title: Effect of feeding greater amounts of dietary energy for a short-term with or without eCG injection on reproductive performance, serum metabolites and hormones in ewes.
abstract: This study was conducted to compare the effect of transient high-energy diet in a short-term period with or without eCG injection on ovarian follicle development, twining rate, serum metabolites and hormones in ewes. A total of 45 estrous cyclic Naeini ewes were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: 1-Control (control), 2-High energy short-term feeding (HE), and 3-high energy short-term feeding + eCG injection (HEe). Ewes were housed in individual pens with free access to feed and water. The stage of the estrous cycle of all ewes was synchronized by insertion of intravaginal progesterone sponges. Focus feeding started from 4 days before until 1 day after sponge removal. Follicle development was monitored from 4 days before until 1 day after sponge removal and blood samples were taken during this time. Results showed that ewes fed high energy diets (HE and HEe) had greater (P < 0.05) large follicle numbers compared with the control group. Feeding high energy diets increased (P < 0.05) serum glucose, cholesterol and insulin, but had lesser (P < 0.05) serum urea nitrogen concentrations near the time of ovulation. After the start of experiment, ewes fed high energy diets had less (P < 0.05) serum estradiol. However, 1 day after sponge removal, serum estradiol in HE and HEe groups increased (P < 0.05). It was concluded that short-term (6-day) changes in amount of dietary energy with or without eCG injection increased twin births and had beneficial effects on the blood metabolites and hormone concentrations in Naeini ewes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Habibizad
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran. Electronic address: ariasi@cc.iut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohram
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rahmani
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007328:Insulin; D004958:Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Focus short-term feeding; Folliculogenesis; High energy; Naeini ewes; Ovulation