Reuse of progesterone device did not affect embryo yield in locally adapted Brazilian sheep

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Abstract

The reuse of progesterone devices is safe, efficient, and economically viable in small ruminants, supporting the evaluation of extended reuse protocols in superovulated ewes. Thus, the objective of this study was to test the efficiency of progesterone device reuse in superovulated ewes. Morada Nova (MN, n = 20) and Santa Inês (SI, n = 20) ewes were equally assigned to G-New (n = 20) and G-Used (n = 20) treatments. Ultrasound examinations in B- and Color Doppler modes were performed on D0 (device insertion), D7, D9 (device removal), D11, and D15 to assess ovarian dynamics. Superovulation consisted of six decreasing doses of p FSH (133 mg total) administered intramuscularly at 12 h intervals, starting 60 h before device removal. On D16, nonsurgical embryo recovery (NSER) was performed in ewes presenting at least one corpus luteum (CL). The number of follicles after p FSH treatment was greater (P < 0.05) in SI ewes. A breed-by-treatment interaction (P < 0.05) was observed for the interval to estrus, number of corpora lutea, and luteinized structures. Notably, a slight delay in estrus onset and poorer superovulatory responses occurred only in G-New MN ewes (60 % with CL and 4.7 ± 0.7 CL). However, they presented satisfactory numbers of CL and viable embryos per ewe flushed (7.8 ± 0.9 and 6.6 ± 1.1, respectively). The average total number of viable embryos in this trial was 9.2 ± 1.7. Positive correlations (P < 0.05) were found between ovarian blood perfusion on D15 and the number of luteinized structures/CL in G-New (r = 0.79) and G-Used (r = 0.54). However, correlations with recovered structures (r = 0.63) and viable embryos (r = 0.63) were observed only in G-New. In conclusion, reusing a progesterone device once for nine days (mid-term protocol) was as effective as using a new device in terms of embryo yield in locally adapted Brazilian ewes submitted to a superovulatory protocol and NSER.
Keywords: nonsurgical, ovine, reused, superovulation, ultrasound.

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References

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Published

2026-04-10

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FIGUEIRA, Lucas Machado; LIMA, Monalisa Sousa Dias; VERGANI, Gabriel Brun; SILVA, Kleibe de Morais; MONTEIRO, Alexandre Weick Uchôa; BATISTA, Ribrio Ivan Tavares Pereira; TEIXEIRA, Dárcio Ítalo Alves; OLIVEIRA, Maria Emília Franco; FONSECA, Jeferson Ferreira da. Reuse of progesterone device did not affect embryo yield in locally adapted Brazilian sheep. Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira, Goiânia, v. 27, 2026. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/82944. Acesso em: 12 apr. 2026.

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Vol. 27 (2026): Continuous publication

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ANIMAL SCIENCE

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