Effect of melatonin and intravaginal progesterone sponges on fertility in female goats

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of melatonin, intravaginal sponges, and their combination on estrus synchronization and conception rate in seasonally anestrus does. Eighteen healthy, sexually proven anestrus does were selected and randomly allocated into three groups (n=6). Group 1 (G1) received a single subcutaneous injection of melatonin (18 mg), Group 2 (G2) was treated with intravaginal Avikesil-S® sponges for 7 days along with PGF2α (125 μg/doe) one day prior to sponge removal and PMSG (500 IU) at sponge removal, while Group 3 (G3) received both melatonin and the sponge-based protocol. Estrus induction rates were 83.33% (G1), 100% (G2), and 100% (G3). Conception rates were 60%, 66.66%, and 66.66% for G1, G2, and G3, respectively. Estrus induction intervals (days) were 25.67±8.15, 9.33±0.51, and 29.00±5.50, while estrus duration (hours) was 27.33±6.88, 46.17±1.32, and 35.16±7.22 for G1, G2, and G3, respectively. The conception rate was 66.6% in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (60%). But estrus induction interval in the present study is shortest in G2 compared to G1 and G3, therefore it is concluded that induction of estrus in terms of acheiving highest conception rates using intravaginal progesterone sponges is more appropriate and best protocol compared to all other protocols.