Due to the scarcity of information on Breton horses, the objective was to study hematobiochemical values of this breed. Blood samples were collected from 29 Bretons, males and females, of different ages, in Brasília-DF, distributed into groups, according to age, without distinction of sex (G1): animals from 4 to 9 years old (n=16) and (G2): from 10 to 26 years old (n=13). The horses were also distributed into males and females for comparisons between the sexes. Values for red blood cells, hemoglobin, creatinine, and urea were statistically higher in females. Fibrinogen was higher in males. Lymphocyte values were higher in G1, but mean corpuscular volume, monocytes, neutrophils, and GGT in G2 were higher than G1. The hematocrit value differed between the ages of the females and was higher than that of the males, while the older male animals showed higher values than the young animals. Females presented lower platelet values than males, with older females having higher platelet values than younger females, in the same way as males. G1 females had the highest leukocyte values. The leukocyte values in males of G2 were higher than those of G1. This same behavior occurred for lymphocytes, eosinophils, and creatine kinase. Considering the albumin and aspartate aminotransferase variables, females had the highest values in the group of animals aged 4 to 9 years. Bretons are considered cold-blooded animals, which is consistent with the observed blood count values. However, it is concluded that these horses have biochemical values similar to warm-blooded breeds.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a combination of progesterone with different doses of E-17β on following end points: (1) ovarian follicular dynamics and emergence of a new follicular wave, and (2) superovulatory response and embryo yield. In Experiment 1, 28 ewes were randomly divided into four groups (n = 7) to receive either 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 0.5 mg or none E-17β one day after insertion of a progesterone device. The different doses of estradiol similarly delayed the moment of follicular emergence (overall mean = 3.1 ± 1.0 days vs. control group = 0.86 ± 1.0 days; P < 0.01), but the emergence of the new wave showed greater synchronization with the 0.5 mg dosage of E-17β. In Experiment 2, sixtytwo donor ewes received an internal progesterone release device (day -1) for 7 d and 1 d after the insertion of this device (day 0) were allocated randomly to receive 0.5 mg of E-17β or only the vehicle (control group). Superstimulation was initiated on day 3 with the administration of 133 mg of pFSH in eight decreasing doses. Contrary to expectations, the protocol with the administration of 0.5 mg E-17β did not improve the percentage of donors with > 2 CL, the number of CL and the production of embryos (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the combination of progesterone and 0.5 mg E-17β was more efficient in synchronizing the emergence of the new follicular wave, however this approach seems to be unnecessary in ewe's superovulation programs.

Prepubic tendon rupture may lead to the loss of pelvic floorsupport. A four-year-old Santa Inês ewe had been reported suffering fromapathy, progressive weight loss throughout ten days, and prolongedpregnancy. Physical exams showed an excessive pendulous abdomen, amild ventral edema between the udder and the umbilical scar (xiphoidregion). Also, the udder was cranially displaced and with hematomas.Other symptoms noticed were walking reluctance, pelvic asymmetry,tachycardia, and tachypnea. The urinalysis findings indicated the presenceof ketone bodies. The ultrasound examination confirmed the presence offetuses with normal development, and a potential rupture of theabdominal muscles was excluded. Eight days following its hospitalization,labor induction was carried out using dexamethasone (20mg, IM, singleapplication). She went into labor three days after the initial dose ofcorticosteroid. The ewe had difficulty expelling the lambs, making theirtraction necessary. Although the animal has recovered from its injuries,the clinical picture shows prepubic tendon rupture, and in order to preventfuture complications, the ewe is not going to breed anymore. The report ofthis case works as an alert to the possibility of the occurrence of thisaffection in ewes and demonstrates the need of parturition assistance inanimals with this condition, which can be diagnosed through clinicalevaluation and ultrasound examination.

In this study, three experiments were conducted to (1) evaluate estrus and ovulation synchronization using the short progesterone-CIDR or the medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponge protocol; (2) assess fertility after cervical insemination 8 or 4 h before the ovulation time; (3) evaluate the fertility of cervical artificial insemination or laparoscopic artificial insemination of ewes. The progesterone-CIDR protocol anticipated estrus (27.7 ± 5.8 vs. 43.1 ± 14.6) and ovulation (57.9 ± 3.9 vs. 80.0 ± 21.2) and improved estrus synchronization and ovulation compared with the ewes treated with intravaginal medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponges. Therefore, a progesterone-CIDR protocol was later used to evaluate fertility rates by cervical insemination with frozen semen at 50 or 54 hours after removal of the progesterone device, corresponding to 8 or 4 h, respectively, before the mean ovulation. However, the fertility rate did not differ between the two groups and was close to 20%. In contrast, laparoscopic insemination increased the fertility rate compared with cervical insemination (74.4% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.0001). Based on our findings, we conclude that using a short protocol with progesterone-CIDR improved estrus synchronization and ovulation in relation to using sponges containing MAP. However, using frozen semen for cervical artificial insemination near the time of ovulation using the progesterone CIDR protocol does not result in good fertility rates necessitating the use of laparoscopic insemination.