hCG treatment on day of mating improves embryo viability and fertility in ewe lambs

An investigation was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing hCG at mating time on luteal function, conceptus growth, placentation and reproductive performance in Texel*Clun Forest ewe lambs. After oestrus synchronisation with progestagen sponges and PMSG ewe lambs were treated either with normal saline (n=102) or 150 IU of hCG (n=105) at mating time. At 25 days after mating 24 animals were slaughtered from each group to determine embryo viability and placental development. hCG significantly (P<0.05) increased crown-rump length (saline: 11.9+-0.2 mm; hCG: 12.7+-0.2 mm), amniotic sac width (saline: 11.4+-0.4 mm; hCG: 12.0+-0.3 mm) and the number of placentomes (saline: 90.8+-7.3; hCG=122.4+-6.3). Among the pregnant animals that were slaughtered on 25 days post-mating, ovulation rate tended to be higher in the hCG group compared to controls (saline: 1.16; hCG: 1.54). However, no difference was observed either in mean plasma progesterone concentrations (saline: 4.6 ng/ml; hCG: 4.9 ng/ml; sed 0.56) or in progesterone production from luteal slices when cultured in vitro (saline: 239.6+-11.8 ng/mg; hCG: 263.2+-13.6 ng/mg) between controls and hCG treated animals. Reproductive performance was also recorded in ewe lambs that were either treated with saline (n=78) or hCG (n=81). The total number of lambs born (saline: 38; hCG: 58) was significantly (P<0.05) greater in hCG group compared to saline-treated controls. Both lambing percentage (saline: 36%; hCG: 48%) and litter size (saline: 1.35; hCG: 1.48) tended to be greater (P<0.10) in hCG-treated animals compared to the controls. In conclusion, these data suggest that treatment of ewe lambs with hCG at the time of mating improves conceptus growth, placentation and number of lambs born.