Impacts of arginine on ovarian function and reproductive performance at the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy in ewes

Reproductive performance is the largest determinant of income in the sheep flock. The objective of the current study was to determine if supplementation with the amino acid arginine surrounding the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy enhances ovarian function and reproductive performance in ewes. Recently arginine supplementation strategies have proven to be a suitable method to enhance reproductive loss in livestock creating a more profitable enterprise for the producer. Only a small percentage of embryos are inherently non-viable in the ewe (Wilmut et al., 1986), which would suggest that the majority of early embryonic losses can be prevented.