The Effects of Short and Long Term Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (MAP) Sponge Treatments on Reproductive Performance during the Non-Breeding Season of Arabian Ewes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of short and long term treatment with progestagens in addition to pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) in Arabian ewes during the non-breeding season. A total of 56 ewes were divided into three groups: in group I vaginal sponges (60 mg medroxy progesterone acetate; MAP) were applied and removed after 6 days; in group II, vaginal MAP sponges were removed 14 days following insertion while group III served as control group. The first two groups were intramuscularly injected with of 600 IU PMSG, following sponge removal. Parameters such as estrus response rate, duration of estrus, pregnancy rate and fecundity were evaluated. There were no significant differences in estrus response rate and fecundity rate between groups I and II (P>0.05). However, differences were significant when these two treatment groups were coMAPred with control group. In group I, duration of estrus was significantly higher than group II (P