No abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate fertility parameters in crossbred sows in Zaria, following treatment with Cloprostenol sodium (Synchromate ®). Ten (n = 10) apparently healthy crossbred sows were randomly assigned to two equal treatment groups based on number of injections of 500µg Synchromate ®. Group 1 received two injections on days 0 and 13, while Group 2 received three injections on days 0, 7 and 13. Oestrus was monitored visually for signs of oestrus twice daily from 0700-1000h and 1500-1800h. The fertility parameters evaluated were: oestrus response rate (ORR), time to onset of oestrus (TOO), duration of oestrus (DOO), conception rate (CR), pregnancy rate (PR), farrowing rate (FR) and litter size (LS). Data on ORR, CR, PR and FR were expressed in percentages while TOO, DOO and LS were expressed as mean ± SEM. Student t-test and Tukey's post-hoc test were used to compare the percentages and mean values between the groups. The Graphpad Prism ® data package was used for statistical analysis and values of P<0.05 were considered significant.

No abstract

This study was carried out to compare oestrus responses in unsynchronized jennies and jennies synchronized using single treatment of PGF2& (Lutalyse®). Eight (8) cycling Jennies aged 3.0±2.0 years were used for this study. The jennies were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 4 jennies each; Group 1 (n=4): Jennies in this group were not treated with any agent; Group 2 (n=4): jennies treated with a single injection of 10mg of Lutalyse® . The synchronized and unsynchronized jennies were observed for behavioural oestrus three times daily (8-10 am, 12-2 pm and 4-8 pm) for two oestrous cycles. The fertility parameters determined in this study were: Oestrus response rate (ORR), Time to onset of oestrus (TOO), Duration of oestrus (DOO) and Intensity of synchronization (IS) within 48 hours. The ORR and IS were expressed in percentages while TOO and DOO were expressed as mean ± SEM. Comparisons between the groups were carried out using T- test. Onset of oestrus in group 1 (2.34±0.32 hours) was lower (P<0.01) than 10.07±4.91 hours in group 2. The duration of oestrus in group 1 (48±24.0 hours) was longer (P<0.05). than 24.0±0.0 hours in group 2. Oestrus response rate were 50 and 25% in both groups 1 and 2 while intensity of synchronization within 48 hours for groups 1 and 2 were both 50% (P>0.05). In conclusion, single treatment of PGF2á injection did not improve oestrus response rate and intensity of synchronization. However, more than a single treatment of PGF2& injection is recommended for effective oestrus synchronization in jennies.