Evaluation of Hormonal Treatment with Sponges and PMSG on Reproductive Performance and Profitability of Awassi Sheep Reared under Semi-Intensive Management Systems

Abstract

Intravaginal progesterone impregnated sponges and PMSG hormonal injection is a new herding practice for sheep introduced to farmers in order to synchronize estrous and superovulation to increase lambing rate, twinning rate, and to synchronize lambing. Sheep flocks, raised under a semi-intensive system, were selected and divided into two groups; control and treated (sponge and PMSG). The study was repeated for seven breeding seasons to evaluate the reproductive performance and profitability of this practice. Treated groups showed a significant increase (P < 0.001) in fertility, lambing, twinning, and prolificacy rates compared to controls. The average fertility for treated groups was 84.8% and whereas for controls, it was 62.7%. Lambing rate increased from 64.9% to 111.0% and twinning rate increased from 3.13% to 29.9% as a result of treatment. Partial budget analysis was used to determine the profitability of this practice. The incremental net return due to hormone treatment was 8.91 JD/ewe.

Keywords

• hormonal treatment, reproductive performance, profitability, sheep, management system.