Journal of Veterinary Science & Medicine

Research Article

Evaluation of Factors Affecting Pregnancy Rate after Cervical Insemination of Dairy Ewes in Greece

Priskas S, Termatzidou SA, Gargani S, Arsenos G

Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
*Address for Correspondence Priskas S, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; E-mail: stpriskas@vet.auth.gr
Submission: 04-November, 2019 Accepted: 09-December-2019 Published: 11-December-2019
Copyright: © 2019 Priskas S, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the factors affecting success of cervical Artificial Insemination (AI) with chilled semen in intensively reared dairy ewes in Greece. The study involved 1,785 adult ewes from 20 flocks of Lacaune and Chios sheep. A typical estrous synchronization protocol, including intravaginal placement of progestogen sponge for 14 days and injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin at sponge removal, was applied in ewes during mating period. All ewes were cervically inseminated 53-57 hours after sponge removal with chilled semen (15oC) collected from 10 adult purebred Lacaune rams. Pregnancy Diagnosis (PD) was performed by trans-dermal ultrasonography at 35- 38 d after AI. The following data were available for each ewe: breed; parity; Body Condition Score (BCS) at sponge placement, at AI and at PD; presence of rams during synchronization and number of previous synchronizations. Recordings during the AI procedure included: onset of synchronization to AI interval; semen collection to AI interval; semen deposition depth; cervical mucus presence; order of ewe; average time required for each animal; ram semen used. The results showed that farm, parity, semen deposition depth, ram, ewe BCS and changes of BCS during the sponge placement-PD period, significantly affected AI success (P<0.05). Overall fertility was 44%. Ewes of 2nd (50.3%) and 3rd lactation (48.1%) had the highest conception rates, that declined as age increased. Ewes in moderate BCS (2.50-3.50) at onset of synchronization (48.4%) and AI (49.4%) had significantly higher fertility than ewes with low (<2.50) or high (>3.50) BCS. Positive energy balance following the onset of synchronization seems to benefit animals with low and moderate BCS, but decrease pregnancy rates of high BCS ewes. In conclusion, selection of appropriate ewes and rams, BCS evaluation prior to synchronization and adjustment of dietary management are key factors dictating pregnancy rates following AI in greek dairy sheep.