Vol. 6, Issue 4 (2017)

Author(s):
K Murali Mohan

Abstract:
The present study was aimed to determine the comparative study of Reproductive efficiency in ewes synchronized with Vaginal Sponges and CIDR during breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The ewes were synchronized with Vaginal Sponges containing 30 mg of Flurogestone Acetate (FGA) and controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) device containing 300 mg of progesterone. A total of 120 postpartum, parous, healthy ewes aged about 2 to 5 years were divided into 5 groups and each group consists of 24 animals. Each group was further subdivided into 2 groups consists of 12 animals and were studied during breeding and non-breeding seasons. Group I ewes were considered as untreated control. Ewes in Group II were treated with Vaginal Sponges and CIDR were left in place for 12 days followed by intramuscular injection of 400 IU of PMSG at the time of device removal. Ewes in Group III were treated with Vaginal Sponges and CIDR and 600 IU of PMSG was given intramuscularly at the time of removal of Vaginal Sponges or CIDR. Ewes in Group IV were treated as in Group II and additionally supplementation 200 IU of hCG injection at the time of mating. Ewes in Group V were treated as in Group III and additional injection of 200 IU of hCG at the time of mating. In ewes treated with Vaginal Sponges the pregnancy rate was 50.00, 80.00, 91.67, 81.82 and 100.00 per cent in control, VS 4, VS 6, VS 4h and VS 6h, respectively during breeding season. In non-breeding season, the pregnancy rate was 66.67, 70.00, 83.33, 80.00 and 91.67 per cent in control, VS 4, VS 6, VS 4h and VS 6h, respectively. Among the CIDR treated ewes, the pregnancy rate was 50.00, 70.00, 83.33, 72.72 and 91.67 per cent in control, CIDR 4, CIDR 6, CIDR 4h and CIDR 6h, respectively in breeding season. In non-breeding season, the same values were 50.00, 60.00, 75.00, 70.00 and 83.33 per cent in control, CIDR 4, CIDR 6, CIDR 4h and CIDR 6h, respectively. The pregnancy rates were significantly (P<0.01) higher in ewes synchronized with vaginal sponge than CIDR in both seasons. Significantly (P<0.01) higher lambing rates were recorded in vaginal sponge (113.73 per cent) than the CIDR (98.04 per cent) treatment during breeding season. While in non-breeding season there was no significant difference between vaginal sponges (102.13 per cent) and CIDR (91.30 per cent) treatments. The litter size was not significantly differed in vaginal sponge (1.25±0.07 and 1.23±0.07) and CIDR (1.23±0.07 and 1.21±0.08) in breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively. During breeding season, significantly (P<0.01) higher per cent of multiple births were recorded in VS6h/CIDR6h (34.29), followed by VS6/CIDR6 (27.59), VS4h/CIDR4h (19.05), VS4/CIDR4 (11.76) and control (0.00) group of ewes while in non-breeding season, significantly (P<0.01) higher per cent of multiple births were recorded in VS6h/CIDR6h (30.00), followed by VS6/CIDR6 (24.00), VS4h/CIDR4h (16.67), VS4/CIDR4 (13.33) and control (0.00) group of ewes.