TY - JOUR
AU - Taylor, H.
AB - Abstract Changes in U.S. demographics have increased chèvon (goat meat) demand. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reported annual chèvon imports > $129 million. During the year, demand follows traditions and festivals, which change from year to year. It is challenging for meat-goat producers to cater to consumer demand because goats are seasonal breeders. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices (2009) for sheep estrus synchronization; however, the FDA's approval of CIDR devices for goats is still pending. This demonstration's objective was not to determine CIDR efficacy in meat goats but to resolve applicability and practicality of CIDR device use to reduce kidding periods and target peak chèvon demands. From 2012 to 2015, crossbred does (n = 183) were separated into 2 groups, synchronized (CIDR) or not (CONTROL), for breeding in late Spring (anestrus season) or Fall (natural breeding season). At each breeding event, CIDR devices were inserted for 12 to 18 d. At the time of CIDR device removal, does were clustered in single buck mating groups of no more than 6 does/group. The goat protocol proposed for FDA approval (12 to 18 d) was followed because pretrials at this station gave inconsistent results following the sheep's label CIDR device insertion and removal time (5 d). At birth, goat kids were tagged, weighed, and sexed and litter size was recorded (LSZ; kids/doe exposed). Data was analyzed using χ2 and ANOVA (SAS software package) for the effect of synchronization and season on pregnancy rates (PR; pregnant does/exposed does) and LSZ at birth. Overall, PR did not differ from one year to the other in CIDR or CONTROL does. Also, during the trial, PR were similar in CIDR does and in CONTROL does (40.6 and 30.0%, respectively). Pregnancy rates did not differ in Spring (17.8 and 19.5% for CIDR and CONTROL, respectively), but PR were significantly different (P < 0.03) in Fall for CIDR and CONTROL does (60.8 and 39.1%, respectively). Overall, doe LSZ was influenced by season bred and use of CIDR devices, with CIDR-Fall-bred does having a higher (P < 0.0001) LSZ (1.6 ± 0.2) compared with CONTROL-Fall-, CONTROL-Spring-, and CIDR-Spring-bred does (0.8 ± 0.2, 0.4 ± 0.2, and 0.4 ± 0.2, respectively). These results do not encourage the use of CIDR devices in commercial meat-goat herds for increasing pregnancy rates. Further targeted studies will be useful to confirm LSZ increase in fall bred CIDR does. Controlled internal drug release synchronization in our station reduced a 60- to 90-d kidding period to 10 d, allowing operators to arrange facilities, labor, and supplies accordingly, enhancing kid survival and does welfare. American Society of Animal Science
TI - 078 The induction and synchronization of estrus in meat goats during the fall and late spring (season and out of season) using controlled internal drug release devices on Delmarva
JF - Journal of Animal Science
DO - 10.2527/asasann.2017.078
DA - 2017-08-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/078-the-induction-and-synchronization-of-estrus-in-meat-goats-during-CJwp0TRIPv
SP - 39
EP - 39
VL - 95
IS - suppl_4
DP - DeepDyve
ER -