Comparative study of Ovsynch and progesterone sponge based estrus synchronization protocols on reproductive parameters in Mandya sheep

Abstract

Sheep actively produce during the brief daylight hours and breed seasonally. In order to prevent genetic erosion and enhance reproductive efficiency, assisted reproductive biotechnologies like estrus synchronization could be employed during the estrus and anestrus seasons. This would lower the cost of breeding, increase the number of lambs, and yield additional financial gains. Estrous synchronization can reduce the impact of seasonal influences on ewe reproduction in large-scale breeding farms, prolong the breeding season, modify ewe delivery timing, shorten the lambing cycle, and produce two to three deliveries during a two-year period. The Livestock Research and Information Centre Nagamangala, KVAFSU, Bidar, was the site of the current investigation. According to the current study's findings, protocol 1's estrus response was 60.00%, while protocol 2's was 800.00%. Estrus onset intervals for protocols 1 and 2 were, on average, 19.00 and 24.75 hours, respectively. In the current investigation, the rates of conception were 60.0% in protocol 2 and 40.0% in protocol 1. Lambing percentages were 40 and 60 percent on the basis of total ewes, 65.60 and 75.0% on the basis of estrus, and 75.0% and 90.0% on the basis of tupping in protocols 1 and 2, respectively. For protocols 1 and 2, the male to female sex ratios were 1:1 and 1:1.25, respectively, and the average lamb birth weights were 1.97 kg and 2.06 kg.