EFFECT OF BETA-CAROTENE INJECTION ON ESTRUS, VITAMIN a AND ESTRADIOL-17β CONCENTRATIONS IN PUBERTAL FARAFRA EWE LAMBS

Abstract

To study the effect of Beta Carotene (BC) treatment on puberty and related phenomena as well as concentrations of vitamin A, and estradiol-17β hormone 48 Farafra ewe lambs were divided into two equal groups. The control group (G1) was injected intramuscularly with 0.1 mg arachis oil, while the treated group (G2) was injected with 0.1 mg BC  arachis oil / kg twice a week from weaning to puberty. Estradiol 17 β, progesterone (P 4 ), BC and vitamin A were assayed in blood sera taken from 6 animals/ group.Results indicated that treatment with BC was accompanied by increasing estradiol-17β and vitamin A concentrations at puberty. Ewe lambs of G2 displayed (P< 0.05) more estrous cases post-puberty than G1. Both groups displayed short cycles at puberty (6.2 d for G2 vs. 7.4 d for G1) with no significant difference between the two groups. P 4 concentration at estrus of puberty was ≥ 1.0 ng/ml of both groups. Post-puberty BC and Vit.A concentrations had (P<0.05) positive correlation in the two studied groups. BC concentration in G2 was higher (P< 0.05) at pre-puberty than post-puberty.In conclusion, BC injection had an impact on number of observed estrous cases, vitamin A and estradiol-17β concentrations at puberty and post-puberty estrus, which might be applied in the animal farms to enhance estrus cases around puberty.