Conventional method of Oestrus synchronization in sheep 
Zeleke Mekuriaw 
EIAR-DBARC-ICARDA-ILRI (LIVES)-FAO Training on Reproduction in 
Sheep and Goat, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, 13-15 October 2014
Outline 
 Introduction 
 Merits of oestrus synchronization 
 Principles of oestrus synchronization 
 Methods of oestrus synchronization 
• Exogenous Progesterones/progestagens 
o Routs of administration 
• Prostaglandins /analogues 
• Natural Method 2
Introduction 
• Naturally, mating occurs when female is receptive regardless of herdsman’s 
willingness. 
• Artificial manipulation is important to the advantage of increasing the 
efficiency and profitability of the farm. 
• One of the artificial manipulation techniques is oestrus synchronization. 
3
Introduction… 
 Oestrus synchronization: 
• Artificial induction of heat in females simultaneously 
• Labour and time management tool 
• A breeding tool 
4
Merits of oestrus synchronization 
• Reduces time and labour for heat detection 
• Improves accuracy of heat detection 
• Facilitates application of fixed time AI 
• Facilitates MOET 
5
Merits of oestrus synchronization… 
• Enables programed mating 
• Enables programed lambing (targeting feed availability, market, health) 
• Induces ovarian activity in anoestrus ewes & pre-pubertal ewe lambs 
• Age uniformity in lambs (fore selling, feeding & healthcare) 
• Physiological similarity of ewes (for feeding management) 
6
Methods of oestrous synchronization in ewes 
 Various synchronization agents available 
 The choice depends on: 
– effectiveness in regulating ovarian activity 
– Precision of the control (compactness) 
– Fertility from induced oestrus 
– Ease of administration 
– Absence of undesirable side effects 
– Cost effectiveness 7
Principles of oestrus synchronization 
1. Shortening life span of CL-PGF2ɚ/ 
analogue 
2. Prolonging luteal phase- 
Progesterone/progestagen 
8
Comparison of prostaglandin & progesterone based 
synchronization 
Progesterone/its 
analogue 
Prostaglandin/its analogue 
Advantage Induces cyclicity Cheaper 
More compact synchrony Easy to apply 
Does not induce abortion Treat luteal cyst 
Limitations Expensive Effective only in cycling cows 
Complicated application 
procedures 
Effective from 4 to 14 days of 
estrous cycle (matured CL) 
Induces abortion if pregnant 
ewe is injected by mistake 
Less compact synchrony 
9
Use of Exogenous Progesterone/Progestagens 
– Exogenous progesterone/progestagens extend luteal phase 
– the CL regresses naturally during the period when 
exogenous source is applied. 
– The exogenous source continues to exert a negative 
feedback on FSH and LH secretion, even after CL regression. 
– When external source is later withdrawn, follicular growth 
starts simultaneously in all treated females. 
10
Routes of administration of progesterone/progestagens 
• Oral administration 
• skin implants 
• Intravaginal treatments 
11
The oral administration 
– Melengestrol acetate (MGA), an orally active synthetic progestagen 
– twice daily feeding of 0.125 mg MGA for an 8-day period could induce 
an out-of-season synchronized oestrus in ewes. 
Drawbacks: 
– time and labour costs involved in oral dosing 
– difficulty to achieve a smooth and steady input of progestagen 
– Less practical due to lack of sharp and predictable result
Implant treatments 
– Subcutaneous implant of he potent progestagen, 
norgestmet used. 
– About 1cm implant contains 1.2 or 3mg of norgestmet is 
inserted for 12 days. 
– Mean time of onset of oestrus after removal of implant is 
26 to 30 hrs
Intravaginal administration 
 The treatment of choice for oestrus synchronization in sheep 
(in all seasons). 
• Progestagen impregnated sponges used 
• Inserted over periods of 12 to14 days 
• Used in conjunction with PMSG
Intravaginal administration … 
• FGA (Fluorogestone acetate) 
– marketed as Chronogest® 
or Cronolone®. (45 mg), 
– widely used either in 
conjunction with PMSG, 
FSH or PGF2ɚ
Intravaginal administration… 
• MAP (medroxyprogesterone acetate ) 
– 6-methyl-17-acetoxyprogesterone 
– marketed as Veramix (Pharmacia & Upjohn, Orangeville, 
Canada) 
– Contain 60 mg of the progesterone analogue 
– The same effect as FGA
Intravaginal administration… 
• CIDR (Controlled Internal 
Drug Releasing) 
– dispenser developed in New 
Zealand. 
– constructed from a natural 
progesterone impregnated 
medical silicone elastomer.
Intravaginal administration… 
Merits and demerits of CIDR device 
Merits 
– natural progesterone 
– aesthetically more pleasant to handle 
Demerits 
– higher incidence of loss (13.5%) compared to sponges (6.7%) 
– more expensive than the progestagen sponges
Use of Prostaglandins / their analogues 
• The administration of PGF2ɚ causes 
regression of the CL 
• Possible only from day 4 to 14 of the cycle 
• No response to PGF2 administration 
during the refractory period (0-4th & 14th- 
16th day of oestrous cycle) 
• The technique only suitable during the 
breeding season 
• Onset of oestrus 36-48hrs after injection
Natural Method of synchronization 
Male effect: 
– sudden exposure to rams 
– The duration of exposure (6 days for goats, 15days for sheep) 
– isolation period (at east 3 wks) 
– distance of isolation (100-500m) 
Photoperiod: 
– manipulating the light environment 
combination of the two -photoperiod and male effect
Natural Method of synchronization… 
Merits : 
– relatively cheaper 
– More consumer preference/“hormone-free” animal 
products. 
Demerits: 
– variability in the onset of oestrus 
– requires insemination at the observed heat
www.lives-ethiopia.org 
The presentation has a Creative Commons licence. You are free to re-use or distribute this work, provided credit is 
given to ILRI.

Conventional method of oestrus synchronization in sheep

  • 1.
    Conventional method ofOestrus synchronization in sheep Zeleke Mekuriaw EIAR-DBARC-ICARDA-ILRI (LIVES)-FAO Training on Reproduction in Sheep and Goat, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, 13-15 October 2014
  • 2.
    Outline  Introduction  Merits of oestrus synchronization  Principles of oestrus synchronization  Methods of oestrus synchronization • Exogenous Progesterones/progestagens o Routs of administration • Prostaglandins /analogues • Natural Method 2
  • 3.
    Introduction • Naturally,mating occurs when female is receptive regardless of herdsman’s willingness. • Artificial manipulation is important to the advantage of increasing the efficiency and profitability of the farm. • One of the artificial manipulation techniques is oestrus synchronization. 3
  • 4.
    Introduction…  Oestrussynchronization: • Artificial induction of heat in females simultaneously • Labour and time management tool • A breeding tool 4
  • 5.
    Merits of oestrussynchronization • Reduces time and labour for heat detection • Improves accuracy of heat detection • Facilitates application of fixed time AI • Facilitates MOET 5
  • 6.
    Merits of oestrussynchronization… • Enables programed mating • Enables programed lambing (targeting feed availability, market, health) • Induces ovarian activity in anoestrus ewes & pre-pubertal ewe lambs • Age uniformity in lambs (fore selling, feeding & healthcare) • Physiological similarity of ewes (for feeding management) 6
  • 7.
    Methods of oestroussynchronization in ewes  Various synchronization agents available  The choice depends on: – effectiveness in regulating ovarian activity – Precision of the control (compactness) – Fertility from induced oestrus – Ease of administration – Absence of undesirable side effects – Cost effectiveness 7
  • 8.
    Principles of oestrussynchronization 1. Shortening life span of CL-PGF2ɚ/ analogue 2. Prolonging luteal phase- Progesterone/progestagen 8
  • 9.
    Comparison of prostaglandin& progesterone based synchronization Progesterone/its analogue Prostaglandin/its analogue Advantage Induces cyclicity Cheaper More compact synchrony Easy to apply Does not induce abortion Treat luteal cyst Limitations Expensive Effective only in cycling cows Complicated application procedures Effective from 4 to 14 days of estrous cycle (matured CL) Induces abortion if pregnant ewe is injected by mistake Less compact synchrony 9
  • 10.
    Use of ExogenousProgesterone/Progestagens – Exogenous progesterone/progestagens extend luteal phase – the CL regresses naturally during the period when exogenous source is applied. – The exogenous source continues to exert a negative feedback on FSH and LH secretion, even after CL regression. – When external source is later withdrawn, follicular growth starts simultaneously in all treated females. 10
  • 11.
    Routes of administrationof progesterone/progestagens • Oral administration • skin implants • Intravaginal treatments 11
  • 12.
    The oral administration – Melengestrol acetate (MGA), an orally active synthetic progestagen – twice daily feeding of 0.125 mg MGA for an 8-day period could induce an out-of-season synchronized oestrus in ewes. Drawbacks: – time and labour costs involved in oral dosing – difficulty to achieve a smooth and steady input of progestagen – Less practical due to lack of sharp and predictable result
  • 13.
    Implant treatments –Subcutaneous implant of he potent progestagen, norgestmet used. – About 1cm implant contains 1.2 or 3mg of norgestmet is inserted for 12 days. – Mean time of onset of oestrus after removal of implant is 26 to 30 hrs
  • 14.
    Intravaginal administration The treatment of choice for oestrus synchronization in sheep (in all seasons). • Progestagen impregnated sponges used • Inserted over periods of 12 to14 days • Used in conjunction with PMSG
  • 15.
    Intravaginal administration … • FGA (Fluorogestone acetate) – marketed as Chronogest® or Cronolone®. (45 mg), – widely used either in conjunction with PMSG, FSH or PGF2ɚ
  • 16.
    Intravaginal administration… •MAP (medroxyprogesterone acetate ) – 6-methyl-17-acetoxyprogesterone – marketed as Veramix (Pharmacia & Upjohn, Orangeville, Canada) – Contain 60 mg of the progesterone analogue – The same effect as FGA
  • 17.
    Intravaginal administration… •CIDR (Controlled Internal Drug Releasing) – dispenser developed in New Zealand. – constructed from a natural progesterone impregnated medical silicone elastomer.
  • 18.
    Intravaginal administration… Meritsand demerits of CIDR device Merits – natural progesterone – aesthetically more pleasant to handle Demerits – higher incidence of loss (13.5%) compared to sponges (6.7%) – more expensive than the progestagen sponges
  • 19.
    Use of Prostaglandins/ their analogues • The administration of PGF2ɚ causes regression of the CL • Possible only from day 4 to 14 of the cycle • No response to PGF2 administration during the refractory period (0-4th & 14th- 16th day of oestrous cycle) • The technique only suitable during the breeding season • Onset of oestrus 36-48hrs after injection
  • 20.
    Natural Method ofsynchronization Male effect: – sudden exposure to rams – The duration of exposure (6 days for goats, 15days for sheep) – isolation period (at east 3 wks) – distance of isolation (100-500m) Photoperiod: – manipulating the light environment combination of the two -photoperiod and male effect
  • 21.
    Natural Method ofsynchronization… Merits : – relatively cheaper – More consumer preference/“hormone-free” animal products. Demerits: – variability in the onset of oestrus – requires insemination at the observed heat
  • 22.
    www.lives-ethiopia.org The presentationhas a Creative Commons licence. You are free to re-use or distribute this work, provided credit is given to ILRI.

Editor's Notes

  • #2 There MUST be a CGIAR logo or a CRP logo. You can copy and paste the logo you need from the final slide of this presentation. Then you can delete that final slide   To replace a photo above, copy and paste this link in your browser: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilri/sets/72157632057087650/detail/   Find a photo you like and the right size, copy and paste it in the block above.