Management and meteorological factors affect fertility after artificial insemination in Murciano-Granadina goats
Francisco Arrébola A , Carlos Palacios B , María-Jesús Gil C and José-Alfonso Abecia D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA) Hinojosa del Duque, Carretera el Viso, km 2, 14270 Córdoba, Spain.
B Dept. Construcción y Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Filiberto Villalobos, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
C S.C.A. Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches – COVAP, Mayor 56 Pozoblanco, Córdoba, Spain.
D I.U.C.A. Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
E Corresponding author. Email: alf@unizar.es
Animal Production Science 56(11) 1906-1912 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15176
Submitted: 5 April 2015 Accepted: 3 June 2015 Published: 10 July 2015
Abstract
Over 6 years, 2004 artificial inseminations (AI) were documented from 13 goat farms. We quantified the effect on fertility rate of management factors (farm, year, month, timing and order of insemination, dose of progestagen, prostaglandin, equine chorionic gonadotrophin and prostaglandin doses, age, technician, problems at AI, body condition and buck) and meteorological conditions at AI (mean, maximum and minimum temperatures, mean relative humidity, mean solar radiation, and total rainfall). Meteorological variables were converted to categorical variables to quartiles and deciles. Overall fertility was 56%. Each of the management factors had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on fertility. Non-pregnant goats differed significantly in most of the meteorological variables. Successful inseminations were associated with significantly (P < 0.001) higher mean, maximum and minimum temperatures, and solar radiation, and lower relative humidity, and rainfall, than were failed inseminations. Fertility rates of the highest and lowest deciles were significantly different for each of the meteorological variables. Inseminations performed when meteorological values were in the highest decile of mean (62%), maximum (61%) and minimum temperature (60%), and solar radiation (59%), and the lowest of relative humidity (61%) and rainfall (57%) had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher proportion of does that became pregnant than when meteorological values were within the opposite decile (47%; 34%; 55%; 46%; 45%, and 43%, respectively). In conclusion, management and meteorological factors affected the success of AI in goats. Although technical factors can be controlled, it remains to be determined whether scheduling the dates of insemination based on forecasted temperatures can improve the success of AI.
Additional keywords: fixed artificial insemination, pregnancy, rain, temperature.
References
Abecia JA, Sosa C, Forcada F, Meikle A (2006) The effect of undernutrition on the establishment of pregnancy in the ewe. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 46, 367–378.| The effect of undernutrition on the establishment of pregnancy in the ewe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtVOnsr3P&md5=f1a647fd06653b01432de2373e5caf47CAS | 16824446PubMed |
Abecia JA, Forcada F, González-Bulnes A (2012) Hormonal control of reproduction in small ruminants. Animal Reproduction Science 130, 173–179.
| Hormonal control of reproduction in small ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xjs1OrtbY%3D&md5=161dc4162ec1d7a2d6f3760d72249c4fCAS | 22325928PubMed |
Arrébola FA, Pardo B, Sánchez M, López MD, Pérez-Marín CC (2012) Factors influencing the success of an artificial insemination program in Florida goats. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 10, 338–344.
| Factors influencing the success of an artificial insemination program in Florida goats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arrébola F, González O, Torres R, Abecia JA (2014) Artificial insemination in Payoya goats: factors affecting fertility. Animal Production Science 54, 356–362.
| Artificial insemination in Payoya goats: factors affecting fertility.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arrébola F, González-Casquet O, Benítez F, Palacios C, Abecia JA (2015) Efecto de la meteorología sobre la fertilidad tras inseminación artificial de cabras de raza Payoya en primavera. In ‘Proceedings of the XVI Jornadas sobre Producción Animal’. (Eds J Alvarez, B Panea, JH Calvo, M Blanco, JA Abecia, D Villalba, MA Latorre) pp. 399–401. (AIDA: Zaragoza, Spain)
Corteel JM, Leboeuf B (1990) Evolution technico-économique de l’insemination artificielle caprine. Revue Élevage et Insémination 237, 3–17.
Evans G, Maxwell WMC (1987) ‘Salamon’s artificial insemination on sheep and goats.’ (Butterworths: Sydney)
Falagan A, Urrutia B, Carrizosa J, Lafuente A (1993) Note about the reproduction out of breeding season of Murciana-Granadina goat in Murcia (SE of Spain). In ‘44th annual meeting of the European Association of Animal Production. Aarhus (Denmark), 16–19 August 1993’. (National Institute of Animal Science)
Fiéni F, Buggin M, Tainturier D, Bach Lijour B, Brujas JF, Daubié M (1991) Study of the best hour for intrauterine insemination in young dairy goats after hormonal induction of oestrus. Theriogenology 35, 200
| Study of the best hour for intrauterine insemination in young dairy goats after hormonal induction of oestrus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fuquay JW (1981) Heat stress as it affects animal production. Journal of Animal Science 52, 164–169.
Galina MA, Silva E, Morales R, Lopez B (1995) Reproductive performance of Mexican dairy goats under various management systems. Small Ruminant Research 18, 249–253.
| Reproductive performance of Mexican dairy goats under various management systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gomes Da Silva RG (2006) Weather and climate and animal production. In ‘Guide to agricultural meteorological practices (GAMP)’. (Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Geneva, Switzerland) Available at http://www.agrometeorology.org/files-folder/repository/gamp_chap_11.pdf [Verified 20 March 2015]
Hashem NM, El-Zarkouny SZ, Taha TA, Abo-Elezz ZR (2011) Effect of season, month of parturition and lactation on estrus behavior and ovarian activity in Barki x Rahmani crossbred ewes under subtropical conditions. Theriogenology 75, 1327–1335.
| Effect of season, month of parturition and lactation on estrus behavior and ovarian activity in Barki x Rahmani crossbred ewes under subtropical conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3M3ot1Wmtg%3D%3D&md5=91efb5e86faf6e968071d4117a38f3f2CAS | 21295829PubMed |
Leboeuf B, Forgerit Y, Bernelas D, Pougnard JL, Senty E, Driancourt MA (2003) Efficacy of two types of vaginal sponges to control onset of oestrus, time of preovulatory LH peak and kidding rate in goats inseminated with variable numbers of spermatozoa. Theriogenology 60, 1371–1378.
| Efficacy of two types of vaginal sponges to control onset of oestrus, time of preovulatory LH peak and kidding rate in goats inseminated with variable numbers of spermatozoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnsVanu7c%3D&md5=5bd46ef268353eb422b40c4478bf0a9fCAS | 14511789PubMed |
Leigh OO, Ajibade ZO (2010) Conception following transcervical insemination with predetermined ejaculate concentration in synchronized West African dwarf does. Global Veterinaria 5, 239–242.
Mellado M, Meza-Herrera CA (2002) Influence of season and environment on fertility of goats in a hot-arid environment. The Journal of Agricultural Science 138, 97–101.
| Influence of season and environment on fertility of goats in a hot-arid environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mellado M, Valdez R, Garcia JE, Lopez R, Rodriguez A (2006) Factors affecting the reproductive performance of goats under intensive conditions in a hot arid environment. Small Ruminant Research 63, 110–118.
| Factors affecting the reproductive performance of goats under intensive conditions in a hot arid environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meza CA, Ross TT (2000) Factors affecting fertility and prolificacy of dairy goats inseminated with frozen-thawed semen. In ‘Proceedings of the 7th international conference on goats’. (Ed. JP Dubeuf) pp. 476–478. (Institute de l’Elevage: Tours, France)
Nunes JF, Salgueiro CCM (2011) Strategies to improve the reproductive efficiency of goats in Brazil. Small Ruminant Research 98, 176–184.
| Strategies to improve the reproductive efficiency of goats in Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Palacios C, Abecia JA (2015) Meteorological variables affect fertility rate after intrauterine artificial insemination in sheep in a seasonal-dependent manner: a 7-year study. International Journal of Biometeorology 59, 585–592.
| Meteorological variables affect fertility rate after intrauterine artificial insemination in sheep in a seasonal-dependent manner: a 7-year study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2cblt1Kiuw%3D%3D&md5=4c07fc1857d3365c3cddc1b319bd3326CAS | 25056126PubMed |
Paulenz H, Söderquist L, Adnøy T, Soltun K, Saether PA, Fjellsøy KR, Andersen Berg K (2005) Effect of cervical and vaginal insemination with liquid semen stored at room temperature on fertility of goats. Animal Reproduction Science 86, 109–117.
| Effect of cervical and vaginal insemination with liquid semen stored at room temperature on fertility of goats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M7ltVagtw%3D%3D&md5=7bdb7aac2f6e7961876229e721811d2cCAS | 15721662PubMed |
Ritar AJ, Salamon S (1983) Fertility and frozen-thawed semen of angora goats. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 36, 49–59.
Ritar AJ, Salamon S (1987) Artificial insemination of dairy goats with fresh and frozen-thawed semen. In ‘Proceedings of the 4th Asian–Australian Association of Animal Production’. pp. 263. (Animal Science Congress: Hamilton, New Zealand)
Ritar AJ, Ball PD, O’May PJ (1990) Artificial insemination of Cashmere goats: effects on fertility and fecundity of intravaginal treatment, method and time of insemination, semen freezing process, number of motile spermatozoa and age of female. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2, 377–384.
| Artificial insemination of Cashmere goats: effects on fertility and fecundity of intravaginal treatment, method and time of insemination, semen freezing process, number of motile spermatozoa and age of female.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3M%2FhvVCktg%3D%3D&md5=deaf96abee6798778d4a71b920288ee1CAS |
Russel AFJ, Doney JM, Gunn RG (1969) Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep. The Journal of Agricultural Science 72, 451–454.
| Subjective assessment of body fat in live sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Salvador I, Viudes De Castro MP, Bernacer J, Gómez EA, Silvestre MA (2005) Factors affecting pregnancy rate in artificial insemination with frozen semen during non-breeding season in Murciano–Granadina goats: a field assay. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 40, 526–529.
| Factors affecting pregnancy rate in artificial insemination with frozen semen during non-breeding season in Murciano–Granadina goats: a field assay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MnkslWmsw%3D%3D&md5=c5ac997fd8f15892e9954b6c793c5994CAS | 16324078PubMed |
Sánchez A, Micheo JM, Urrutia B, Carrizosa A, González-Bulnes A, López Sebastián A (2005) Fertilidad en respuesta a la sincronización de celos con utilización de efecto macho combiando con progesterone y doble inyección de cloprostenol en cabras cíclicas de raza malagueña. In ‘Proceedings of the XXX jornadas científicas SEOC’. (Ed. M Herrera) pp. 457–459. (Junta de Andalucia: Seville, Spain)
Santolaria P, Yániz J, Fantova E, Vicente-Fiel S, Palacín I (2014) Climate factors affecting fertility after cervical insemination during the first months of the breeding season in Rasa Aragonesa ewes. International Journal of Biometeorology 58, 1651–1655.
| Climate factors affecting fertility after cervical insemination during the first months of the breeding season in Rasa Aragonesa ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2c3ks1KmsA%3D%3D&md5=42e9fe02046b49883bc44266664d0e8cCAS | 24317703PubMed |
Silanikove N (2000) Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants. Livestock Production Science 67, 1–18.
| Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sohnrey B, Holtz W (2005) Technical Note: Transcervical deep cornual insemination of goats. Journal of Animal Science 83, 1543–1548.
Uzabaci E, Çubukçu K, Dikmen S (2014) Determination of factors affecting pregnancy rate in Turkish Saanen goats. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 61, 303–307.
Vallet JC, Baril G, Leboeuf B, Perrin G (1992) Insemination artificielle intra-uterine sous control laparoscopoique chez les petits ruminants domestiques. Annales de Zootechnie 41, 305–309.
| Insemination artificielle intra-uterine sous control laparoscopoique chez les petits ruminants domestiques.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Villa-Mancera A, Méndez-Mendoza M, Huerta-Crispín R, Vázquez-Flores F, Córdova-Izquierdo A (2011) Effect of climate factors on conception rate of lactating dairy cows in Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production 43, 597–601.
| Effect of climate factors on conception rate of lactating dairy cows in Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21086161PubMed |
West JW (1994) Interactions of energy and bovine somatotropin with heat stress. Journal of Dairy Science 77, 2091–2102.
Yamamoto S, Young BA, Purwanto BP, Nakamasu F, Matsumoto T (1994) Effect of solar radiation on the heat load of dairy heifers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, 1741–1749.
| Effect of solar radiation on the heat load of dairy heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
