The Effect of Short-Term or Long-Term Progesterone-Based Estrus Synchronization on Fertility Parameters in Tuj Ewes outside the Breeding Season

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of estrus synchronization on certain fertility parameters in Tuj ewes during the non-breeding season, using short-term (ST) or long-term (LT) progesterone (P4)-impregnated sponge and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). Forty-eight clinically healthy Tuj ewes were selected and divided into three groups: Group I (G1, n=15), Group II (G2, n=18), and Group III (G3, n=15). G1 and G2 received hormonal treatment with a P4-impregnated sponge inserted into the vagina on day 0, and 500 IU eCG was administered intramuscularly five or ten days later, respectively. The sponges were removed from the vagina seven days after insertion for G1 and 12 days after insertion for G2. G3 did not receive any hormone treatment. All groups were exposed to the ram 24 hours after sponge removal. Estrus was monitored every six hours for five days, and pregnancy was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography. The estrus rate, estrus onset time, and pregnancy rate were significantly different between G1 and G3 and between G2 and G3 (p<0.05). However, there was no difference between the treatment groups (G1 and G2) in terms of fertility parameters (p>0.05). In conclusion, ST or LTP4-impregnated vaginal sponge treatment was equally effective on fertility parameters in Tuj ewes during the non-breeding season.

Keywords

• Medroxyprogesterone acetate
• Pregnancy rate
• Sheep

Supporting Institution

Kafkas Üniversitesi

Project Number

2020-TS-23

Thanks

This article is prepared from the first author's master's thesis with the same title. Selected sections of this thesis were presented as oral presentations at two academic conferences, namely the “9th Cukurova International Scientific Research Conference” held in Adana, Türkiye on October 9-11, 2022, and the “10th International Conference on Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Rural Development (ISPEC)” held in Sivas, Türkiye on July 18-19, 2022. We would like to express our gratitude to Mustafa Makav for his valuable assistance during this study.

Üreme Mevsimi Dışında Tuj Koyunlarında Kısa Süreli veya Uzun Süreli Progesteron Temelli Östrus Senkronizasyonunun Fertilite Parametrelerine Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, kısa (ST) veya uzun süreli (LT) progesteron (P4)-emdirilmiş sünger ve kısrak koriyonik gonadotropin (eCG) kullanarak östrus senkronizasyonunun Tuj koyunlarında bazı fertilite parametreleri üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Klinik olarak sağlıklı 48 Tuj koyunu seçildi ve üç gruba ayrılmıştır: Grup I (G1, n=15), Grup II (G2, n=18) ve Grup III (G3, n=15). G1 ve G2, P4-emdirilmiş sünger vaginaya yerleştirilerek hormon tedavisi aldı ve sırasıyla beş veya on gün sonra 500 IU eCG intramusküler olarak uygulandı. Süngerler, G1 için yerleştirme tarihinden yedi gün sonra ve G2 için yerleştirme tarihinden 12 gün sonra vaginadan çıkarıldı. G3 herhangi bir hormon tedavisi almadı. Tüm gruplara, sünger çıkarılmasından 24 saat sonra koç katımı yapıldı. Östrus, beş gün boyunca her altı saatte bir izlendi ve gebelik transrektal ultrasonografi ile doğrulandı. Östrus oranı, östrus başlangıçzamanı ve gebelik oranı G1 ve G3 ve G2 ve G3 arasında anlamlı şekilde farklıydı (p<0.05). Fakat tedavi grupları arasında (G1 ve G2) arasında fertilite parametreleri açısından fark tespit edilmedi (p>0.05). Sonuç olarak, kısa veya uzun dönem P4-emdirilmiş vaginal sünger tedavisi, Tuj koyunlarında üreme sezonu dışında fertilite parametreleri açısından eşit derecede etkilidir.

Keywords

• Gebelik oranı
• Koyun
• Medroksiprogesteron asetat
• Östrus senkronizasyonu

Project Number

2020-TS-23

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