Resumption of ovarian activity in post-partum ewes: Carry-over effect of the corpus luteum of pregnancy

Abstract

In 17 Préalpes-du-Sud ewes lambing in October, it was found after ovarian observations on Days 0–1 and 51–74 post-partum that: (1) ovulation tended to occur more often in the right than in the left ovary (68 to 70%); (2) the first post-partum ovulation occurred more frequently in the ovary that did not carry the corpus luteum of pregnancy (62.5%), than in the ovary that carried it; (3) the first post-partum ovulation occurred earlier when it took place on the side opposite to the previous corpus luteum of pregnancy (11.5 vs. 19.5 days post-partum). The switching or non-switching of ovarian activity after parturition is one major source of variation of parturition-first ovulation interval.