Clinical use of Norgestomet ear implants or intravaginal pessaries for synchronization of estrus in anestrous dairy goats

Abstract

Ear implants that contained 3 mg Norgestomet or vaginal pessaries that contained 40 or 45 mg fluorogestone acetate were used to induce estrus in dairy goats in three herds in May. Ear implants or vaginal pessaries were left in place for 11 d. Cloprostenol (50 μg) and PMSG (500 IU) were administered i.m. 24 h prior to removal of ear implants or vaginal pessaries. After removal of vaginal pessaries, onset of standing estrus occurred in 22 23 goats (96%) at 20 ± 4.7 h, in 19 20 goats (95%) at 22 ± 6.3 h, and in 16 16 goats (100%) at 19 ± 1.2 h in Herds A, B and C, respectively. After removal of ear implants, onset of standing estrus occurred in 25 25 goats (100%) at 19 ± 4.9 h, in 20 22 goats (91%) at 22 ± 7.0 h, and in 15 15 goats (100%) at 18 ± 2.2 h in Herds A, B and C, respectively. Does were bred by natural service in Herds A and B, and by artificial insemination 28 h after vaginal pessary or ear implant removal in Herd C. Pregnancy rates were determined 39 to 53 d post breeding by real-time ultrasound. Pregnancy rates in goats with vaginal pessaries were 32, 55 and 6%; and in goats with ear implants they were 56, 67 and 27% in Herds A, B and C, respectively. Problems encountered included poor libido in some bucks, abortions in undersized yearling does, and loss of ear implants by three does (not included in the data). Statistically there was no difference in pregnancy rates between goats receiving vaginal pessaries or ear implants (P>0.10).