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The effect of double-dose GnRH injections on reproductive performance parameters following short-term progestagen administration in lactated Awassi ewes during the non-breeding season

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Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of double-dose gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection on the induction of oestrus and some reproductive performance parameters in Awassi ewes during the non-breeding season. In the study, 100 ewes were treated with a vaginal sponge containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 7 days in the anoestrus (day 0). PMSG 500 IU and 250 μg cloprostenol sodium were injected on the day of removal of the sponge (day 7). Ewes in Group 1 (n = 31) were not subjected to any hormonal treatment. Ewes in Group 2 (n = 31) were given 50 μg GnRH 48th hour after removal of the sponge. Ewes in Group 3 (n = 33) were given 50 μg GnRH 48th hour after the removal of the sponge and 50 μg GnRH 12th day after post-mating. The results obtained in the study showed that there were no statistical differences between the Groups 1, 2 and 3 in terms of oestrus rates (82.8%, 68.9%, 72.7%), conception rates (66.7%, 55.0%, 54.2%), multiple pregnancy rates (28.5%, 50.0%, 30.7%) and litter sizes (1.28, 1.50, 1.31). No significant increases in P4 concentration were observed in Group 3 treated with GnRH at the 12th day after post-mating; however, a numerically lower (p > 0.05) late embryonic-early fetal mortality rate was observed in Group 3 (0%), when compared with the values obtained in Group 1 (12.5%) and Group 2 (9.1%). In conclusion, after short-term progestagen administration during the non-breeding season, double-dose GnRH injections did not increase P4 concentration and had no significant differences on reproductive performance parameters among groups.

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Funding

This study is the first author’s PhD thesis and was financially supported by Selçuk University Scientific Research Coordination, Konya, Turkey (Project Number 18202040).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture and Animal Services, Adana Metropolitan Municipality, Adana, Turkey

    Metehan Kutlu

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Dursun Ali Dinç

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  1. Metehan Kutlu
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Metehan Kutlu, Dursun Ali Dinç; data curation: Metehan Kutlu; formal analysis and investigation: Metehan Kutlu; funding acquisition: Dursun Ali Dinç; investigation: Metehan Kutlu; methodology: Metehan Kutlu, Dursun Ali Dinç; project administration: Dursun Ali Dinç; resources: Metehan Kutlu; Software: Metehan Kutlu; supervision: Dursun Ali Dinç; validation: Dursun Ali Dinç, Metehan Kutlu; visualization: Metehan Kutlu; writing—original draft preparation: Metehan Kutlu; writing—review and editing: Metehan Kutlu, Dursun Ali Dinç.

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Correspondence to Metehan Kutlu.

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The present study was conducted with approval from Adana Veterinary Control Institute Ethics Committee, Adana, Turkey (12-1757, 2018). All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

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Kutlu, M., Dinç, D.A. The effect of double-dose GnRH injections on reproductive performance parameters following short-term progestagen administration in lactated Awassi ewes during the non-breeding season. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 277 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02735-x

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