Forty Friesian x Indigenous crossbred non-lactating cows in Mazabuka were used to investigate response to estrus synchronization using prostaglandin F2α (PGF2αONLY) or a combination of prostaglandin F2α and progesterone-releasing device CIDR® (PGF2α+CIDR). Twenty cows were randomly allotted to each treatment. On day 0, the PGF2αONLY cows were injected with 2ml of the prostaglandin, and repeated on day 11. The PGF2α+CIDR cows were inserted with the vaginal implant CIDR on day 0, and then injected with 2 ml of prostaglandin on day 7. On day 8, the CIDR devices were removed from the cows. Time taken to respond to treatment was monitored in all cows. The numerical value for Estrus Response was higher in PGF2α+CIDR cows (55%) than in PGF2αONLY (35%) cows. There was, however, no significant difference (P>0.05) in the Response Time between the two treatments although it was numerically shorter in PGF2α+CIDR cows (91.6±2.9 hrs) than in PGF2αONLY cows (98.0±6.9 hrs). It is recommended that smallholder dairy producers in Mazabuka consider adopting the two-drug combination rather than PGF2α only for estrus synchronization. However, this must be in combination with good animal nutrition. Further research isrecommended to investigate factors for enhanced effectiveness of estrus synchronization.
