PROSTAGLANDIN VERSUS PROGESTAGEN PROTOCOLS IN OESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION IN THE YANKASA EWE

This study was conducted to compare the effects of prostaglandins (estroPLAN® and Lutalyse®) and progestagens (CIDR® and FGA-45®) in synchronizing oestrus in Yankasa ewes between January and February 2014. Thirty three (33) Yankasa ewes aged 1.5- 3 years, 21 to 26 kg body weights, with body condition score of 2.5- 3.5 were used in this study. Ewes were randomly allocated into 5 groups, Group 1 (ewes treated with Lutalyse® [YK-LT], n= 7), Group 2 (ewes treated with estroPLAN® [YK-ET], n= 7), Group 3 (ewes treated with EAZI- BREED™ CIDR® [YK-CD], n= 5), Group 4 (ewes treated with Fluorogestone acetate-45® [YK-FG], n= 7) and Group 5 (Control [YK-CT], n= 7). Natural breeding was carried out using sexually active rams for 5 days following progestagen withdrawal and second prostaglandin administration. 100% oestrus response was observed in YK-ET, YK-CD and YK-FG, respectively. Time to onset of oestrus was 68.23 ± 17.28 h in YK-LT, 49.29 ± 4.5 h in YK-ET, 33.48 ± 8.6 in YK-CD, 53.27 ± 12.3 in YK-FG and 39.2 ± 13 in YK-CT. Duration of oestrus was longest in YK-LT (51.35 ± 13.9 h) and shortest in YK-CT (17.2 ± 6.9 h). Mounts per oestrus period was highest in YK-CT (26.9 ± 4.8) and lowest in YK-ET (14.3 ± 4.3). Conception rate was 100% in the YK-LT, YK-ET, YK-CD groups respectively. It is concluded that estroPLAN® and CIDR® offered the best results in synchronizing oestrus in Yankasa ewes and may be used by farmers to enhance productivity.