OC13 Induction of Parturition in Canary Goats with Luprostiol

Abstract

Twenty‐two pregnant goats of the Canarian breed were administered 10 mg of the prostaglandin analogue luprostiol intramuscular (IM) on day 145 of pregnancy; seventeen pregnant goats were injected IM with saline solution the same day. Twenty hours after luprostiol application, goats were continuously observed in order to record the following parameters: parturition, dystocia incidence, placental delivery and live births. Parturition was successfully induced in all goats; the mean interval to parturition (first kid delivery) was of 32.9 ± 1.0 (SEM) hours (h) and the range varied from 21 to 41 h; in addition, no significant differences (p > 0.1) were detected between nuliparous and multiparous goats (31.3 ± 1.3 h and 34.7 ± 1.2 h, respectively). In the control group, the interval from saline injection to parturition was 75.9 ± 12.5 h (mean ± SEM), showing a range between 34 and 138 h. All the goats expelled the fetal membranes in the first 6 h after the induced or natural parturition. The incidence of dystocia due to fetal maldisposition was not significantly different between induced and control goats (9.0% and 11.8%, respectively). In addition, the percentage of live kids was practically similar between both groups (90.7% and 88.0%, induced vs control goats). This study confirms the effectiveness of the luprostiol to induce the parturition in goats, showing a narrow range (30–37 h) in most of the induced females (86.3%; 19/22 goats). The administration of prostaglandin analogue is a basic tool to plan kidding, allowing a effective concentration of effort and resources at the time of parturition.