Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of the ram on plasma FSH concentrations in progesterone-primed Romney ewes which were: (1) anoestrous; (2) devoid of ovaries; (3) or anoestrous but induced to ovulate by a pulsatile injection regimen of luteinising hormone (LH). The results showed that there was an abrupt fall in the mean FSH levels in anoestrous or LH-pulsed ewes at 1 hour after ram introduction and that this level of suppression (~40%) was maintained for ~22 hours in anoestrous ewes and for 12 hours in LH-pulsed ewes. Also, an FSH reduction (~20%) was observed in the ovariectomised ewes. In the anoestrous ewes, the FSH changes were observed without any associated oestrous or ovulatory behaviour. In the LH-pulsed group, all ewes showed oestrus and 75% produced normal corpora lutea. Collectively, the evidence suggests that when attempts are made to achieve fertile matings in hormone-treated anoestrous ewes, there may be advantages in delaying ram introduction until ~24 hours after progesterone withdrawal.

NA, Thomson, MJ Mace, LA Wright, and SM Bishell

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 46, , 139-144, 1986