Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may boost progesterone production and attenuate maternal-immune response against concepti in ewes, increasing prenatal survival. The present study examined effects of repeated hCG administration after mating on serum progesterone concentration and complete blood counts (CBC) during early gestation, as well as offspring numbers at parturition. Fifty-six ewes we...

A group of crossbred Dorset or Finnish Landrace ewes maintained under a synthetic light regimen (Light Treatment, 4 mo long days - 16 h light, 4 mo short days - 8 h light) and exposed to rams every 8 mo (January 1, September 1, May 1) was compared for lamb production over a period of 4.5 yr with two other comparable groups under natural daylight conditions, one exposed to rams once a year in th...

The production performance of ewes was assessed in a terminal crossbreeding experiment involving five Merino and Merino-type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire breeds. Dam lines were SA Mutton Merino (SAMM), SAMM rams crossed to Merino ewes (SAMM cross), Dohne Merino, as well as specialist Merino lines selected for clean fleece weight (FW+) and for an increased reproduction (Rep+). D...

the objective of this study was to determine the best time for artificial insemination in taleshi ewes. one hundred and fifty ewes were randomly allotted to three groups (n=50/per group). estrus was synchronized with intravaginal insertion of controlled internal drug release (cidr) for 14 days. at the time of cidr removal pmsg (300iu) was injected to the ewes. the first (ai28), second (ai40) an...

In two experiments, 16 Booroola-Assaf and 35 Assaf ewe-lambs were actively immunized at 5 months of age against recombinant ovine placental lactogen (oPL). At 9 months of age, the ewe-lambs were mated for the first time and then introduced into a frequent mating-system. Anti-oPL antibody titers, reproductive performance, maternal serum levels of oPL during pregnancy, lamb birth weight and milk ...

Merino ewes (n = 300) grazing on sparse annual pasture and supplemented with hay were given a CIDR (controlled internal drug release) device to synchronise oestrus. Ewes in Groups 1 and 2 received 750 g/head of lupin grain each day for 9 days prior to the expected oestrus and ewes in Group 3 received a hay-only supplement. After joining ewes in Group 1 continued to receive the lupin supplement ...

Crossbred ewes (1/2 Dorset, 1/4 Rambouillet, and 1/4 Finnsheep) from a flock being selected for spring fertility, defined as ability to lamb following ram exposure in May and June in Virginia (37 degrees N latitude), were used to study the duration of the seasonal anestrus. In the first 3 yr of the study (1992, 1993, and 1995), mature ewes were divergently selected based on EBV for fertility, a...

Ghezel sheep is one of the main breeds in the north-west of Iran which is reared for meat, milk and wool production. Improving reproduction of this breed will have a significant impact on the economic development of local farmers. Therefore, in the present study the effect of simultaneous use of estrus synchronization(controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (...

this experiment was carried out the aim of the effect of sainfoin forage and forage:concentrate ratios on feed intake, nitrogen balance,ruminal biohydrogenation and milk fatty acid profile in dairy ewes using of eight lori breed ewes according to a replicated 4 × 4 latin square design. treatments were adjusted from one to four according to forage:concentrate ratios of 35:65 with and without sai...

Suffolk and Targhee ewes (30 each) with single or twin lambs were used in four periods beginning in late gestation and continuing through weaning to evaluate breed differences in milk production, lamb BW, and DMI by ewes and lambs. In Periods 1 (late gestation) and 2 (early lactation), ewes (Period 1) and ewes with lambs (Period 2) were individually penned, fed .45 kg of barley x ewe(-1) x d(-1...