Melatonin Treatment In Rams And Their Replacement With Novel Treated Rams Advance First Lambing And Increase Fertility In Sarda Ewe Lambs

Simple SummaryThe goals of this study were to advance first mating in ewe lambs and to shorten the period ranging from weaning to first lambing. Sarda ewe lambs (n = 400) were separated into four groups of 100 and exposed for a 50-day breeding period to fertile, adult rams as follows: (1) RMR (Rams-Melatonin-Replacement) group: exposed to melatonin-treated rams which were replaced every 10 days; (2) RM (Rams-Melatonin) group: exposed to melatonin-treated rams which were not replaced; (3) RCR (Rams-Controls-Replacement) group: exposed to untreated rams which were replaced every 10 days; and (4) RC (Rams-Controls) group: exposed to untreated rams which were not replaced. In each group, lambing dates, fertility rate, litter size, and distance in days from ram introduction to lambing (DRIL) were recorded. The RMR group showed the highest fertility rate, whilst shorter DRIL and higher number of ewes that lambed in a shorter time frame were recorded both in RM and RMR groups, compared to controls. The findings highlighted that melatonin treatment in rams and their replacement allowed advancing first mating, increasing fertility rate, and improving lambing concentration.This study aims to find reliable strategies for advancing first mating and shortening the period from weaning to first lambing in ewe lambs. Sarda ewe lambs (n = 400) were selected from two farms and allocated into four separated groups of 100, all of which were exposed to fertile, adult rams over the course of a 50-day breeding period. The first treatment group (RMR) was exposed to four melatonin-treated rams which were replaced every ten days, whilst the second treatment group (RM) was exposed to four melatonin-treated rams which were not replaced. Alternatively, the first control group (RCR) was exposed to four untreated rams which were replaced every ten days, whilst the second control group (RC) was exposed to four untreated rams which were not replaced. In each group, lambing dates, fertility rate, litter size, and distance in days from ram introduction to lambing (DRIL) were recorded. The highest fertility rate was recorded in the RMR group (p <= 0.05). Shorter DRIL (p <= 0.01) and higher lambing concentrations were recorded in the RM and RMR groups as compared to the controls. The findings indicate that melatonin treatment of rams and their replacement at 10-day intervals results in earlier onset of first mating, increased fertility rate in ewe lambs, and a higher number of ewes that lambs in a shorter time frame.