[Post-partum ovarian activity in Sardinian ewes]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Animal science
• Veterinary medicine

Background:

• Understanding ovarian cyclicity is crucial for sheep breeding management.
• Lambing season significantly influences postpartum reproductive performance in ewes.
• Sardinian sheep breed presents unique reproductive characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of lambing season on the resumption of ovarian activity in Sardinian ewes.
• To assess the influence of lactation level on postpartum estrus resumption.
• To determine the efficacy of ram introduction for estrus detection across different lambing groups.

Main Methods:

• Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured to assess ovarian activity.
• Four groups of Sardinian ewes were categorized by lambing season (November, December, January, March).
• Estrus activity was monitored following the introduction of rams.

Main Results:

• Ewes lambing in November and December exhibited a shorter interval to ovarian activity resumption.
• A higher proportion of ewes with earlier lambing seasons resumed ovarian activity post-ram introduction.
• High lactation levels were associated with a delay in the resumption of estrus activity.

Conclusions:

• Early lambing seasons (November-December) are associated with improved postpartum ovarian resumption in Sardinian ewes.
• Lactation intensity is a key factor affecting the timing of estrus return after lambing.
• Optimizing lambing timing can enhance reproductive efficiency in this breed.