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The effect of sudden introduction of rams on oestrus pattern of tropical ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

L. O. Ngere  and
J. M. Dzakuma
L. O. Ngere
Affiliation:
University of Ghana, Legon
J. M. Dzakuma
Affiliation:
University of Ghana, Legon
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Summary

Observations were made over a period of 3 years on a total of 331 Nungua Black Head and 104 West African Dwarf sheep. It was shown that ewes of these breeds responded strongly to stimulation occasioned by the sudden introduction of rams which had been separated from them for 10 months. Sudden ram presence apparently altered the normal oestrous cycle of a substantial number of ewes which unlike temperate breeds showed behavioural oestrus soon after being run with the rams resulting in about a quarter of the flock being bred on the first day of association with the ram. This behavioural oestrus must have been accompanied by ovulation as shown by the lambing records 5 months later. The observations also suggested the existence of breed differences in the degree of ewe response to sudden ram presence.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 84 , Issue 2 , April 1975 , pp. 263 - 264
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

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