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The effect of GnRH agonist (buserelin) treatment on day 12 post mating on the reproductive performance of ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

N. F. G. Beck ,
A. R. Peters  and
S. P. Williams
N. F. G. Beck
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DD
A. R. Peters
Affiliation:
Hoechst UK Ltd, Walton Manor, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ
S. P. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DD
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Abstract

An investigation was conducted to determine the effects of treatment with the GnRH agonist buserelin on day 12 post mating on the reproductive performance of ewes. There was a non-significant (P > 0·05) increase in nonreturn rate (control 0·76 v. buserelin 0·83) and litter size (control 1·51 v. buserelin 1·77) in three flocks. However, there was a significant (P < 0·05) increase in the number of twin lambs born (control 20 v. buserelin 40) and litter size (control 1·44 v. buserelin 1·68) in the yearling flock. There was no effect of buserelin on oestrous cycle length, although there was a tendency for treated animals to have a longer gestation length and heavier lambs. In a ewe lamb flock there was no effect of buserelin on non-return rate or litter size assessed post slaughter on day 31 of pregnancy. However, ovulation rate tended to be greater in the treated animals, which suggests that buserelin may have induced the formation of accessory corpora lutea. These results indicate that buserelin treatment improves embryo survival and that this effect is particularly evident in yearling ewes.

Keywords

embryo survivalGnRHlitter sizereproductive performancesheep.
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , April 1994 , pp. 243 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

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