Postpartum Ovarian Activities in Nigerian Donkeys

This study was carried out to evaluate the ovarian activity of Nigerian jennies during the postpartum period. Fifteen (15) jennies aged 4.5±1.5 years and in their third trimester of gestation, were used in this study and they were brought into the experiment as they foaled. Five (5) ml of blood was obtained from each jenny via jugular veni-puncture on day of foaling, twice weekly until onset of oestrus. The blood was collected for extraction of serum, for progesterone estimation using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA). Two different progesterone profiles were observed in the postpartum studies, these varied in time when foal heat was observed in the jennies. In the first profile (n=10), foal heat was observed at 28 days postpartum while in the second profile (n=5), foal heat was observed at 35 days postpartum. Thereafter normal cyclical ovarian activity resumed at 56 to 63 days postpartum. The oestrous cycle length postpartum was 28 days. In conclusion, foal heat occurred between 28 to 35 days postpartum followed by a normal cyclical ovarian activity between 56 to 63 days in Nigerian indigenous jennies. Consequently, Nigerian jennies can be bred from day 56 to 63 days (8-9 weeks) postpartum so as to ensure optimum fertility.