L.M.J. Schwalbach

Synchronisation of oestrus in goats: the use of different progestagen treatments

Abstract The efficiency of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP), fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponges and controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices for synchronising oestrus in goats was evaluated during the natural breeding season. Ninety does (42 boer goat and 48 indigenous goats) were assigned to Group A ( n =30) 60xa0mg MAP, Group B ( n =30) 40xa0mg FGA and Group C ( n =30) CIDR devices. Intravaginal progestagen was administered for a 16-day period. Upon progestagen withdrawal, does received 300xa0IU PMSG intramuscularly. Cervical inseminations with fresh diluted semen at a fixed time (48 and 60xa0h) followed progestagen withdrawal. The three progestagen treatments did not show significant differences in oestrous response (97%) and duration (33.3±13.4) of the induced oestrous period. Time to the onset of oestrus significantly advanced in the CIDR (27.2±0.4xa0h) group, when compared to FGA the (30.9±0.4xa0h) and MAP (32.2±0.5xa0h) groups. The mean serum progesterone concentrations in the CIDR group were higher ( P

Superovulation and embryo transfer in South African Boer and Indigenous feral goats

Abstract With the international interest in South African Boer goats and the possible utilization of superior genetic material, 56 Indigenous feral and 25 Boer goat does were used either as recipients or donor animals in a superovulation and embryo transfer program. Donor animals (Boer, n =8; Indigenous, n =16) were superovulated using 20xa0mg follicle stimulating hormone-p (FSH-p) (Folltropin) and recipients (Boer, n =20; Indigenous, n =40) synchronized with intravaginal controlled interval drug release devices (CIDRs) for 17 days. Surgical flushing of donors and embryo transfer was performed 6 days following artificial insemination (AI) of the donors. A higher percentage (87.5%) of the Indigenous goats responded to superovulation, compared to the Boer goats (50%). The interval from the cessation of treatment to oestrus for donor (42.0±18.0 and 33.5±5.2xa0h) and recipient (27.2±6.6 and 28.5±8.3xa0h) Boer and Indigenous does, respectively, did not differ significantly. The duration of the induced oestrous period for the recipient Indigenous does was significantly longer than in the Boer goat recipients (42.0±10.7 versus 58.3±25.2xa0h, respectively). The mean serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration following treatment was not significantly different between the two donor breeds (0.16±0.07 versus 0.2±0.04xa0ng/ml for the Boer and Indigenous does, respectively). Recipient Indigenous does had a significantly higher mean serum LH level following cessation of treatment, compared to the Boer goat (0.7±0.2 versus 0.2±0.1xa0ng/ml). In the donor group, the interval from device withdrawal to the LH peak was significantly shorter in the Indigenous does. The mean serum progesterone concentration was significantly higher for the Indigenous recipient group (2.3±0.9 versus 1.5±0.2xa0ng/ml) compared to the Boer goat recipients. The mean ovulation rate following superovulation was 14.6 and 17.5 (Indigenous and Boer goats, respectively), with a mean embryo recovery rate following flushing of 80 and 94%, respectively. Acceptable pregnancy rates were diagnosed by laparoscopy in Boer and Indigenous does (mean of 63% for both breeds), 5 weeks following embryo transfer. Folltropin as such proved to be an efficient superovulation agent in goats. Pregnancy rates confirmed multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) and the program used in this trial as a viable technique for accelerated breeding in goats, irrespective of the breed.