The aim of the present study was to verify the time of ovulation after natural or induced estrus in the Comedale ewe. The ram effect was also evaluated in the presence of induced estrus. Both treatments were examined by laparoscopy every four hours, from 20h to 40h after beginning the natural estrus, and from 48h to 120h after withdrawing the sponges or until ovulation was observed. After natural estrus, 96% from 56 ewes had ovulated, and most of the ovulations (85%) had occurred from 24 to 32h after the onset of heat. The mean time of ovulation in 60 ewes treated with progestagen pessaries (50mg, MAP, 12 days) and eCG injection (500IU at sponge withdrawai) was 65.1 ± 2.2h and 73.8 ± 3.2h respectively for groups with and without the presence of rams. This trait was affected by the ram effect (P < 0.05); however, it was neither influenced by the age of the ewes nor the repeated hormonal treatments. The time of ovulation after natural estrus, due to its small variation, is not likely to affect the results of artificial insemination with frozen semen. On the contrary, the time of ovulation, but not the range of ovulation distribution, was significantly increased in ewes with induced estrus when in the presence of rams. These results probably play a role in the success rate of the artificial insemination with frozen semen.
time of ovulation; natural estrus; induced estrus; sheep
