Ciclo reprodutivo de ovelhas brancas Karaman: compara??o da secre??o de horm?nio ovariano e do comportamento reprodutivo de ovelhas n?o gestantes e gestantes em condi??es semi-intensivo

摘要

The objective of this study was to characterize the reproductive cycle both endocrinologically and behaviorally in ewes. Blood samples were analyzed by EIA for progesterone (P 4 ), and RIA for estradiol in order to determine the breeding strategy of non-pregnant (n = 11) and pregnant (n = 9) White Karaman throughout the year in the Middle Anatolia (39.57 0 N, 32.53 0 W), Turkey. Estrous cycle lengths and estrous lengths were 18.36 ( 1.03 days and 35.16 ( 5.95 hours, respectively. The breeding season durations were 283 ( 63.36 days and 229.64 ( 63.74 days according to hormonal and behavioral data respectively (p ( 0.01). The highest and lowest data of estrous occurrence frequency was observed in October and June-July, respectively. P 4 levels ranged from 0.01 to 9.0 ng mL -1 throughout the year and from 0.01 to 0.16 ng mL -1 during anestrous. Mean plasma estradiol levels were 8.42 ( 2.51 pg mL -1 during the estrous cycle. Postpartum anestrous durations were 134.8 ( 18.5 and 120.78 ( 29.89 days (n = 9) according to behavioral observation and hormonal data, respectively. P 4 concentration for the months 1 - 5 of the gestation period ranged from 4.54 to 15.08 ng mL -1 . P 4 concentrations in 4 th and 5 th months of gestation were higher than the other months (p ( 0.01). White Karaman reproductive activity is characterized by an extended breeding season and their relatively insensitivity to photoperiod stimulation allows for efficient out of season lamb production.