Conception rates to intracervical artificial insemination in oestrous-synchronized indigenous Ugandan goats

Abstract

The application of oestrous synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) for improving goat production in Uganda is becoming increasingly important. This study established the effects of synchronization technique, source of semen, age and body condition score (BCS) on the conception rates (CR). A total of 160 indigenous does under traditional management were randomly divided into two equal hormonal treatment groups. One group received 45 mg progesterone impregnated intravaginal sponges. The other group received Controlled Internal Drug Releasing (CIDR) device containing 3 g progesterone. All does also received intramuscular injection of 200 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropine (PMSG) at sponge or CIDR withdrawal on day 17. During the period, 3 (2.8%) sponges and 8 (10%) CIDR were lost. Semen was collected from proven 1 Boer and 1 Toggenburg bucks using an artificial vagina. Oestrus was detected using vasectomized and apron-fitted bucks and fixed-time intracervical AI was performed using the fresh diluted semen at 48 and 56 hrs following the progestagen withdrawal. Boer semen was used in 37 sponge- and 36 CIDR-treated does, and Toggenburg semen used in 40 sponge- and 36 CIDR-treated does. Pregnancy diagnosis by observation of non-return to oestrus 17 to 22 days post-AI indicated 93 (62.4%) does pregnant. Ultrasonography 48 days post-AI showed 23 (62.2%) and 24 (66.7%) of sponge- and CIDR-treated does, respectively and bred with Boer semen were pregnant. For does bred with Toggenburg semen, 27 (67.7%) and 18 (50.0%) sponge- and CIDR-treated does, respectively were detected pregnant by ultrasonography There were no differences in CR (P>0.05) between use of sponge and PMSG; and Boer and Toggenburg semen. However, age and BCS influenced (P< 0.05) the CR in both methods of synchronization. In conclusion, oestrous synchronization using sponge/PMSG and CIDR/PMSG were equally efficient in Ugandan indigenous goats, and fertility to intracervical AI with fresh semen was satisfactory.