Comparative Efficacy of Estrus Synchronisation between Modified Herbs and Control Internal Drug Release (CIDR) in Goats

Abstract

Estrus synchronisation promises proper breeding management where manipulation of the estrus cycle in animals was achieved at the same time. Control Internal Drug Release (CIDR) is a common practice and commercially used to obtain estrus in the female goats. Conversely, this method is expensive with several limitations. Alternatively, specific herbs were proved to have beneficial effects and therapeutic properties towards animals. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyse the efficacy of estrus synchronisation using herbs and CIDR in goats. The female goats were divided randomly into two groups, (A) CIDR (n=4) and (B) herbs (n=4). The female goats were inserted with CIDR application devices, feeding with herbs and allow to response to estrus naturally for group (A) and (B) respectively. The estrus signs were observed four times daily (0900, 1200, 1500 and 1800 hours, respectively) after CIDR withdrawal (n=14 days) and feeding herbs (n=3 days) respectively. The results indicated that estrus detection was higher in herbs compared to CIDR (80.56% vs 77.78%, respectively) while conception and pregnancy rate was 100%, for both groups. Pregnancy was confirmed with ultrasound scanning at the second trimester of gestation. The onset of estrus was earlier in the females treated with CIDR than those in herbs (22.15h vs 24.4h, respectively). The maximum estrus duration in this study was recorded at 57.5h and 56h for CIDR and herbs, respectively. The estrus response for CIDR and herbs were higher in the morning 100%, for both compared to evening (66.67% vs 83.3%, respectively). In conclusion, the current study suggests that the utilization of herbs for estrus synchronisation is possible because both treatments gave similar result.