Induction of synchronized oestrous and early pregnancy diagnosis in Syrian Awassi ewes, outside the breeding season

Abstract An experiment was conducted on indigenous Awassi ewes to evaluate the effect of intravaginal progestagen sponges containing 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) followed by treatment with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), on inducing synchronized oestrous outside the normal breeding season, improving fecundity and on early diagnosis of pregnancy using progesterone profiles. Ninety-six Awassi ewes were divided into 2 groups. Ewes in the Group T, were fitted with MAP for 14 days and injected with 600 IU PMSG at the sponge withdrawal, whereas ewes in the control Group C, received no treatment. The results indicated that oestrous was induced within 36–48 h post sponge withdrawal in 82% of the treated ewes. There were significant ( P P