Timing of ovulation in the fat-tailed Qezel ewes after synchronization with vaginal devices containing endogenous or exogenous synthetic progestogens during out of the breeding season.

Background: Wide range of ovulation distribution is the main restricting factor in establishing the pregnancy following oestrus synchronization (ES) and fixed time insemination (FTI) in sheep.

Objectives: Determining the ovulation time (OVT) following ES with two different vaginal devices, its relation to progesterone and conception upon FTI with frozen/thawed semen.

Methods: Oestrus was synchronized using either controlled internal drug release (CIDR) (ewe, n = 6; ewe lamb, n = 5) or vaginal sponge (ewe, n = 6; ewe lamb, n = 5) insertion for 12 days, plus Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at devices removal (Day 0). Sizes of the ovarian follicles were measured using transvaginal probe at -12, 0 and 30-33, 53 h and continued every 3-4 h until 75 h after eCG treatment. Serum progesterone amounts were measured at -12, 0, +2 and +11. Laparoscopic FTI was done at 60.5 ± 0.5 h.

Results: The CIDR-treated group initiated and completed ovulations earlier compared to sponge-treated females (median: 64 vs. 71 h; p < 0.05). Ewe lambs were ovulated earlier compared to ewes in the sponge-treated group (66.71 vs. 71.5; p = 0.017). Mean sizes of ovulatory follicles and corpora lutea were not affected by device types. Higher amounts of progesterone were observed in CIDR group compared to sponge-treated group at device removal (2.68 ± 0.12 vs. 0.30 ± 0.01 ng/mL; p < 0.001). The conception was confirmed in 2/10, and 5/11 females of sponge and CIDR-treated females, respectively.

Conclusions: Types of progestogens influence the OVT, and consequently the result of FTI with frozen/thawed semen. The optimum timespan for FTI should be chosen according to the device types during non-breeding season.