The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of presence of corpus luteum (CL) at the onset of timed AI (TAI) protocol, size of ovulatory follicle and oestrus expression on pregnancy rate using E2 cypionate (EC) or GnRH as ovulation inductor in Angus heifers. On day 0, heifers [n = 414; 317 ± 23 kg; 3.08 ± 0.21 body condition score (1 to 5 scale) and 22–24 months of age] received a 1-g progesterone intravaginal device (Primer®, Agener União, Brazil) and 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate, IM, (RIC-BE®, Agener União, Brazil). On day 8, the device was removed, were administered 500 μg of sodium cloprostenol, IM, (Estron®, Agener União, Brazil) and heifers were divided in 2 groups: EC [n = 213; 0.5mg EC, IM, (SincroCP®, Ouro Fino, Brazil) on day 8] and GnRH [n = 201; 25 μg of Licerelin, IM, (GestranPlus®, Agener União, Brazil) at TAI] TAI was performed 50 h after device removal. Heifers were tail painted (Tell Tail®, GEA, New Zealand) to control oestrus expression from device removal to TAI. Heifers were scanned (7.5-MHz linear transducer MediSono® P3V, USA) to determine presence of CL (Day 0), ovulatory follicle diameter (OFD; Day 10) and ovulation (Day 11). Pregnancy was diagnosed 30 days after TAI. Oestrus expression was confirmed when marking ink was removed on day 10. Data were analysed using logistic regression and ANOVA. Oestrus expression was higher (P < 0.05) in EC (93.90%, 200/213) compared to GnRH group (67.66%, 136/201). The OFD differed (P < 0.05) according to presence of CL on Day 0 (10.3 mm) or not (9.6 mm), but was similar in treatment groups. Ovulation rate did not differ in EC (85%, 17/20) and GnRH (95%, 19/20) groups. Pregnancy rates were similar (P > 0.05) between EC (52.58%, 112/213) and GnRH (59.20%, 119/201) groups; however, in heifers that expressed oestrus, rates were higher (P < 0.05) (EC = 56%, 112/200; GnRH = 71.3%, 97/136) than in those did not show (EC = 0%, 0/13; GnRH = 33.8%, 22/65). Presence of CL at onset of TAI protocol was associated with higher pregnancy (P < 0.05) in GnRH group (68%, 68/100) compared with EC (54.46%, 61/112) group, but in heifers without CL, pregnancy were similar for GnRH (50.5%, 51/101) and EC (50.5%, 51/101) groups. Heifers were also classified in 3 groups according OFD: small (≤9.5 mm), medium (9.6–11.5 mm), and large (≥11.6 mm) to verify its effect on oestrus expression and pregnancy. Medium and large OFD were implicated in higher (P < 0.05) oestrus expression [(EC = 100%, 51/51; 96.97%, 32/33) and (GnRH = 83.02%, 44/53; 97.44%, 38/39)] than small OFD [(EC = 85%, 51/60) and (GnRH = 23.8%, 15/63)]. Pregnancy was lower (P < 0.05) in small OFD groups (EC = 28.3%, 17/60; GnRH = 25.4%, 16/63). In medium and large OFD, pregnancy was similar in EC (72.55%, 37/51; 54.55%, 18/33) groups, but differed (P < 0.05) between GnRH large (82.05%, 32/39) and medium (62.26%, 33/53). Higher pregnancy was achieved in heifers with CL in the beginning of TAI protocol treated with GnRH. Size of ovulatory follicle was associated with higher oestrus behaviour and pregnancy rate in EC and GnRH treatments.