The objective of this study was to determine the effects of low versus physiologic plasma progesterone concentrations during the ovulatory wave on fertility in cattle. Suckled beef cows (Bos taurus; n=129) and pubertal heifers (Bos taurus; n=150) at random stages of the estrous cycle were given a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (500 microg cloprostenol; PGF) twice, 11 d apart. Ten days after the second PGF treatment, cattle were given estradiol benzoate im (1.5 and 1.0mg for cows and heifers, respectively) and a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (Cue-Mate) with a single pod containing 0.78 g progesterone (Day 0). Cattle in the low-progesterone group (n = 148) received a luteolytic dose of PGF on Day 0, whereas those in the high-progesterone (i.e., physiologic plasma concentrations) group (n=131) were allowed to retain their corpora lutea. On Day 8, the Cue-Mate was removed, and PGF was given to both groups. Fifty-four hours to 56 h later, cattle received 12.5mg of porcine LH (pLH) im and were concurrently artificially inseminated. The dominant follicle in the low-progesterone group was larger (P<0.001) than that in the high-progesterone group on the day of insemination (14.9+/-0.3mm vs. 12.7+/-0.3mm, mean+/-SEM). At 7 d after ovulation, the low-progesterone group had a larger corpus luteum (24.5+/-0.54 mm vs. 21.9+/-0.64 mm, P<0.01) and higher plasma progesterone concentration (4.0+/-0.3 vs. 3.1+/-0.2, P<0.01) than that of the high-progesterone group. However, pregnancy rates did not differ (79 of 148, 53.4%, and 70 of 131, 53.4%) for low- and high-progesterone groups, respectively). In summary, low circulating progesterone concentrations during the growing phase of the ovulatory follicle resulted in a larger dominant follicle and a larger CL that produced more progesterone, with no significant effect on pregnancy rate.