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.