The effects of fluorogeston acetate and eCG on some reproductive parameters in lactating Pirlak sheep

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of intravaginal sponges impregnated with different doses of fluorogeston asetat (FGA) on some reproductive parameters in 360 Pirlak ewes in postpartum 30-60 days. Positive control group (n = 130) was treated with 30 mg FGA (intravaginal, Ova-Gest, Aydin Ilac, Turkey) for 12 days. On the sponge removal day, equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) (im, 600 IU, Pregnecol, Aydin Ilac, Turkey) was injected and rams were joined to flocks 36 hours later. The halved intravaginal sponges containing FGA were applied in experiment (n = 100) group as same protocol as positive control group. The estrous behaviour of ewes in negative control group (n = 130) was followed without any treatment protocol throughout the study. The data of some ewes due to non-retained sponges or uterine infection were discarded from the study. It was determined that the retention rate was %98 and %92 in positive control (n = 126) and experiment (n = 91) groups, respectively, while there was no significant difference in estrous, conception, lambing, single and twining rates or single and twining rates per lambing between groups. Triplet rate was high in experiment group (p<0.05), however triplet rate per lambing and fecundity rate did not show significant difference between groups. The second estrous rate was %59,5 and %78,3 in positive control and experiment groups, respectively (p<0.05). It was observed that total lambing rate following first and second estrous was higher in experiment group than those in positive control (p<0,05), whereas total single and twinning or total fecundity rates were similar between groups. The ewes in negative control group did not show estrous behaviour during the first or second estrous of other groups. In this study that some reproductive parameters in Pırlak ewes during out-of-season breeding in rural conditions in Afyonkarahisar province was first described, it was concluded that the insertion of halved intravaginal sponges impregnated 30 mg FGA and the injection of 600 IU eCG on the day of sponge removal could cause more economical estrous synchronization at the veterinary field.