The study evaluated the effect of duration of progestagen treatment and breed on response to oestrous synchronisation and pregnancy rate following AI in 47 Boer and 27 unimproved indigenous goats. Each breed was subdivided into two groups, based on the duration of progestagen treatment. In the long-term progestagen treatment, controlled internal drug release dispensers (CIDRs) were inserted for 16 days, while in the short-term progestagen treatment, CIDRs were inserted for 9 days. Oestrous detection was performed for a period of 72 h, starting at CIDRs withdrawal. AI was performed 48 h following CIDRs removal with raw or frozen/thawed semen. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed at day 35 following AI. Boer goat exhibited a significantly (p B 0.05) higher oestrous response (100%) than unimproved indigenous goats (88.9%). Breed had no effect on the onset of oestrus. Boer goat does recorded a longer duration of the induced oestrous period, compared to the unimproved indigenous goats. No significant difference was observed between short or long-term progestagen, with respect to the oestrous response, onset and duration of the induced oestrous period. The pregnancy rate was not affected by breed and semen cryopreservation. However, long-term progestagen treatment drastically reduced pregnancy rate. In conclusion, breed had an effect on oestrous response and the duration of induced oestrous period. The interaction of breed and duration of progestagen treatment had no effect on response to oestrus and onset of oestrus. The pregnancy rates of the current study were generally low and were affected by the duration of progestagen treatment.
The aim of the study was to characterize and compare seminal plasma constituents of unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats. In this study, unimproved indigenous (11) and Tankwa (11) goats were used. Their average age was 3 ± 0.8 years and average bodyweights were 35.5 ± 2.1 kg and 59.8 ± 1.9 kg, respectively. Semen samples were collected with an electro ejaculator, and evaluated for macroscopic and microscopic semen characteristics and seminal plasma constituents. Both unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats had normal semen characteristics for goats, with the exception of sperm cell concentration. However, Tankwa goats had higher straight-line velocity and average path velocity compared with unimproved indigenous goats. Unimproved indigenous goats had higher intact acrosome than Tankwa goats. Lipocalin-type prostaglandin-D synthase was one of the constituents that were detected, but it was below the detection limit of 0.5 mmol/L. Moreover, the semen of unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats had the same levels of fertility-associated antigen, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, lipids and urea. In conclusion, unimproved indigenous and Tankwa goats had the same seminal plasma constituents. These constituents seem to be optimal for the sperm cells, as they resulted in acceptable semen characteristics, except for sperm cell concentration, which was low. Moreover, acceptable standards need to be set for all seminal plasma constituents, as they are not currently known.
The objective of the study was to determine pre-weaning performance of piglets born following artificial insemination (AI) at smallholder farms of Gauteng province. Data from 496 piglets originating from 73 multiparous crossbred sows were used in the study. Litter size, number of piglets born alive, number of piglets weaned, birth and weaning weights were recorded. Data was analysed using the Proc Univariate procedure of SAS. The average litter size was 11.8. The average birth weight and weaning weights were 1.9 and 6.2 kg, respectively. No significant differences were found between male and female piglets for all the growth performance characteristics. Piglets born during winter had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) birth and weaning weight as compared to autumn and summer months. Season had a significant effect on birth and weaning weight (P < 0.01). However, sex of piglets had no significant effect on all the characteristics recorded (P > 0.05). The interaction between sex and season was only confirmed on the total number of weaned piglets (P < 0.01). A highly significant positive correlation was found between litter size and number of piglets born alive (r = 0.86) and total number of piglets weaned (r = 0.50). A highly significant correlation was found between total number of piglets born alive and total number of piglets weaned (r = 0.55). In conclusion, season of birth had the greatest impact on birth and weaning weight, with the highest birth and weaning weights recorded during winter season. However, sex did not affect the pre-weaning performance of piglets.
The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of flaxseed oil and ascorbic acid on the reproductive performance of South African indigenous sheep (Ovis aries). Twenty-two matured South African indigenous rams (eight BaPedi, nine Zulu, and five Namaqua Afrikaner; age of 6 years and body weight of 64.4 ± 1.6 kg) were randomly assigned into five treatment groups (NC (standard diet), PC (basal diet), FO (5% flaxseed oil), AA (4% ascorbic acid), and FO + AA (5% flaxseed oil + 4% ascorbic acid)). Semen samples were collected during the natural breeding season using an artificial vagina. Semen samples were evaluated for macroscopic (semen volume, pH, and sperm concentration) and microscopic (morphology, malondialdehyde, membrane permeability, and sperm cell motility parameters) characteristics. Eighty-one South African indigenous ewes were synchronized using controlled intravaginal drug devices impregnated with 0.3 g progesterone for 10 days and then injected with 300 IU of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin. These ewes were then hand-mated. The data were subjected to the General Linear Model (GLM) in Minitub® 2017. A cross-tabulated Chi-Squared (ꭕ2) test was used to track the frequencies of the conception rate. Treatment means were separated using Student’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) and considered significantly different when the p-value was less than 0.05. No considerable breed effect was observed for semen volume, semen pH, sperm concentration, intact membrane, and non-intact membrane. FO + AA led to higher semen volume (1.05 ± 0.06 mL), intact sperm membranes (88.83 ± 1.27%), and low malondialdehyde levels (0.37 ± 0.04 nmol/mL) in comparison to other treatment groups. Total sperm motility was higher in FO + AA (95.81 ± 0.80%) compared to FO, AA, PC, and NC. The conception rate was higher in FO (94%), AA (94%), and FO + AA (100%) when compared to NC (71%) and PC (79%). The testosterone concentration did not differ among PC, FO, AA, and FO + AA. It was concluded that the inclusion of 5% flaxseed oil (FO and FO + AA) improves both the semen quality and the conception rate of South African indigenous sheep.
Agree Nephawe and Bohani Mtileni. This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 3.0 license.
The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the estrous response and pregnancy rate following timed artificial insemination (TAI) with frozen-thawed semen in cows. The study was carried out in cows at different villages of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN; n = 160) and Limpopo provinces (L; n = 171). Cows were selected randomly as presented by the farmers, regardless of parity, age, breed and body weight following pregnancy diagnosis. The cows were grouped according to breed type and body condition score (BCS) on a scale of 1-5. Selected cows were inserted a controlled intravaginal drug release (CIDR ®) and removed on day 8, followed by administration of prostaglandin. Heat was observed on day 9 with the aid of heat mount detectors (HMD) that were placed on the individual cow's tail head. Cows on heat were then inseminated twice at 12 hours interval. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by an ultra-sound scanner and rectal palpation 90 days after TAI. Data were analyzed using SAS 2006. Estrous responses were 100% in KZN and 99% in Limpopo.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
334 Leonard St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.