The onset of puberty in Cameroon Dwarf goats kept as pets in northwestern Croatia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine onset of puberty in Cameroon Dwarf goats (CDGs) kept as pets in northwestern Croatia by determining progesterone (PGS) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in the blood by RIA methods. The first cyclic ovarian activity was estimated according to hormone profiles as determined in CDG in a moderate climate environment. Sixteen female CDG kids were kept in stables with access to pasture which provided space for exercise. The goat kids born in winter (December-January-February), spring (March-April-May), summer (June-July-August) and autumn (September-October-November) were assigned into four groups according to the season of the year of birth (n = 4 in each group). At 75 days of age at the initiation of the study, they weighed between 3.2 and 5.1 kg (4.24 ± 0.53 kg). The onset of ovulatory activity was determined by PGS and IGF-I serum concentrations every 10 days starting from 75 days to 155 days of age. The onset of puberty in CDG kids occurred on average at 141.15 ± 2.66 days of age, but varied depending on the season of birth. All CDG kids born during summer were in heat by 155 days of age. In the other groups (kids born in autumn, winter or spring), one goat in each group was not in heat. Changes in blood serum PGS and IGF-I concentrations during prepubertal and pubertal periods could aid in the evaluation of reproductive status and determination of the onset of puberty in CDG during all seasons of the year in a moderate climate region.

RNA-seq analysis of lncRNA-controlled developmental gene expression during puberty in goat & rat

“…As previous research, the regulator of IGF-1 play important roles in regulating puberty and nutritional control of reproduction [ 21 , 60 ]. Furthermore, IGFBP5 was the binding protein of IGF-1, and which performed a crucial role in development of the anterior pituitary gland.…”

“…Another study screened numerous lncRNAs that participated in preimplantation development in mice embryos [ 20 ]. The determination of puberty onset and evaluation of reproductive status could be performed by concentrations of Cameroon Dwarf goats serum IGF-1 during prepubertal and pubertal periods [ 21 ]. In addition, previous research among ncRNAs and mRNA in ovarian transcriptomic study clarified that lncRNAs were involved in sheep fecundity [ 22 ].…”

Assessment of Management and Breeding Practices among Indigenous Goat Farmers in a Tropical Humid Forest Zone

“…Late maturity in goats could have been caused by multiple factors such as low level or absence of supplementary feeding, and nutrition by farmers, low healthcare and low level general management. The average onset of puberty in WAD goat was reported as 141 days in Cameroonian dwarf goats of Croatia but varied with season [8]. It was recommended that does should be mated at 12 months and 20 kg body weight at first breeding [9], while sexual maturity age of 15-18 weeks [10] and 6-7 months [11] had been reported for male and female WAD goats.…”