Factors influencing the success of laparoscopic artificial insemination in Île-de-France sheep breed.

Abstract

Several factors can influence the effectiveness of laparoscopic artificial insemination in sheep. The season, the lunar phase, meteorological parameters and farm management factors were investigated to determine which ones affect pregnancy rate. A total of 250 Île-de-France ewes were inseminated by laparoscopy in spring (March, April) and in autumn (October, November). In the autumn season, only 20.0% of the inseminated ewes became pregnant while in spring, this was 51.3%. In the spring season, an extreme change in minimum temperature affected negatively the probability of conception (P = 0.0692), within the four days preceding insemination. Increased variance in the maximum and minimum temperature decreased the probability of conception (Tmax:P = 0.0472; Tmin:P = 0.033) within 40 days after insemination. Spring inseminations resulted in a significantly higher number of twin pregnancies (29.23%) compared with autumn inseminations (12.73%). The proportion of twin pregnancies was lower (21.90%) in the waning moon period compared to the waxing moon period (28.47%). None of the examined farm management factors had an effect on pregnancy. In our humid-temperate continental climate (in Hungary), spring laparoscopic inseminations were more effective in Île-de-France sheep, with weather conditions potentially influencing the outcome.