Effect of Body Condition Score, Treatment Period and Month of the Previous Lambing on the Reproductive Resumption of Melatonin-Treated Sarda Breed Sheep during Spring

Luisa Pulinas,Melissa Carvajal-Serna,Maria Consuelo Mura,Hatem Ouled Ahmed,Vincenzo Carcangiu,Sebastiano Luridiana,Giovanni Cosso

doi:10.3390/ani11071898

Luisa Pulinas, Melissa Carvajal-Serna + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071898

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Abstract

Simple SummaryImproving reproductive efficiency in sheep farms is a crucial task for researchers. Therefore, the present research considers the conditions commonly found in Sarda sheep farms and evaluates the effects on reproductive activity via the following factors: exogenous melatonin treatment through subcutaneous implants, different periods of melatonin treatment, varying body condition scores (BCS) and the previous lambing of the treated ewes. The results of the present research suggest that melatonin treatment is able to reliably enhance reproductive efficiency. Furthermore, the findings indicate that optimal reproductive efficiency can be achieved by ensuring that melatonin is administered in April to ewes that have a BCS of >2.5 and have passed their third month of lactation.Stakeholders place great emphasis upon rationalizing the management and rearing techniques which are utilized within sheep farms. The present study aimed to investigate factors which may improve the reproductive performance of melatonin-treated Sardinian sheep via a series of three trials. The first trial (n = 100) investigated the effect of melatonin treatment alongside body condition score (BCS), the second trial (n = 150) investigated the effect of treatment alongside the date of treatment (treatment period) and the third trial (n = 150) investigated the effect of treatment alongside the previous lambing of the ewes. The findings indicated that melatonin is an effective tool for anticipating and improving the reproductive activity of in Sarda breed sheep during the springtime. Furthermore, to obtain optional results, melatonin implantation should be conducted in April, in ewes that have a BCS of >2.5 and that have passed their third month of lactation.

Highlights

Small ruminants reared in the Mediterranean area show reproductive seasonality via recurrent physiological alternations of reproductive activity and sexual rest, which are linked to the photoperiod trend [1]
The statistical analysis showed that the effects of treatment and body condition score (BCS) had a significant influence on the fertility rate
All treatment groups displayed significant effects of treatment. Another important finding, which was concurrent with our previous studies, was that the litter sizes in Sarda breed sheep were not significantly affected within all trials [7,9]

Summary

Introduction

Small ruminants reared in the Mediterranean area show reproductive seasonality via recurrent physiological alternations of reproductive activity and sexual rest, which are linked to the photoperiod trend [1]. The breeding season of this species usually begins during the summer or early fall, in response to the shortening of the day length and ends during the late winter or early spring [2]. The perception of light and dark alternation affects the epiphysis secretion of melatonin, with high levels being secreted during night-time hours and low levels during daylight hours [3]. Melatonin is considered to be the organic informer of the photoperiod trend and the main regulator of reproductive seasonality [4]

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