INFLUENCE OF BREED ON PROSTAGLANDIN BASED OESTRUS SYNCHRONISATION IN NIGERIAN GOATS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of breed differences on oestrus responses and Progesterone profiles following synchronisation with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in Red Sokoto (RS), Sahelian (SH) and West African Dwarf goats (WAD). Thirty (N = 30) apparently healthy, RS (n = 10), SH (n = 10) and WAD (10) goats, within the age range of 1.5 – 2.0 years, and body condition score of 2.0 – 3.0 were used for the study. Each doe was synchronised with 1 mL (0.26 mg) cloprostenol sodium (Synchromate®) by deep i.m. injection.The does were breed by natural breeding using two fertile bucks of each breed. Five mililitre of blood sample was collected from each doe on day 0 (pre-synchronisation sample), days 1, 2 and 3 post-synchronisation for determination of
progesterone (P4). The findings of the study were as follows: Oestrus response rate: RS, 100 %; SH, 100%; WAD, 0%; pregnancy rate: RS, 70%; SH, 20%; WAD, 0%. Serum P4 (ng/mL) was higher in SH that kidded than RS that kidded (SHK: 2.07 ± 0.22 vs RSK: 1.38 ± 0.07; P<0.05). It is therefore concluded that, RS goats responded better to PGF2α synchronisation than SH and WAD. The WAD goats were non-responsive to synchronisation with PGF2α. While the SHK had significantly higher serum P4 than RSK. It is recommended that double treatment with PGF2α or pre-treatment with progesterone, or GnRH (ovysynch) should be considered when using PGF2α based oestrus synchronization protocol in SH and WAD goats.