Follicular diameters and progesterone level in Egyptian ewe lambs using flushing and some hormonal treatments

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to explore the influence of flushing and hormonal treatments on the follicular diameters and progesterone level during estrus and pregnancy rate in Egyptian ewe lambs. This study was carried out on 25 ewe lambs clinically healthy (body weight 27-33 Kg. and age 8-12 months). The animals divided into 5 groups; group 1: served as a control, group 2: received vaginal sponges impregnated medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) for 14 days, group 3: received vaginal sponges impregnated with MAP for 14 days, on day of sponge removal each animal injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), group 4: received gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) on day 0, and injected with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) on day 7, after 48 hours, animals treated with the second dose of GnRH and group 5: injected with PGF2α 7 days and after 72 hours the animals injected with hCG during this period. Animals fed 3 kg. trifolium alexandrinum plus 500 gm concentrate diet. The results revealed that the follicular diameters (mm) showed higher (P<0.05) values after two days of the treatments than control group, and all treatment groups were increased (P<0.05) in the follicular diameters (mm) on both ovaries after the end of treatments within three days. In addition, during the first month of gestation period concentrations of serum progesterone were significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups 2 and 3 compared to groups 1 and 4. From this study we concluded that, using intra-vaginal sponges impregnated with medroxy-progesterone acetate plus pregnant mar serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and gonadotropin releasing hormone plus prostaglandin F2α (GPG) protocol, may be improved reproductive performance in native ewe lambs.