Reproductive efficiency is a crucial factor in the economic viability of small ruminant exploitation. In spite of this, few producers utilize the available reproductive technologies related to hormonal interaction, which are vital for the economic sustainability of their operations. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the potential effects of reproductive alterations and hormone interactions during pregnancy and lactation and to determine advanced technologies for sheep reproduction. In the modern era, breeding techniques, nutrition, reproduction, and management techniques are used to produce more and better quality livestock. A combination of estrous synchronization and genetic improvements for small ruminants is needed to increase reproduction efficiency, productivity, and quality. A proper match between sheep breeds and nutritional and production environments will allow animals to express their genetic potential for enhanced production. In sheep, little information is available regarding the reproductive physiology during pregnancy and lactation. The availability of such information would enhance sheep production and reduce economic losses through improved dam performance and lamb survival. Understanding ewe reproductive physiology during pregnancy and lactation is essential for flock managers to determine their reproductive potential. Using advanced reproductive technologies could enhance the productivity of sheep, which are the most abundant ruminant livestock species.
Background Adipose tissue secretes adiponectin (ADIPOQ), a hormone related to fat oxidation, glucose metabolism, and reproduction. The polymorphism of adiponectin is associated with productive traits in domestic animals. Thus, this study investigated the association of adiponectin gene polymorphism with lipid profile and reproductive hormones in Awassi ewe. In this study, 200 ewes between the ages of 2.5 and 5 years, neither pregnant nor lactating, were included. To determine the lipid profile and reproductive hormones, sera were separated from the blood. DNA extraction, genotyping, and sequencing reactions were used to verify the variants in the amplified fragments (exon 1). Results Three genotypes, CC, CA, and AA, were identified from 368 bp amplicons (exon 1). A sequencing reaction revealed a novel mutation, c.198473337C > A, in the CA genotype. The results revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in cholesterol and HDL levels in the AA genotype than CC and CA genotypes. The AA genotype had higher estradiol and progesterone levels (50.52 ± 0.64) (pg/ml) and (7.10 ± 0.04) (ng/ml), respectively, than those with the CC and CA genotypes. Conclusions These results conclude that the ADIPOQ gene affects lipid profiles and sex hormone levels in Awassi sheep. Choosing sheep that are polymorphic for the ADIPOQ gene should be a future study, as this gene could be linked to high prolificacy.
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