The male effect associated with prostaglandins and reproductive outcomes in photo-stimulated Saanen goats during the non-breeding season.

The efficiency of combining oestrous induction via a light program (16 h of light and 8 h of darkness for 60 days, ending on Day 0 - D0) with cloprostenol administration, followed by the male effect or not, was tested in acyclic Saanen goats during the non-breeding season (June/2019 to January/2020). Initially, all animals (males and females) were submitted to the described light program; 60 days after its ending (D60), the females were divided into two groups, with (G1; n = 67) or without (G2; n = 61) a male effect from D60 to D75 after the light program. At D75, both groups received two cloprostenol doses (120 μg; intramuscular) 7.

The pFSH dose affects the efficiency of in vivo embryo production in Santa Inês ewes.

This study compared the follicular growth, superovulatory response, and in vivo embryo production after administering two doses of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) in Santa Inês ewes. The estrous cycle of 36 multiparous ewes was synchronized with the Day 0 protocol and superovulated with 133 mg (G133, n=18) or 200 mg (G200, n=18) of pFSH. Ultrasonographic evaluations of the ovaries were performed, ewes were mated and submitted to non-surgical embryo recovery.

Reproductive seasonality of hair rams under tropical conditions: an alternative for non-seasonal lamb production?

Reproductive seasonality limits the periods of breeding on the year and, therefore, productive output. However, some breeds appear as probably non-seasonal. The aim of the study was to characterize the seasonal pattern of Santa Inês rams, including an ultrasound characterization of the reproductive tract, testosterone concentrations, and semen characteristics.

Use of meloxicam with or without dipyrone in non-surgical embryo recovery in hair sheep: Effects on animal welfare.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of meloxicam with or without dipyrone on the welfare of ewes subjected to non-surgical embryo recovery (NSER). Two studies were carried out using 51 multiparous Santa Inês ewes. All animals received a standard oestrous synchronization treatment and a superovulatory protocol.

Recent advances in treatments for resynchronization of ovulation in small ruminants: a review.

Hormonal methodologies to control small ruminants' estrous cycle are worldwide used and evolved, adjusting the application to the precise female physiological moments to enhance reproductive performance. The estrous cycle can be induced and/or synchronized, aiming for fixed-time artificial insemination, or based on estrus behavior signs for insemination, natural or guided mating. Successive protocols can be performed to resynchronize ovulation and increase reproductive outcomes in females that failed to conceive.

Ultrasound Diagnosis in Small Ruminants: Occurrence and Description of Genital Pathologies.

This study reports the occurrence and appearance of various reproductive tract pathologies of small ruminants diagnosed using ultrasound. An eight-year retrospective study of collected ultrasound data was carried out in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil from September 2012 to July 2020. A total of 3463 animals from 16 sheep flocks and 10 dairy goat flocks, raised under extensive and intensive management systems, respectively, were used in the study.

The Efficacy of Vaccination in the Prevention of Renal and Genital Leptospirosis in Experimentally Infected Sheep.

(1) Background: Leptospirosis, mainly determined by strains belonging to serogroup Sejroe, has a direct impact on the reproductive efficiency of ruminants, such as sheep. In Brazil, serovar Guaricura, known to be able to chronically colonize the uterine environment, is of special note. Although vaccination minimizes the effects of acute disease, whether or not it can protect from renal colonization remains controversial, and its effects on the genital tract are unknown.

Streptomycin treatment of genital carriers of Leptospira in experimentally infected sheep on different estrous phases.

Leptospirosis in ruminants presents as a chronic disease that causes several reproductive disorders leading to severe economic losses. The current recommended treatment can be efficient to eliminate the renal carrier state, however little is known about the effect of this drug in removing the genital carrier state and the hormonal influence on it. A total of 12 primiparous sheep experimentally infected with a strain of Leptospira santarosai serogroup Sejroe, FV52 strain, were used and distributed as group A (estrus; n = 5), group B (metaestrus; n = 4) and group C (control; n = 3).

Administration of butorphanol with ketamine/xylazine sedation reduces the negative responses to electroejaculation in rams.

This study aimed to identify the possible advantages of administering butorphanol (BUT), associated with ketamine/xylazine (KX) sedation or not, for semen collection using electroejaculation (EE) in rams. Fifteen rams received four treatments in a cross-over design using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments were 1) control; 2) received KX; 3) received BUT; and 4) received both treatments.

Progestogen supplementation during superovulation leads to higher embryo viability and TGFB1 gene expression in sheep.

This study aimed to compare the effect of the administration of either medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) or progesterone (P4) in superovulation (SOV) treatments applied during the first follicular wave on follicular development, embryo yield, and the expression of genes related to pluripotency maintenance, differentiation of the trophectoderm, cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis and energy metabolism in sheep embryos. The estrous cycle of 36 multiparous ewes was synchronized with a short protocol, and the animals were randomly allocated to three groups. At the beginning of SOV, 12 ewes per treatment received an intravaginal sponge impregnated with 60 mg of MPA (TMPA), or an intravaginal device containing 0.

Biostimulation with the ram effect increases the follicle recruitment, ovulatory diameter, and embryo viability rate in superovulated ewes.

The aim of this study was to compare the preovulatory follicular development and superovulatory outcomes in superovulated ewes which were either stimulated or not stimulated by placement with rams. The treatment regimen to super-stimulate ovarian follicular development was imposed to 28 ewes on "Day 0", from which 14 were stimulated with active rams for 48 h, starting at the time of the fifth FSH dose, with the ram being removed from the pen with the ewes and replaced which other ram every 12 h, using four different rams (group GRE). The other 14 ewes remained isolated from rams throughout the protocol (group GCON).

Hormonal protocol used for cervical dilation in ewes does not affect morphological embryo quality but reduces recovery rate and temporarily alters gene expression.

Background: Information on the impact of hormonal protocols for cervical dilation on the quality of ovine embryos is scarce.

Methods: To compare the quality of embryos after cervical dilation protocol, ewes (n = 64) were allocated into either a treated group (100 μg estradiol benzoate intravenous and 0.12 mg cloprostenol intramuscularly, 12 hours before embryo collection plus 100 iu oxytocin intravenous 15 minutes before the collection procedure) or a control group (saline).

Leptospira noguchii associated to reproductive disease in ruminants.

Leptospirosis is known to determine reproductive disorders on livestock, and Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira borgpetersenii are the most frequently reported species. Leptospira noguchii is an emerging pathogen, but its association with reproductive disease is unclear. We have detected L.

Response of rams to electroejaculation following the administration of oxytocin and cloprostenol with or without GnRH.

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of administering prostaglandin (250 μg cloprostenol) and oxytocin (10 UI) or a GnRH agonist (4.2 μg buserelin acetate) on rams' physiological responses to electroejaculation and the ejaculate's characteristics. The study was performed with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, according to whether it used oxytocin and prostaglandin (OXPGF) or GnRH.

Early resynchronization protocols for goats: Progestogens can be used prior to an early pregnancy diagnosis without affecting corpus luteum functionality.

This study aimed to evaluate the exogenous progesterone (P4) effect on the luteal function from Day 16 to Day 21 of the oestrous cycle in inseminated goats with unknown pregnancy status. A total of 54 does passed through a short progestin-based synchronization protocol and, on Day 16 of the following oestrous cycle, 27 does received a new P4 device which was retained until Day 21. Blood samples were collected daily from all does during this period, as well as on Day 24.

Use of two cloprostenol administrations 11.5 days apart efficiently synchronizes oestrus in photostimulated multiparous dairy goats in the non-breeding season.

This study assessed the efficiency of synchronous oestrous induction by light programme followed by two doses of cloprostenol in acyclic Saanen goats of different parity orders. Primiparous (n = 22) and multiparous (n = 33) goats were subjected to 16 hr of light and 8 hr of darkness for 60 days (D0-D60), starting 10 days after the winter solstice. All goats received 120 µg cloprostenol doses on D130 (morning) and D141.

Transcervical vs. laparotomy embryo collection in ewes: The effectiveness and welfare implications of each technique.

This study assessed animal welfare in ewes subjected to transcervical (TC) or laparotomy (LP) embryo collection, and the efficiency of these two techniques. Santa Inês ewes (n = 57) received a protocol for estrus synchronization and superovulation. Cervical dilation protocol was initiated 12 h before embryo collection in all ewes.

Hormonal protocols for early resynchronization of ovulation in ewes: The use of progestagens, eCG, and inclusion of early pregnancy diagnosis with color Doppler ultrasound.

This study aimed to evaluate 1) the effect of inserting an intravaginal sponge containing medroxyprogesterone during the late luteal phase on the corpus luteum (CL) function and endogenous production of P4; 2) the effectiveness of two different equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) doses on synchronization of ovulations for a resynchronization treatment; and 3) the inclusion of an early pregnancy diagnosis in an early resynchronization protocol for ovulation in ewes. For all studies, the synchronization protocol was based on a short-term protocol of six days of progestogen treatment plus one dose of prostaglandin F2alpha, one dose of eCG, and gonadorelin acetate after sponge withdrawal. For the first study, the ewes were mated with fertile rams; a second sponge was inserted in half of these ewes 12 days later, and blood samples were collected daily for six days, until sponge withdrawal.

Accuracy of assessment of luteal morphology and luteal blood flow for prediction of early pregnancy in goats.

This study aims to determine the best post-breeding time for an early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy goats, when using luteal morphology and vascularization assessment by B-Mode and color Doppler ultrasonography (US) in association or not with the anechoic uterine content. A total of 131 Saanen goats (2.0 ± 0.

Cervical transposition test using Hegar dilator at oestrus as a tool to select ewes for transcervical embryo collection.

This study evaluated the cervical transposition method as a tool to select ewes for embryo collection by transcervical route. Adult Santa Inês ewes (n = 50) received Day 0 protocol for superovulation treatments. The cervix transposition test was performed both at oestrus and at the embryo collection time.

Anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicle count are more effective for selecting ewes with good potential for in vivo embryo production than the presence of FecG mutation or eCG pre-selection tests.

This study aims to compare four different methods for selecting high responding sheep donors for in vivo embryo production. These methods include a pre-selection eCG test (eCG), antral follicle count (AFC), plasma anti-Müllerian hormone measurement (AMH) and genotyping for the presence of the FecG mutation (a polymorphism in the GDF9 gene associated with increased ovulation rate). Santa Ines ewe lambs (n = 25) underwent superovulation (SOV) with 800 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and the corpus luteum (CL) count was recorded by laparoscopy after eight days.

Use of two doses of cloprostenol in different intervals for estrus synchronization in hair sheep under tropical conditions.

This study evaluated the effect of two doses of prostaglandin at different intervals on reproductive parameters of crossbred ewes. In Experiment 1, 30 ewes received two doses of 120 μg cloprostenol at 7 (G ), 9 (G ), or 11.5 (G ) days apart.

Early pregnancy diagnosis in ewes by subjective assessment of luteal vascularisation using colour Doppler ultrasonography.

This study was designed to evaluate early pregnancy diagnosis using colour Doppler ultrasonography (US) for luteal vascularisation assessment. In Study 1, 28 ewes were artificially inseminated (Day 0), and luteal vascularisation was assessed from Day 12 to Day 19 by two evaluators using colour Doppler US, categorising the corpus luteum (CL) on a subjective scale ranging from 1 to 4. Females bearing a CL with score 2 or greater were presumably considered pregnant.

Effect of different hormonal combinations on follicular wave emergence and superovulatory response in sheep.

The aim of the present study was to compare hormonal treatments to induce and synchronize follicular wave emergence to improve the results of superovulatory (SOV) treatments in ewes. In Experiment 1 (n = 66), ewes were treated with a progesterone intravaginal implant plus a PGF analogue (group G), or with the same treatment plus estradiol benzoate (G), a GnRH agonist (G), or both, estradiol benzoate and a GnRH agonist (G) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Follicular wave emergence was determined by ultrasound.