Simplified superovulatory treatments in Corriedale ewes

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the possibility of simplifying superovulatory treatments in Corriedale ewes with use of ovine FSH (oFSH). Ewes received intravaginal progestogen sponges for 14 days. In Experiment 1, several simplified schedules were tested. Ewes were treated with 176 NIH-FSH-S1 units’ oFSH given as a single injection in saline, along with 500 IU eCG 48 h before sponge removal (Group A1), in four equal doses (B1), or given as a single injection in a polyvinylpyrrolidone vehicle (C1) 24 h before sponge removal. In Experiment 2, the simplified protocol that exhibited the most desirable results in Experiment 1 (A2) was compared with the same protocol, but using less oFSH (132 units) (B2) and with the most conventional protocol (176 units of oFSH in eight decreasing doses; C2). Estrus was detected and ewes were naturally mated. The ovarian response and embryo production were assessed on Day 6 after estrus. LH was measured at 6 h intervals from pessary withdrawal. The onset of estrus and the pre-ovulatory LH surge were advanced (P < 0.05) in ewes treated with FSH and eCG. In Experiment 1, protocol A1 produced a greater percentage of superovulated ewes compared to C1 (100.0 compared with 58.3%; P < 0.05), increased ovulation rate (13.8 corpora lutea compared with 6.2 and 4.7 for B1 and C1, respectively; P < 0.05), and tended to increase the number of transferable embryos compared to B1 (P = 0.08). In Experiment 2, percentages of superovulated ewes and ovulation rates were similar among groups; however, Group A2 tended to have more large follicles (P = 0.07) than C2. The number of transferable embryos was similar among the three treatments. In conclusion, the reduced-dose oFSH given once along with eCG is the most appropriate superovulatory treatment because it combines simplicity and a lesser dose of gonadotropin, which also implies a reduction in cost, without reducing embryo production.