A retrospective study on some reproductive parameters of German shepherd bitches in Kenya : research communication

Abstract

Data relating to reproductive parameters of German shepherd bitches were collected from registered German shepherd dog (GSD) breeders with information kept over a 15-year period (1982-1997). The information obtained was verified using the East African Kennel Club records. A total of 594 bitches from 280 breeders were recorded. From these, 798 heats were observed, 594 of which were used for breeding, resulting in 3592 puppies. The mean age at puberty was 519.0 ± 41 days. Heats occurred throughout the year, although significantly (P < 0.05) higher and lower incidences were observed in October and April respectively. Pregnancy significantly (P < 0.01) increased interoestrous interval, which was 247.8 ± 99.6 and 183 ± 52 days among bred/pregnant and non-bred bitches respectively. Most bitches in oestrus (73.7 %) were bred, and breeding was carried out throughout the year, with a distribution closely related to that of heat incidence. Subsequently, whelping occurred throughout the year, and 95.5 %of the bitches that were mated whelped. A mean gestation period of 60.6 ± 5.1 days was observed. The mean litter size was 6.4 ± 0.4 puppies, and did not differ significantly between months. The preweaning losses were low, with 2.3 % stillbirths, 0.9 % culls and 11.4 % mortalities

A retrospective study of female reproductive parameters in the Kunming dog

“…In our study, the inter-estrus interval in Kunming dogs was approximately 204 days. This statement agreed with previous studies that pregnancy significantly disrupts the regularity of estrus and lengthens the inter-estrus period (Linde-Forsberg & Wall en 1992;Hoffmann et al 1996;Mutembei et al 2000). Previous studies showed that considerable variations exist in inter-estrus length in an individual animal (Prole 1973;Sokolowski et al 1977;Bouchard et al 1991), although less variability is apparent within animals than within breeds (Stabenfelt & Sbille 1977).…”

“…Litter size, maternal parity (Tønnessen et al 2012) and birth weight were also considered as factors involved in neonatal mortality in dogs. Therefore, the mating rate (75%) and pregnancy rate (79.42%) were apparently low compared with rates in other studies (Mutembei et al 2000;England et al 2009). Although the factors controlling this high rate of perinatal loss may be complex, puppy mortality can be reduced by proper management of the whole reproductive process and especially by proper assistance at birth and during the early neonatal period (Davidson 2003).…”

Breed, parity, and cycle season effects on life-timereproduction in bitches: a retrospective study

“…The age was another factor that affected the cycle interval; as the age advanced, the cycle interval shortened by 16% in the current study. Conversely, previous studies reported a positive correlation between age and cycle interval (7,8,20,21).…”

“…Studies from different regions of the world reported various pregnancy rates, ranging from 64% to 95% (7,10). It was reported to be 64.4%, 85.0%, and 78.6% in a tropical region (10), in England (18), and in Sweden (8), respectively.…”

“…Studies confirming (1,7,8) and denying (3,9-11) seasonal effects on bitch reproduction are available. To our knowledge, this was the first comprehensive retrospective study in Turkey investigating reproduction in bitches to reveal: 1) the distribution of whelping among breeds; 2) the breed and parity effect on pregnancy rates; 3) the breed, parity, and estrus onset season effects on the cycle interval, the proestrus, and estrus length; and 4) the breed and parity effects on the pregnancy duration and litter size.…”