The Effects of Using Artificial Insemination Techniques on Reproductive Performance in Ghezel Sheep

The aim of the present study was to evaluate artificial insemination techniques on reproductive performance in Ghezel ewes synchronized with CIDR during breeding season. All ewes were treated with controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) inserted into the vagina of the ewes for 14 days. All ewes were treated a single intramuscular (IM) dose of PMSG was injected. In this experiment 120 head ewes divided into four subgroups randomly and experimental groups consist of: control 1, ram mating, n=30; control 2, ram mating plus 550 IU PMSG, n=30; group 1, laparoscopical intrauterine insemination plus 550 IU PMSG, n= 30; group 2, cervical insemination plus 550 IU PMSG, n= 30. In this experiment estrus responses were similar in all groups (control 1, 76.7%; control 2, 93%; group 1, 96%; group 2, 100%). There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) between the treatment groups and the control groups for the estrus response. Pregnancy rates were 70%, 90.0%, 83.3% and 60% in control groups 1, 2 and AI groups 1, 2 respectively. Twinning rates (10% to 34.6%) and litter size (1.10 to 1.35) were significantly different in the treatment groups and the control group 1 (P<0.05). As a result, conception rate in the laparoscopical intrauterine insemination was higher than cervical insemination.