Thin ewes or very over-conditioned ewes and ewes carrying multiple pregnanciesare more likely to develop pregnancy toxemia (ketosis). Pregnancy toxemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by hypoglycemia and hyperketonemia resulting from incapacity of the ewes to maintain adequate energy balance (usually in the last 5-6 weeks).Available information about pregnancy toxemia focuses mainly on pa...

This study deals with effects of supplementary feeding on fertility performance of Farahani ewes. The study was conducted using three local flocks in Arak city, Iran. Half ewes in each flock (50 ewes from each flock) were used as control group and fed according to traditional method without supplementary feed. The other half per flock was fed on supplementary feed throughout the experiment that...

An experiment was conducted to examine effects of bovine ST (bST) on serum hormone concentrations, pregnancy rates, and offspring performance. Before initiation of a fall breeding period, 75 Rambouillet ewes (68.8 ± 1.5 kg) received an intravaginal insert containing 0.3 g of progesterone (P4) to synchronize onset of estrus. After 12 d, inserts were removed (d 0), and ewes (stratifi ed by BW and...

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) plays a critical role in ovarian follicular development and ovulation rate. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the GDF9 gene and reproductive performance variables, such as fertility and sterility in Awassi sheep. Forty pairs of ovaries from a total of 40 slaughtered Iraqi Awa...

The objective of the present study was to detect polymorphism in follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and beta subunit of follicle stimulating hormone (FSHβ) genes and their relation to litter size and body weight trait in Baluchi, Iran black and Arman sheep breeds. PCR-RFLP technique using ACCI and HinfI enzyme treatments employed to detection of polymorphism in FSHβ marker site but de...

Two experiments were performed to determine the endocrine and ovarian changes in medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)-primed ewes after ram introduction. Experiment 1 was performed during the mid-breeding season with 71 ewes primed with an intravaginal MAP sponge for 12 days. While the control (C) ewes (n = 35) were in permanent contact with rams, the ram effect (RE) ewes (n = 36) were isolated fo...

Primiparous ewes born as singletons to Rambouillet x Columbia crossbred ewes fed either 100% of NRC recommendations (control, Con; n = 7) or 50% of NRC (nutrient restricted, NR; n = 7) from d 28 through 78 postmating were utilized for this study. At 1 yr of age, a subset of ewes born to Con (n = 4) and NR (n = 4) mothers received jugular catheters and were subjected to a corticotrophin-releasin...

Twenty-four Comisana ewes, with no history of mastitis, were included in this study, with eight ewes each in parities 1, 2 and 3. Groups were separately penned on straw litter and ewes were individually checked for yield, composition, renneting properties and bacteriological characteristics of milk from January, when separated from their lambs (50+/-3 days after lambing), to May. Samples with m...

The objective was to determine the effect of dietary intake on follicle and oocyte morphology in unstimulated and superovulated ewes. Fifty-four ewes were fed grass meal at 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 times maintenance energy requirements (M) for 32 days. Oestrous cycles were synchronized using progestagen pessaries and either unstimulated or superovulated with 200 mg pig FSH. The ewes were killed and ovar...

Maternal renal disease is associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity. To establish an animal model to study renal dysfunction in pregnancy and its potential role in programming for renal disease and hypertension in adult life, a kidney was removed from each of 16 nonpregnant ewes, and a branch of the renal artery of the remaining kidney was ligated (STNx ewes). The 16 STNx and 15 intact ...