Small Ruminant Research最新文献

{"title":"Transhumance in Sierra de Segura (Spain): A resilient traditional grazing system","authors":"Mario Velamazán ,&nbsp;Angel Gómez-Martín ,&nbsp;Teresa Maestre ,&nbsp;Marina Rincon-Madroñero ,&nbsp;Jomar Magalhaes Barbosa ,&nbsp;Antonio Contreras","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Transhumance is tending to continuously decline globally, despite persisting in certain regions. Due to marked lack of knowledge about this practice and its cultural, economic, and environmental significance, our study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the persistence of transhumance. We focused on ruminant herds of a transhumant community in the Santiago-Pontones municipality in Sierra de Segura, Spain. We processed official data from ruminant livestock enterprises and incorporated insights gained as observer-participants during seven transhumant displacements from 2016 to 2023. The census included 55042 ruminant heads and 118 herds, and 70 % of animals and 61 % of herds practiced transhumance. These herds wintered in pastures located within a range from 33 to 176 linear kilometers from their respective origins that span 15 municipalities. Significant differences were observed between sedentary and transhumant farm sizes (363 vs. 533 heads, respectively). Transhumance correlated significantly with herd size, number of sheep, percentage of female goats and number of ruminant species in herds. Women owned 19 % of ruminant enterprises, with no differences in herd structure or displacement type compared to those owned by men. Of the transhumant herds, 66 % traveled on foot, with no significant differences in herd structure parameters or distances based on their transport system, except that on-foot transhumant herds commenced their displacements earlier than those using trucks. In conclusion, our study outlines an active transhumant community in southeast Spain, whose resilience is a noteworthy asset that deserves recognition and safeguarding.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 107343"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921448824001494/pdfft?md5=d567bd890d74e335210cea03fa19c2f0&pid=1-s2.0-S0921448824001494-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142044695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic parameters for growth and reproductive traits in Santa Inês sheep","authors":"Isis Regina Santos de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Marisa Silva Bastos ,&nbsp;Ana Paula del vesco ,&nbsp;Zoila Catalina Rabanal Montalvan ,&nbsp;Arnaldo Dantas Barreto Neto ,&nbsp;Leandro Teixeira Barbosa","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Although Santa Inês sheep demonstrate good adaptation to tropical environments, there is a need for effective breeding programs focused on growth and reproductive traits to harness the breed's full developmental potential. Thus, this study aimed to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for weight at birth (WB), weight at 60 days (W60), age at first lambing (AFL), first lambing interval (FLI), and average lambing interval (AFI) in Santa Inês sheep. The data were obtained from the Sergipe Goat and Sheep Breeders' Association (ASCCO). (Co)variance components and genetic parameters were estimated by Bayesian analysis based on a bitrait model with Gibbs sampling using Multiple-Trait Gibbs Sampler for Animal Models (MTGSAM) software. Heritability estimates (<em>h</em>²) for WB, W60, AFL, ALI, and FLI were 0.11, 0.18, 0.028, 0.25, and 0.30, respectively. Positive correlations were observed between WB and W60, AFL and ALI, and AFL and FLI (0.31, 0.17, and 0.18, respectively). By contrast, negative correlations were obtained for WB and AFL (−0.55), WB and AFL (−0.42), WB and FLI (−0.39), W60 and ALI (−0.26), and W60 and FLI (−0.37), with magnitudes ranging from low to moderate. Correlation values for ALI and FLI and W60 and AFL were positive and strong (0.97 and 0.98, respectively). These results indicate that the studied traits can be used for indirect selection. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of determining genetic parameters when formulating strategies for the genetic improvement of Santa Inês sheep.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 107327"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142049856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of human recombinant FSH for enhancing reproductive performance of ewes in progesterone injection-based estrus synchronization program","authors":"Amir Alijani ,&nbsp;Amir Niasari-Naslaji ,&nbsp;Mohammad Baninajjar ,&nbsp;Mahdi Ganjkhanlou","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Exploring the safe, cheap, and efficient gonadotropin to enhance reproductive performance of ewe is of worldwide demand. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of using human recombinant FSH (hrFSH) at the end of a short progesterone injection-based estrus synchronization program during the breeding season in ewe. Shal ewes (n=184) were assigned randomly into 4 groups using 2 (hrFSH or No-hrFSH) by 2 (Mating or Laparoscopic artificial insemination; LapAI) factorial design during the breeding season. On Day 0 of the experiment, ewes received progesterone (37.5 mg; sc) and GnRH analogue (7.5 µg Alarelin acetate; im). On Days 3 and 6, ewes received 25 and 12.5 mg progesterone (sc), respectively. All ewes received prostaglandin F₂α analogue (250 µg Cloprostenol; im) on Day 6. On Day 7, ewes were divided into two equal groups and received hrFSH (75 IU Follitropin alfa; sc) or didn’t receive any further treatment. Ewes displaying estrus in each group were assigned for mating for 5 days or LapAI at either 4–10 or 20–24 h after estrous detection. Data were analyzed using GLM and Genmod procedures. The tightness of estrus synchrony within 24 h was greater in hrFSH (89.4 %) than No-hrFSH (63.9 %) group (P&lt;0.0001). The respective prolificacy and fecundity were greater in hrFSH (1.81 and 0.96) than No-hrFSH (1.26 and 0.68) group (P&lt;0.05). The respective lambing rate and fecundity rate were greater for ewes mated (61.9 % and 0.96) compared to LapAI (45.5 % and 0.68; P&lt;0.05). Ewes inseminated between 4 and 10 hours after estrous expression had greater sex ratio toward male offspring (1.89) compared to those inseminated between 20 and 24 hours (0.64, P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, hrFSH could be considered as an effective gonadotropin for enhancing the tightness of estrus synchrony, prolificacy and fecundity in the progesterone injection-based estrus synchronization program in ewe.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 107340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142011369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic diversity and maternal origins of indigenous sheep populations in north Ethiopia","authors":"Mulata Hayelom Adhena ,&nbsp;Anna M. Johansson ,&nbsp;Getinet Mekuriaw Tarekegn","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigated maternal origin and haplotype variants in four sheep populations in the northern Ethiopian Tigray and Afar regions: Abergelle, Elle, Begait, and Tigray Highland. The research involved amplifying a 1088-bp mtDNA control region and sequencing 24 samples and examined haplotype diversity and maternal origins. The maternal origins were determined by using 517 bp of the mtDNA d-loop region, which was matched to globally defined reference sequences. The AMOVA analysis reveals 29.78 % variation in four populations with 13 mutational sites dividing haplogroups A and B. The presence of diverse maternal origins in those indigenous sheep populations is very crucial for future conservation and breeding efforts. To properly grasp their genetic potential, it will therefore be necessary to decipher the entire genome landscape of the indigenous sheep resources in Tigray regional state, the north Ethiopia.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 107342"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921448824001482/pdfft?md5=d79d4e27f2cce392a2fa5b774dc7f174&pid=1-s2.0-S0921448824001482-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142057960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary Nannochloropsis oculata could ameliorate cadmium chloride-induced reproductive toxicity in Barki rams: Antioxidant, MAP3K8, and inflammatory pathways","authors":"Doaa H. Elsayed ,&nbsp;Ahmed Elaswad ,&nbsp;A.S. EL-Hawy ,&nbsp;M.F. El-Bassiony ,&nbsp;Heba M.A. Abdelrazek ,&nbsp;Fouda W.A. ,&nbsp;Shady T. Hassan","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The experiment was intended to explore the protecting effects of <em>Nannochloropsis oculate</em> on the induced cadmium reproductive toxicity in rams. Twenty mature Barki rams were randomly allocated into four groups, each containing five rams: group I (control), group II (received 3 % dietary <em>N. oculate</em>), group III (received 1 mg/Kg/day cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), and group IV (received 3 % dietary <em>N. oculate</em> and 1 mg/Kg/day CdCl₂). Semen ejaculates and blood samples were collected. Testicular volume and reaction time were assessed with every semen collection. Ejaculates were analyzed for semen criteria. Rams were subjected to a castration process to analyze the anti-oxidative status, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inflammatory markers in the testicular homogenate. Testicular histopathology was performed on testicular sections. Gene expression of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) was assessed. Alga-treated rams revealed significant improvement in semen criteria, testicular weight, and testosterone hormone as compared to other groups. The levels of testicular antioxidant markers and interleukin-10 elevated significantly in the alga group, while interleukin-12 increased in the CdCl₂ group. Alga+CdCl₂ rams showed significant amelioration in the previous parameters equated to the CdCl₂ group. CdCl₂ rams exhibited a significant fold upgrade in MAPK of compared with other groups. Testicular histopathology revealed marked alterations in the testicular architecture of CdCl_2, while administration of alga recovered the testicular architecture. In conclusion, administration of <em>N. oculate</em> ameliorated semen criteria, testicular antioxidant capacity as well as testicular histopathology that was declared by the expression of MAPK38.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 107341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141962995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Postprocedural clinical and laboratory evaluation of sheep submitted to different intrabdominal pressures during laparoscopy” [SSRN Electron. J. 228 (2023) 107092]","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107212","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 107212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092144882400018X/pdfft?md5=7fd60962338dfa3d5e5eaf9ba37bbe3a&pid=1-s2.0-S092144882400018X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139816022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of replacing babassu oil with sunflower oil on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, and biohydrogenation estimate in sheep","authors":"G.K.S.M. Vilela ,&nbsp;H.N. Parente ,&nbsp;R.J.B. Bessa ,&nbsp;S.P. Alves ,&nbsp;H.S. Cavalcante ,&nbsp;A. de M. Zanine ,&nbsp;L.R. Bezerra ,&nbsp;D.J. Ferreira ,&nbsp;G.M. de Oliveira ,&nbsp;F.N. Dos Santos ,&nbsp;R.M. Oliveira ,&nbsp;M. de O.M. Parente","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study evaluated the effects of the association of babassu oil (BAO) and sunflower oil (SO) in different proportion might modulates rumen biohydrogenation (RBH) without adverse effects on nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation. Thirty-five lambs (18 ± 3.9 kg of initial body weight and 122 ± 10 days of initial age) were distributed into five dietary treatments (as dry matter-DM basis): control diet (CON) with a 30:70 of forage to concentrate ratio, control diet supplemented with 45 g/kg of BAO (0SO), control diet supplemented with 30 g/kg of BAO + 15 g/kg of SO (15SO), control diet supplemented with 22.5 g/kg of BAO + 22.5 g/kg of SO blend (22SO), and control diet supplemented with 30 g/kg of BAO + 15 g/kg of SO blend (30SO). After 50 days in feedlot, sheep were slaughtered and a representative sample of abomasal content was collected, for fatty acid (FA) determination. BAO supplementation reduced feed intake (<em>P &lt; 0.05</em>) and protozoa count, but did not change (<em>P &gt;</em> 0.05) the nutrient digestibility. The dietary SO blend addition had a quadratic effect (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05) on nutrient intake and protozoa count, without change nutrient digestibility. Lipid supplementation slighly modified rumen fermentation. However, BAO reduced (<em>P</em> &lt;0.001) the sum of branched-chain FAs (BCFA) compared to CONT and slighly increased the sum of <em>cis</em>-MUFA (<em>P</em> = 0.004) in abomasal content, while SO blend exerts a quadratic effect on <em>c</em>9,<em>t</em>11-CLA (<em>P</em> = 0.005) and 18:3n-3 RBH (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Feeding SO blend in combination with BAO had a minimum effect on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation. However, the addition up to 22.5 g/kg of sunflower oil blend modulated 18:3n-3 RBH, and increased the concentration of rumenic acid (<em>c</em>9,<em>t</em>11-CLA) and branched-chain fatty acid, which could improve the nutritional value of meat.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 107321"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141701871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights on the health challenges of the dairy sheep farming in the Mediterranean countries of Europe","authors":"D. Tsiokos ,&nbsp;L. Perucho ,&nbsp;I. Bouzalas ,&nbsp;B. Fança ,&nbsp;P.G. Grisot ,&nbsp;I. Beltrán de Heredia ,&nbsp;R. Ruiz ,&nbsp;A. Carta ,&nbsp;S. Salaris ,&nbsp;C. Ligda ,&nbsp;Th. Tsiligianni","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Dairy sheep farming is a dynamic economic activity in the Mediterranean region, with a crucial environmental and social role. The sustainability of this productive sector is a challenge as its profitability is threatened by several different factors. Health management is one of the key technical levers to respond to these challenges, by reducing the impairment of animal performance, permitting improved feed efficiency and reduced level of veterinary and medicine inputs. The promotion of knowledge, the implementation of best practices and innovation exchange between stakeholders to enhance the willingness of sheep farmers to adopt technical solutions and practices are very important for improving the profitability of flocks. This study presents the outcomes of an extended online survey carried out with different stakeholders of the dairy sheep sector in France, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The main health and management issues for adult ewes and lambs among production systems, stakeholders’ categories and countries, and the main sources of information used by stakeholders to cope with the previous mentioned challenges were included to the questionnaire. Mastitis of the adult ewes, neonatal diseases and sheep shed management were recognized as the most important issues by the participants. Furthermore, this work provides insights on how to improve the understanding between farmers, veterinarians, advisors, and researchers in the Mediterranean region. In addition, our findings highlight the gaps in knowledge and suggest new topics for research and cooperation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 107332"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141953420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of whole sesame seeds on the expression of key genes in monocytes of dairy goats","authors":"Christina Mitsiopoulou ,&nbsp;Emmanouil Flemetakis ,&nbsp;Eleni Tsiplakou","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Whole sesame seeds (WSS) are good source of linoleic acid (LA) and lignans the effect of which have not been studied on the expression of key- genes in monocytes of dairy goats. Twenty-four, F2 crossbred [Alpine × Local (Greek) breeds] dairy goats (BW = 44.9 ± 5.4 kg), age (3–4 years old),were divided into three homogenous subgroups; the control group (CON) in which no WSS included and the two treated groups in the concentrates of which WSS were included at 5 % (WSS5) and 10 % (WSS10) respectively, by partially substituting both soybean meal and corn grain. The findings indicated a significant increase in the expression level of the <em>IRF3</em> gene in the monocytes of goats fed with WSS5 compared to the CON group, throughout the experimental period. Both dietary inclusion levels of WSS caused a numerical downregulation in the expression levels of <em>TNFA</em>, <em>IFNG</em>, <em>CCL5</em>, and <em>IL8</em>. Additionally, the WSS10 group exhibited a numerical decrease in the expression levels of <em>TLR4</em>, <em>IL1A</em>, and <em>IL1B</em> compared to the other groups. Consequently, this study revealed that the inclusion of WSS in the above levels in goats’ diets does not modify pro-inflammatory signaling pathways or the expression patterns of genes. The lignans of WSS ensure the safe administration of their linoleic acid when these included at 5 % (WSS5) and 10 % (WSS10) of the concentrates in goats’ diets.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 107333"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141949796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of post-mating GnRH or TAK-683 (Kisspeptin analog) treatment on the reproductive performance and serum progesterone concentration in ewes during the non-breeding season","authors":"Gökhan Uyanık ,&nbsp;Murat Abay ,&nbsp;Ömer Orkun Demiral","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study was designed to evaluate the effect of post-mating GnRH or TAK-683 (kisspeptin analog) treatment on serum progesterone (P₄) concentrations and fertility parameters of ewes during the non-breeding season. One hundred and twenty multiparous, lactating Awassi ewes were used. For estrus synchronization, vaginal sponges containing 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) were inserted into the vagina and kept there for nine days. On the day of sponge removal (day 0), 500 IU of eCG and 75 µg of d-cloprostenol were given intramuscularly. Rams were introduced in the flock 24 h after sponge removal and kept with the ewes for 26 days, allowing a second mating period after synchronized estrus. On the fourth day after mating (day 6) the ewes mated by the rams between the 24th and 72nd hours (n = 105) were randomly divided into three groups. Control group (n = 36) received 1 ml of saline solution subcutaneously; GnRH group (n = 34) received 4 μg of buserelin acetate intramuscularly; TAK-683 group (n = 35) received 5 μg of TAK-683 acetate subcutaneously. Blood samples were taken to measure serum P₄ concentrations (ng/ml) at sponge insertion and on the 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 19th, 35th, and 50th days after sponge removal. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted via serum P₄ concentration measurement on the 19th day and transrectal ultrasonography on days 35 and 50. The results showed that GnRH treatment (4.823 ± 0.238; 2.151 ± 0.272) increased (P&lt;0.05) the mean P₄ concentration (ng/ml) in pregnant and non-pregnant ewes during the first mating period compared to Control (3.708 ± 0.207; 1.515 ± 0.164), while TAK-683 treatment (4.457 ± 0.181; 1.967 ± 0.213) was not different between groups. GnRH (58.82 %) and TAK-683 (42.10 %) treatments increased the pregnancy rate in the second mating period in comparison to the Control group (17.39 %) (P&lt;0.05). Cumulative pregnancy and fecundity rates were higher in GnRH (79.41 %; 120.58 %) and TAK-683 (68.57 %; 100.0 %) groups than in the Control group (17.39 %; 58.33 %) (P&lt;0.05). There was no difference in late embryonic loss rate among the groups (P&gt;0.05), whereas early fetal loss rate tended to be lower in the TAK-683 (0 %) and GnRH (0 %) groups than in the Control group (15.38 %) (P=0.07). The total pregnancy loss rate (from day 19 to day 50 post-mating) was lower in GnRH (0 %) and TAK-683 (0 %) groups relative to the Control group (21.42 %) (P&lt;0.05). There were no statistical differences among the groups in terms of the first mating period pregnancy rate, twinning rate, and litter size (P&gt;0.05). As a result, treatment with GnRH and TAK-683 on the fourth day after mating increased fecundity in lactating ewes outside the breeding season by preventing total pregnancy losses (from day 19 to day 50) and increasing second mating pregnancy rates.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 107331"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141963131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}