A seven-day synchronization method for ewes using medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) and prostaglandin F2 alpha

Estrous cycles of adult (n = 27), farm-flock, Suffolk ewes and Polypay range ewes (n = 224) were controlled with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)-impregnated vaginal pessaries inserted (d 0) for 7 d in combination with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) injected on d 6. Descriptive criteria of the effects of this treatment regimen on endocrine characteristics of the estrous cycle were evaluated in the experiment with farm-flock ewes. The efficacy of this synchronization regimen on reproductive performance of range-bred ewes was tested in a second trial. Suffolk ewes bred at the second observed estrus after treatment to provide comparisons of cycle length between treated and control ewes. Polypay ewes were exposed to fertile rams at the controlled estrus. Eighty-nine percent of Suffolk ewes were in estrus within 3 d after pessary removal. All nonsynchronized Suffolk ewes (n = 24) were in estrus over a 21-d period. Estrous cycle lengths of treated ewes averaged 16.8 +/- .2 d. Plasma progesterone concentrations were similar for treated and control ewes during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Ninety-one percent of the range-bred, controlled ewes lambed. Sixty-two percent of these ewes lambed within 150 d after exposure to fertile rams compared with only 17% of nonsynchronized ewes (P less than .05). Lambing percentage was similar by 167 d for treated (87%) or control (88%) ewes. Lambs per ewe exposed averaged 1.68 and 1.80 for treated and nonsynchronized groups, respectively. These data indicate the effectiveness of this 7-d treatment method for control of the estrous cycle of ewes during the normal breeding season. Results further show that this treatment scheme has practical application for range breeding of ewes.