In two experiments, 64 crossbred ewes that had lambed in September or January and had their lambs removed within 24 h after birth were assigned to four groups and given the following treatments: group 1 (16 ewes)-1 ml saline, im or iv on d 10 postpartum; group 2 (24 ewes)-150 microgram/gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in 1 ml saline, im or iv on d 10 postpartum; group 3 (16 ewes)-150 microgram/GnRH in 1 ml saline, im or iv on d 10 postpartum, plus 40 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA)-impregnated intravaginal sponges for 12 d beginning 22 d postpartum and group 4 (eight ewes)-40 mg FGA-impregnated intravaginal sponges only for 12 d beginning 22 d postpartum. Pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (500 IU) was injected im into FGA-treated ewes at the time of sponge removal. Blood samples were collected from eight ewes in groups 1 and 2 at regular intervals up to 2 and 6 h, respectively, after treatment and analysed for luteinizing hormone (LH). Plasma progesterone (P) levels in blood collected once or twice weekly were used to monitor ovarian activity. GnRH induced a release of LH in all ewes monitored, whereas the LH levels remained unchanged in saline-treated ewes. Only 44% of the latter ewes had shown evidence of luteal activity by 50 d postpartum. The mean plasma P levels in the GnRH-treated ewes did not rise above basal preinjection values during the 14 d after treatment. In contrast, a synchronized ovulation followed by normal luteal activity was induced in 88% of the FGA-sponge-treated ewes. Of 16 ewes from group 2 slaughtered 26 d postpartum, 13 had ovaries that contained luteinized structures and uterine involution was incomplete in six ewes. These results preclude the use of GnRH as a single injection for induction of cyclic ovarian activity in the early postpartum ewe and indicate the need for progestogen treatment to initiate cyclic ovarian activity by 35 d postpartum. However, incomplete uterine involution may limit the number of ewes that can be successfully rebred at this time.