The objective of this study was to establish alternatives to induce and synchronize estrus in dairy goats managed under semi-intensive conditions. Four experiments were carried out using 411 goats at the Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Caprinos, Sobral, CE, Brazil. In the basic protocol, intra-vaginal sponges were used with 50 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) over ten days, associated with intra-muscular shots of cloprostenol, and equine corionic gonadotropin (eCG) at the 8th day. Artificial insemination (AI) with frozen semen took place 38 hours after sponge withdrawal. In the first experiment, eCG was replaced by "buck effect"; in the second experiment, 60 mg MAP replaced the usual dose; the third experiment compared different pre-fixed time for AI: 38, 44 and 50 hours and in the fourth experiment, hCG (human corionic gonadotropin) given at different moments, replaced eCG. Prolificacy was not influenced (P>0.05) by any changes of basic protocol.After natural estrus, AIprovided higher (P<0.05) parturition rates in the second (67.7%) and fourth experiment (73.3%). Sponge with 60mg MAP allowed to inseminate later (44 hours after removal) without impairing fertility. As long as hCG is given 48 hours before sponge removal it results equals to eCG ones.
gonadotropins; progestational hormones; prostaglandins; ovulation; fertility
