title: Effect of feeding fermented rice punch on oestrous induction in anoestrous bitches.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a consequence of poor productivity caused by a long anoestrous period, considerable research effort has been given to oestrus induction in dogs to enhance the productivity of young dogs and to preserve breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oestrus was induced in 30 anoestrous bitches more than three months after the last oestrus. Bitches orally received fermented rice punch with or without bromocriptine once daily for 21 consecutive days. The bitches were divided into two groups (n=10 per group): Group (1) fed fermented rice punch and Group (2) administered bromocriptine (100 µg/kg/day) and fed fermented rice punch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration of dopamine in fermented rice punch was 47.2 mg/kg (parts per million). Six of 10 (60.0 per cent) and seven of 10 (70.0 per cent) bitches showed pro-oestrual bleeding in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean and median values (min-max) to oestrus induction was not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (9.7±7.3, 6.5 (3-22) and 11.3±6.6, 7.9 (5-21) days) after treatment commencement (P>0.05). The pregnancy rate was very similar between Groups 1, 2 (66.0%) and control (66.0, 57.0 and 50.0 per cent). The mean and median values (min-max) of pups per bitch are also not significantly different between Groups 1, 2 and control (7.0±1.8, 7.0 (5-9) and 7.5±2.1, 7.5 (5-10) and 7.0±0, 7.0 (7-7)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that rice punch effectively induces oestrus in bitches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science , College of Veterinary Science, Gyeongsang National University , Jinju 660-701, Gyeongsangnam-do , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eul-Soo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Animal Biotechnology Division , National Institute of Animal Science , Suwon 441-706 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science , Gyeongsang National University , Jinju 660-701, Gyeongsangnam-do , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Pu-Rum
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pharmacology , School of Dentistry and Institute of Dental Bioscience, BK21 plus, Chonbuk National University , Jeonju 561-756 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Nuri Science Co., Ltd. 405 , Seoul 143-190 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Ku
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dairy Science Division , National Institute of Animal Science , Cheona 331-801 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Animal Biotechnology Division , National Institute of Animal Science , Suwon 441-706 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science , College of Veterinary Science, Gyeongsang National University , Jinju 660-701, Gyeongsangnam-do , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Woan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science , Gyeongsang National University , Jinju 660-701, Gyeongsangnam-do , Republic of Korea ; Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University , Jinju 660-701, Gyeongsangnam-do , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Il-Keun
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Kong
keywords: Dogs; Endocrinology; Reproduction