Effect of ram exposure on postpartum uterine involution and luteal function of awassi ewes in temperate region

الملخص EN

Turkish Awassi ewes lambing in December and January (n = 30) were used to evaluate the effect of ram exposure onpostpartum uterine involution, volume of lochia, luteal function, dimater of endometrium, carnncle size, and luteal function ( progesterone concentration) Ewes were allotted in to two groups.

Group 1 exposed to vasectomies rams (exposed group) one day post lambing day.

The other group was kept isolated from rams (control) until day 63post partum.

The diameter of each uterine horn was measured using trans abdominal and trans rectal ultrasounography every 7 days starting from days 7 post lambing.

Blood samples were collected at these times from jugular vein.

The plasma was harvested for progesterone assay.

Intrauterine volume of lochia and size of endometeriumcaruncles were scoring on scale coded from 1-4.

The result of experiment indicated that the diameters of uterine horns, volume of lochia, and size of caruncles were not different between two groups during early postpartum period until 42 days post lambing and progesterone concentration to day 63 post lambing.

The exposed ewes come to estrous and became pregnant earlier than isolated ewes when mixed with fertile ram 3-4 months post lambing.

The result of the present study indicate that exposure of Turkish ewes to ram during deep anestrous postpartum period had no effect on uterine involution, luteal function but the exposure ewes came to fertile estrous and became pregnant earlier than non exposure ewes when mixed with rams three month later.