Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the response of Xinji fine-wool sheep to superovulation with two follicles stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations and simplified superovulatory treatments. In Experiment I, 22 adult Xinji fine-wool sheep were randomly allocated in equal number (n = 11) to two groups which were superovulated with 280 IU FSH-P and 150 mg Folltropin-V, respectively. In Experiment II, 61 adult Xinji fine-wool sheep randomly divided into four groups were treated with four different superovulatory schemes based on the dosage and number of Folltropin-V injection, respectively. The ewes in the four groups were treated with a total of 150 mg Folltropin-v (6 injection, Group A, n = 15), 120 mg Folltropin-V (3 injection, Group B, n = 18), 90 mg Folltropin-V (3 injection, Group C, n = 13) and 150 mg Folltropin-V dissolved in 30% PVP (1 injection, Group D, n = 15), respectively. The results show that the number of corpora lutea was significantly higher in ewes treated with Folltropin-V than that with FSH-P (P<0.05); higher number of transferable embryos was observed in Folltropin-V group than in FSH-P group. There is no significant difference in number of recovered embryos and transferable embryos in Groups A and B (P>0.05). However, the number of recovered embryos and transferable embryos in Groups C and D is significantly lower than those in Groups A and B (P<0.05). In conclusion, superovulation with 120 mg Folltropin-V (3 injections) is the most appropriate superovulatory treatment in Xinji fine-wool sheep.

Key words: Superovulatory response, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations, Xinji fine-wool sheep.