The use of melatonin and progestagen-eCG to initiate reproductive activity in prepuberal Awassi ewe lambs

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of administering hormonal treatments (melatonin and progestagen/equine chronic gonadotropin (eCG)) on advancing puberty in Awassi ewe lambs. Fifty-one 6-month-old ewe lambs of similar body weights (around 28 kg) were randomly assigned into four treatment groups; control (CON; n=14), melatonin (MEL; n=13), melatonin plus progestagen-eCG (MELPP; n=11), and progestagen-eCG (PP; n=13). Ewe lambs in the PP and MELPP groups were fitted with intravaginal progestagen sponges containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 14 days; 400 IU eCG were administered to each of these ewe lambs on the day of sponge removal. Ewe lambs in the MEL and MELPP groups received subcutaneous melatonin implants (Regulin (R), 18 mg melatonin) 36 days before sponge insertion. Hormonal treatment had no effect on ewe lamb body weight change. Estrous behavior was greater (p<0.001) in the PP and MELPP groups than in the CON and MEL ewe lambs. The duration from ram introduction to onset of estrus was shorter (p<0.05) in the CON, PP, and MELPP than in the MEL ewe lambs. The number of ewe lambs showing luteal activity was greater (p<0.001) in the MELPP and PP than in the CON and MEL groups. Lambing rate from mating during the first cycle following ram introduction differed significantly (p<0.01) among treatments being greater in the MELPP and PP than in the CON and MEL groups. Based on these results, it can be concluded that progestagen-eCG appears to be more effective than melatonin in inducing reproductive activity. However, the majority of ewe lambs in the current study either failed to cycle or stopped cycling following the induced estrus. Such failure in advancing puberty may be related to body weight of ewe lambs at the time of mating.