Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine if oral administration of 3 mg of melatonin given at 16.00 h each day, thrice weekly or once weekly would advance the breeding season in ewes compared to ewes implanted with melatonin or control ewes. The breeding season was advanced by daily oral administration or by use of implants of metatonin. In a second experiment, the efficacy of melatonin implants to advance the breeding season in three breeds was studied. Melatonin implants given in June/July significantly advanced the breeding season in Suffolk, Texel and Scottish Blackface ewes. These results indicate a role for the pineal gland through its secretion of melatonin as an Important mediator of the effects of photoperiod on seasonality of breeding in ewes. In addition, the results show that continuous administration of melatonin by implant was as effective as daily oral administration at 16.00 h, thus obviating the need for administration of melatonin at a specific time each day.

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