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Effect of fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponge with oestradiol benzoate (OB) on oestrus response and behaviour in Dorper cross ewes

Hazlinda, H.¹, Salleh, S.M.¹, Panandam, J.M.¹, Mohd Nasir, S.² and Yaakub, H.^1*

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor.
²Sumobek Farm, Padang Ragut Kampung Juasseh Seberang, 72000 Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2021 24(1): 76-82

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The purpose of this experiment was to identify the most suitable oestrus synchronisation protocol 
using 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponges with oestradiol benzoate (OB) for sheep. Thirtyfour Dorper crosses ewes, randomly allocated into three groups. Ewes in each group are eitherreceived FGA with i) corn oil (Control; n=11); ii) 0.05 mg OB (OB-L; n=11) or iii) 0.25 mg OB 
(OB-H; n=12). A day before FGA removal, one ml of prostaglandin (PG) was injected into each 
ewe regardless of their treatment groups. Oestrus behaviours observation was conducted with the 
involvement of four alternate fertile rams after 24 hours post-FGA removal and OB injection. Data 
of oestrus response and behaviour was analysed using one-way ANOVA. Results showed that all 
ewes in OB-L and OB-H groups had oestrus within 60 hours of observation, while only 36.4% in 
the Control group. Meanwhile, ewes with standing oestrus in OB-L and OB-H groups had a shorter 
interval compare to Control group. Moreover, ewes in OB-L and OB-H groups showed a 
significantly higher (p<0.05) percentage of ewes express their oestrus behaviour compared to ewes 
in Control group. The results suggested that synchronisation using intravaginal FGA with OB either 
low or high dose improve the oestrus response of Dorper crosses ewes compared to synchronisation 
with non-administration of OB.