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Response of Corriedale Ewes to the “Ram Effect” after Priming with Medroxyprogesterone, Fluorogestone, or Progesterone in the Non-Breeding Season

Inverkan av baggstimulering på äggstocksaktiviteten hos Corriedale tackor under icke parningssäsong efter behandling med medroxyprogesterone, fluorogestone eller progesterone

Abstract

One hundred eighty-nine Corriedale ewes were used during the non-breeding season to study the “ram effect” stimulus after priming with progestogens. Intravaginal sponges containing either medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP group, n = 49), fluorogestone acetate (FGA group, n = 49), or progesterone devices (CIDR group, n = 46) were inserted on Day -6 (Day 0 = introduction of the rams). Forty-five ewes were untreated and kept as a control group. On Day 0 the sponges were removed and rams provided with marking harnesses for oestrous detection were placed with the ewes. Onset of estrus was monitored until Day 25, and conception was determined by transrectal ultrasonography. Ewes came into heat during 4 periods: Days 0–3, 5–7, 17–20, and 21–23. The overall number of oestrus ewes were 29%, 53%, 35%, and 50% for the control, MAP, FGA, and CIDR groups, respectively (MAP and CIDR > control, p < 0.05). Control ewes presented oestrus only on Days 17–20 and 21–23. Oestrus in the progestogen-primed ewes was concentrated during Days 0–3 and 17–20, and some ewes came into oestrus on Days 5–7. There were no differences between different primings neither in oestrous response nor in conception rate. The conception rate from matings occurring on Days 0–3 was higher than on those occurring on Days 17–20. We conclude that MAP, FGA, and CIDR is equally effective in improving the response to the ram effect, and the pattern of oestrus in primed ewes was different than previously reported.

Sammanfattning

Etthundraåttionio tackor behandlades under 6 dagar med tamponger som innehöll progestogener; medroxyprogesteronacetat (MAP, n = 49), flourogeston (FGA, n = 49) och progesterone (CIDR, n = 49). Fyrtoifem tackar lämnades utan behandling som kontrollgrupp. När tampongerna avlägsnades på dag -6 introducerades baggar i flocken av tackor. Brunst registrerades genom färgmärkning vid betäckning under 25 dagar. Dräktighet registrerades med ultraljud. Tackorna kom i brunst under fyra perioder: dag 0–3, 5–7, 17–20 och 21–23. Det total antalet tackor i brunst i de olika grupperna var 29% (kontrollgruppen), 53% (MAP), 35% (FGA) och 50% (CIDR)(MAP och CIDR > kontrollgruppen, P< 0.05). Kontrollgruppen visdae endast brunst dag 17–20 och 21–23. Brunsterna i de progestogenbehandlade grupperna var koncentrerade till dag 0–3 och 17–20 med vissa djur i brunst också melian dag 5–7. Inga skillnader i brunst eller dräktighet registrerades mellan de progestogenbehandlade grupperna. Däremot blev fler djur dräktiga vid parningar som ägt rum dag 0–3 jämfort med dag 17–20. Slutsatsen av undersökningen är art alla 3 progestogenerna är effektiva och ökar antalet tackor i brunst vid baggstimulering utanfor normal parningssäsong.

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Ungerfeld, R., Pinczak, A., Forsberg, M. et al. Response of Corriedale Ewes to the “Ram Effect” after Priming with Medroxyprogesterone, Fluorogestone, or Progesterone in the Non-Breeding Season. Acta Vet Scand 40, 299–305 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547009

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