Abstract

A study was conducted to examine the efficacy of prostenol for synchronizing estrus in dwarf goats (Capra hircus) and role of concentration of macro minerals during estrus phase. A lot of goats (n=8) were selected from the flock maintained at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) Farm, Faisalabad on the basis of their post-partum period >2 months. Goats (n=5) were given 2 prostenol (an analogue of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) injections of 125 µg/animal), 12 days apart while 3 goats were kept as control. The does responded double injection at an interval of 15 days, because of immaturity of follicles. A teaser buck was introduced in the herd for estrus detection and visual symptoms were also observed. Blood sampling was carried out during estrus phase for sodium, potassium and phosphorus determination. Estrus was observed after 48 to 96 h with a mean time of onset of estrus at 72 ± 33 PGF2α injection. Estrus was observed in all treated goats (100% response) while no estrus was exhibited by any animal of the control group, because they were not injected by injection (PGF2α). Regarding macro-minerals, potassium in estrus was found to be higher (10.83 ± 1.89 ppm) in treated animals as compared to that of the control animals, while sodium and phosphorus levels were found to be the same in treated as well as control groups. It was concluded that double injection of prostenol (125 µg/animal) was efficient in synchronizing estrus in goats and potassium might have some important role during estrus phase in goats.

Key words: Estrus synchronization, goats, prostaglandins, macro-minerals.