Estrus synchronization in awassi and red karaman fat tailed ewes

To evaluate the efficacy of estrus synchronization procedures 60 Awassi and 44 Red Karaman ewes were equally divided into 2 groups each. To synchronize estrus sheep in one group from each breed (group 1 and 2) were injected intramuscularly with PGF2α (1 ml) 10 days intervals, other two groups (group 3 and 4) ewes were treated with intravaginal sponges containing fluorogestone acetate (FGA; 40 mg) for 14 d. On the day of the PGF2α injection or at sponge removal, rams were placed with the ewes. The variability (standard deviation) of hours to estrus synchronization was significantly (P<0.01) different for both breeds within treatment groups (PGF2α and sponges). The time of the estrus was significantly (P<0.01) shorter ingroup 3 and 4 than ingroup 1. The number of ewes in estrus was greater (P<0.05) in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2. The time taken for onset of estrus for group 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 48.05±0.32, 45.45^0.17, 41.02±1.11 and 41.44±3.75 h, respectively. Estrus was induced with sponge withdrawal in almost 100 per cent sheep while about 80 per cent of ewes had been observed in estrus after the PGF2 α injection within 3 d. It is concluded that Progestagen was better than PGF2α for synchronization of estrous in Awassi and Red Karaman ewes.