Induction of oestrus and ovulation in farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) by using progesterone and PMSG treatment.
Twenty non-lactating fallow does were each treated with an intravaginal progesterone device (CIDR) for 14 days followed by an i.m. injection of 500 i.u. PMSG, 3-4 weeks before the expected start of the natural rut. An additional 7 does received no treatments and were used as controls. Induced oestrus was observed for 19 (95%) of the treated does, the onset occurring between 48 and 76 h after CIDR removal/PMSG administration. Laparoscopic examination 12 days after CIDR removal revealed ovulation rates ranging from 1 to 4 in treated does. Non-ovulating luteinized follicles were also a feature of PMSG treatment and there was a significant inverse relationship between ovulation rate and numbers of luteinized follicles. Only 3 (14.3%) of the treated does conceived at or near the induced oestrus, the remainder returning to oestrus 21-27 days later. Mid-cycle progesterone concentrations were positively related to ovulation rate. All control does showed evidence of a recent single ovulation at laparoscopy, although first oestrus did not occur until 7-15 days later, indicating the occurrence of silent ovulations before the natural breeding season.
Asher
G W
GW
Ruakura Animal Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Smith
J F
JF
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D011374:Progesterone