administering an effective amount of an ovulation inducing agent at a fixed time following the administration of the GnRH antagonist;
• or
• II)
• a) initiating follicular wave emergence (FWE) by administering an effective amount of a GnRH antagonist to the female mammal;
• b) co-administering an effective amount of progesterone or a progesterone analog with the GnRH antagonist;
• c) withdrawing the progesterone or progesterone analog and administering an effective amount of prostaglandin (PGF) or a PGF analog at a fixed time following the administration of the GnRH antagonist;
• and
• d) administering an effective amount of an ovulation inducing agent at a fixed time following the withdrawal of the progesterone or progesterone analog and/or administration of the PGF or PGF analog.

A non-therapeutic fixed-time superstimulatory or superovulatory method, the method comprising:

• I)
• a) administering an effective amount of a GnRH antagonist to a female mammal;
• and b) administering an effective amount of FSH or an FSH agonist to the female mammal at a fixed time following the administration of the GnRH antagonist, provided that the FSH or FSH agonist is not co-administered with the GnRH antagonist, optionally further comprising administering an effective amount of an ovulation inducing agent at a fixed time following the administration of the FSH or FSH agonist;
• or
• II)
• a) administering an effective amount of a GnRH antagonist to a female mammal;
• b) co-administering an effective amount of progesterone or a progesterone analog with the GnRH antagonist;
• c) administering an effective amount of FSH or an FSH agonist to the female mammal at a fixed time following the administration of the GnRH antagonist, provided that the FSH or FSH agonist is not co-administered with the GnRH antagonist;
• and d) withdrawing the progesterone or progesterone analog and administering an effective amount of prostaglandin (PGF) or a PGF analog at a fixed time following the administration of the FSH or FSH agonist, optionally further comprising administering an effective amount of an ovulation inducing agent at a fixed time following the withdrawal of the progesterone or progesterone analog and/or administration of the PGF or PGF analog.