Effect of a single-reduced dose of equine follicular fluid on the timing of oestrus and reproductive performances in goats

Abstract

To evaluate the use of equine follicular fluid (EFF) in a single-reduced dose on the synchronisation of oestrus in Boer×Nubian goats, the following experimental treatments were applied: Goats in group T1 (FGA, n=10) were synchronised in oestrus by intravaginal sponges impregnated with 45 mg FGA (Chronogest-MSD) for 12 days; group T2 (T2, FGA + eCG, n=16) goats were synchronised as in T1, plus 400 IU eCG, 48 h before sponge withdrawal; T3 goats (FGA + PGF₂α, n=11) received the sponge as T1 plus an i.m. dose of PGF₂α (1 ml, Prosolvin-MSD) 48 h before sponge withdrawal; T4 (FGA + EFF, n=19) animals received the sponge as T1 plus 2 ml EFF at sponge withdrawal and finally, group T5 (FGA + PGF₂α + EFF, n=10) was like T3 plus 2 ml EFF at sponge withdrawal. Presentation: onset and duration of oestrus were recorded, and fertility, prolificacy and fecundity were calculated. All females showed oestrus. The onset of oestrus was different (P < 0.01), T4 and T5 goats showing a delay (50.5±4.9 and 48.2±2.0 h for T4 and T5 groups, respectively). Litter size (2.10±0.11 kids/kidding) and fecundity (1.90±0.23 kids/goat) were higher (P<0.01) in T5 goats compared to T1 and T4, with no differences with T2 and T3. The combination of EFF with FGA and PGF₂α in goats produces a delayed onset of oestrus and improves prolificacy and fertility in comparison with the use of FGA and EFF.

Keywords:

• goat
• equine follicular fluid
• oestrus
• synchronisation
• reproduction

Acknowledgements

To the ‘Mejoramiento al Profesorado’ programme (PROMEP, SEP) and the ‘Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia’ of the ‘Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla’, México, and the ‘Colegio de Postgraduados’.