Vol. 10, Special Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
Vinay Yadav, Gitesh Saini, Anand Kumar Pandey and Sandeep Kumar

Abstract:
The two-third of the Indian rural community is directly or indirectly dependent on sheep and goat farming systems for their sustenance. The contribution of sheep in terms of meat and wool production as well as ability of this animal to survive under harsh climatic conditions points towards a promising source of income for small and marginal farmers but due to seasonal breeding behaviour the full reproductive efficiency of this species is underutilized. Sheep is a small day breeder limiting its reproductive potential and only one lambing can be achieved annually. Sheep is a seasonally polyestrous animal with average estrous cycle length of 16 to 17 days and estrus period lasting for approximately 24 to 36 hours. Seasonality is one of the most special characteristics of ovine reproduction described as ‘‘nature’s contraceptive’’, a naturally occurring phenomenon to induce a reversible pattern of fertility and infertility in adult mammals but it seem to be undesirable from animal production point of view. This review deals with interplay of various neuro-endocrine mechanisms controlling the seasonal breeding in sheep.