Effect of Seasonal Estrus Synchronization on Reproductive Performance of Fuqing Goats

  Objective  Effect of seasonal synchronized estrus treatment on the reproductive performance of Fuqing goats was studied.

  Method  PRID+PMSG+PGF_2α was used on the goats to artificially induce estrous cycles in spring and autumn in a dry lot to determine the treatment effects.

  Result  An average rate of estrus occurrence at 96.88% with an average conception rate of 93.75% was achieved in the goats by the treatment. During the trial, the lambs born by natural estrus mating (control) was fewer than those by the treatment. On the other hand, the number per delivery and body weight at birth of the lambs in control group were higher than those in the treatment group (P>0.05), but the treated goats had more lambs survived after weaned (P>0.05). The interval between births of the treated goats was significantly shorter than that of control (P < 0.01). As a result, there were 1.87 births annually with 3.12 survived baby lambs among the treatment goats representing 36.8% increase over control.

  Conclusion  The preliminary results suggested that the artificial regulation on the estrus of Fuqing goats could increase the reproduction and survival rate of the new born lambs.