Hormonal management of ovarian activity in breeding camels two months ahead of the natural breeding season Quzy I1, Anwar Suhel2, Purohit G N3,* 1Bin Hamoodah Agricultural premises, Al-Ain, UAE 2Al-Qattara Veterinary Hospital, Al-Ain, UAE 3Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, Rajasthan, 334001, India *Corresponding Author: gnpobs@gmail.com
Online published on 23 May, 2013. Abstract Early ovarian activity in camels is rewarding for camel breeders on account of better growth in calves born to early bred females. The objective of this study was to stimulate ovarian activity in breeding camels two months ahead (September-October) of the natural breeding season (November-April) for early conception. Ovarian follicular growth and maturation was stimulated during two years (2010 and 2011) in camels (from 16 September) not evidencing any follicle growth on 4 consecutive transrectal ultrasonographic (TRUS) examinations (every 4 days between 1-15 September) by either im administration of a low dose eCG (2000 IU) (n=43) or an Ov-Synch (n=39) protocol (GnRH + PG + GnRH on 0, 7 and 9 days). Camels with a persistent CL (n=20) and ovarian cysts (n=8) were treated by im administration of 500 μg of a prostaglandin (Estrumate) and 4500 IU im of hCG (Chorulon) respectively. Thirty camels were not given any treatment and kept as control. All treated and untreated camels were sequentially examined for a maximum of 10 times every 4 days by TRUS and mated with males on visualization of a mature follicle (1.0-2.0 cm) over the ovaries. A high proportion of eCG treated (79.06%) and Ov-Synch treated (71.79%) camels evidenced a mature follicle at day 8 and 12 of treatment respectively whereas 75.05 and 75.0% of PG treated and hCG treated camels evidenced a mature follicle on day 8 and 12 of treatment respectively. Only 26.66% of untreated control camels evidenced a mature follicle towards the end of the study period (October) in majority (62.5%) of camels. The pregnancy rates were 50.0%, 65.11%, 61.53%, 37.50% and 50.0% in control, eCG treated, Ov-Synch treated, hCG treated and PG treated camels respectively. The efficiency of pregnancy diagnosis by tail cocking, TRUS and serum progesterone was high at day 20 post mating but accurate at day 30 post mating because of 9.21% early embryonic deaths that occurred between day 20 and 30 post mating. It was concluded that a small proportion of camels evidence a mature follicle between September and October months and follicle growth and conception can be stimulated two months ahead of the natural breeding season in camels by the use of either eCG or Ov-Synch treatments. Camels evidencing a persistent CL or ovarian cysts should be treated with PG or hCG for obtaining follicle growth and pregnancy. Camels evidencing serum progesterone profiles above 2.0 and 3.0 ng/mL at 20 and 30 day of mating should be considered pregnant. Top Keywords Camel, eCG, hCG, Ov-Synch, PG, pregnancy diagnosis. Top |