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The effect of method of breeding on reproductive performance in indigenous goats (Capra prisca) mated at the beginning of the breeding season

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. Zygoyiannis ,
N. Katsaounis  and
G. Karatzas
D. Zygoyiannis
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
N. Katsaounis
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
G. Karatzas
Affiliation:
Centre of Artificial Insemination and Pathology of Reproduction, Diavata, Greece
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Abstract

Ninety-nine indigenous Greek goats (Capra prisca) on natural pasture were used to study reproductive performance as affected by method of breeding. At the beginning of the breeding season oestrus was induced with 45 mg fluorogestone acetate-impregnated vaginal sponges and 300 to 500 i.u. PMSG, given on day 15. The animals were separated into groups of 33 for mating: (i) by natural service (natural mating); (2) by artificial insemination with fresh semen (AI fresh); and (3) by insemination with frozen semen (AI frozen). Alpine bucks and Alpine semen were used for natural mating and AI of does.

No effect of method of breeding was found on gestation length and sex ratio. Reproductive performance was significantly affected by method of breeding; at 21 days after insemination, fertility of does bred with fresh semen (69·7%) was comparable with that obtained with natural mating (72·7%) but the fertility of does bred with frozen semen (48·5%) was much lower. This difference was statistically significant at kidding (P < 0·05). Litter size was 2·14 and 1·86 (P < 0·05) for the AI fresh and AI frozen groups, respectively, and was 1·96 for the natural mating group. More multiple litters were obtained with the AI fresh group (P < 0·05). It is concluded that, induction and synchronization of oestrus and ovulation at the beginning of the breeding season gave reproductive performance with fresh semen comparable to that obtained with natural service, but use of frozen semen gave unsatisfactory results.

Type
Papers
Information
Animal Production , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , October 1989 , pp. 291 - 297
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1989

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References

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