| Short term, repeated exposure to rams during the transition into the breeding season improves the synchrony of mating in the breeding season. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17616281 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The ram effect is widely used in Mediterranean breeds of sheep but its use in temperate genotypes is restricted by breed seasonality. However, ewes from these highly seasonal genotypes are sensitive to stimulation by rams close to the onset of the natural breeding season. In this study we developed a pre-mating protocol of repeated, short-term exposure to rams (fence-line contact or vasectomised rams) beginning during late anoestrus and continuing into the breeding season. We hypothesised that this pre-mating protocol would synchronise the distribution of mating of North of England Mule ewes during the breeding season above that observed in ewes isolated from rams prior to mating. Ram-exposed ewes were given contact with rams (Experiment 1: fence-line; FR, n=94 and Experiment 2: vasectomised rams; VR; n=103) for 24h on Days 0 (10 September), 17 and 34 of the experiment. Control ewes (Experiment 1; FC, n=98 and Experiment 2; VC; n=106) remained isolated from rams prior to mating. In Experiment 2, a subset of VR (n=35) and VC ewes (n=35) were blood sampled twice weekly to monitor their pre-mating progesterone profiles. At mating, harnessed entire rams were introduced, 17 or 16 days after the last ram exposure (Experiments 1 and 2) and raddle marks were recorded daily. The median time from ram introduction to mating was reduced in ewes given both fence-line and vasectomised ram contact (P<0.001), leading to a more compact distribution of mating and lambing (At least P<0.01). In the blood sampled VR ewes, there was a progressive decline in the number of days from ram exposure to the onset of dioestrus (at least P<0.05). This observation indicates that the cycles in VR ewes became increasingly synchronised over the pre-mating period, a pattern not evident in VC ewes. In conclusion, repeated, short-term exposure of ewes to rams during the transition into the breeding season is an effective method of synchronising the distribution of mating during the breeding season. |
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Authors:
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P A R Hawken; A C O Evans; A P Beard |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2007-05-18 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Animal reproduction science Volume: 106 ISSN: 0378-4320 ISO Abbreviation: Anim. Reprod. Sci. Publication Date: 2008 Jul |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-05-05 Completed Date: 2008-08-01 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7807205 Medline TA: Anim Reprod Sci Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 333-44 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom. phawken@animals.uwa.edu.au |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Anestrus
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physiology Animal Husbandry / methods* Animals Breeding* / methods Estrus Synchronization / methods* Female Housing, Animal Male Periodicity* Pregnancy Pregnancy Rate Seasons Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology* Sheep / physiology* Time Factors Vasectomy / veterinary |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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