title: Ovulation rate, litter size and prenatal losses in hair sheep of the French West Indies.
abstract: Ovulation rate (OR) and litter size (LS) were recorded in local hair sheep of Martinique and in local x Lacaune-viande crossbreeds, in order to assess prenatal losses. Local hair sheep LS and OR were 1.91 and 2.41, respectively. Prenatal losses increased with OR, from 0.22 (OR = 2) up to 1.50 (OR > 3). The ewes (69.7%) with LS = 1 had actually lost at least one ovum, against 25.9% of the ewes with LS > 1. Ewes grazing Cynodon nlemfuensis (Stargrass) had lower LS than those grazing Digitaria decumbens (Pangola), in relation with a lower nutritional level and, maybe, more parasitism effects. No seasonal or age at lambing effect was shown. The OR and LS were dramatically decreased on local x Lacaune-viande crossbred ewes (minus 1.32 and 0.67 unit, respectively, P < 0.05). This suggests a possible negative effect of the tropical environment on the crossbreeds' reproductive function.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherches Zootechniques, INRA-Antilles-Guyane, Prise d'eau, 97170 Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe, France. mahieu@antilles.inra.fr
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahieu
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cognié
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chemineau
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006823:Hybrid Vigor; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014329:Tropical Climate / Q000009:adverse effects