Seasonality of ovulation and estrus, and the ram effect in poll dorset ewes

The effects of month on the proportion of Poll Dorset ewes expressing estrus and ovulating and on their ovulation rate when continually exposed to vasectomised rams and the effects of isolating the ewes from rams in winter/early spring were examined during 15 months in New South Wales, Australia. The percentage of ewes ovulating and their ovulation rate varied from 23% and 1.10 in November to an average of 99% and 1.85 in April and June, and the proportion of ewes expressing estrus followed a similar trend. Some ewes (6.8%) ovulated throughout the 15 months, and the average breeding season was 294 (SE = 6.1) days. Isolating ewes from rams in late winter/early spring significantly decreased the proportion of ewes ovulating from September to November, increased the proportion in December, but did not significantly alter ovulation rate. The variability in reproductive measures during spring offers scope for selection; with the ram effect, improvements in spring joining results from Dorset ewes are possible.