INDUCTION & ESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION OF SHEEP & GOATS DURING THE FALL & LATE SPRING (SEASONAL & OUT-OF SEASON) USING CONTROLLED INTERNAL DRUG RELEASE (CIDR) DEVICES ON DELMARVA.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: EVANS-ALLEN
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0231385
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2012
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2017
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
11868 College Backborne Road
Princess Anne,MD 21853

Performing Department
Agriculture

Non Technical Summary
For the last 25 years rapid changes in the United States demographics have increased demand for lamb and/or chevon (goat meat). For example, USDA/National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) reported that in 1970, 1.29 metric tons (2,843.96 pounds) of chevon were imported into the United States. In contrast, in 2009, 11,706.70 metric tons (almost 26 million pounds) were imported (approximately retail value of $129+ million). For Delmarva sheep/goat producers it is a great opportunity to target the demand and the proximity to large concentrations of lamb and chevon consumers in Washington, DC; New York; Philadelphia; Baltimore; and Newark enhancing small farm diversity and sustainability. One aspect that is very particular to the selected group of lamb and chevon consumers is that the demands during the year usually follows ethnic holidays which change from year to year because coincide with traditions and festivals following different types of calendars. During farm visits and training events, sheep and goat producers have expressed that they need a rational and easy approach to target the peak demand and to breed their livestock according to the prospected demand. However, there is a challenge with sheep and goats: sheep and goats are seasonal breeders. Seasonal estrus (ewes and does are receptive to rams and bucks) occurs when the day light hours are diminishing (in the temperate latitude around September) and seasonal anestrus (ewes and does are NOT receptive to rams and bucks) happens when the daylight period is longer (late spring to early summer). There has been a great deal of non-FDA approved estrus induction protocols for small ruminants using several types of progesterone compounds. On October, 2009, EAZI-BREED CIDR sheep inserts became available as an over the counter, FDA approved product recommended for induction of estrus during seasonal anestrus. Also, FDA approval for use in goats is pending in the United States. Small test trials at the UMES Small Ruminant Farm using the EAZI-BREED CIDR sheep inserts have given inconsistent results when used in Katahdin cross bred ewes and cross bred Kiko and Boer does; however the use of this FDA approved product in small ruminants greatly encourages producers because it would allow them to target lamb/chevon demand peaks during the year. Consequently, the goals of this three year long proposed study is to determine if the commercially available, recently FDA approved CIDRs would improve estrus synchronization of sheep and goats (Fall and Summer) on Delmarva and if sheep/goat producers could economically target peak demands for their livestock. The University of Maryland Extension-1890 Program sponsors every year multiple training events featuring an annual Small Farm Conference attracting more than 150 Delmarva farmers. The proposed research project and the results from it will be an addition to the tools the University of Maryland Extension-UMES has to convey between environmental balance and economic sustainability of small farms on Delmarva.

Animal Health Component

65%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

65%

Developmental

35%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
301	3620	1020	50%
301	3820	1020	50%

Knowledge Area
301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3620 - Meat, sheep; 3820 - Goats, meat, and mohair;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

sheep

goat

estrus

anestrus

estrus synchronization

cidr

lamb

chevon

eazi breed

Goals / Objectives
The principal investigators will monitor and actively participate in the implementation of the project. Annual reports will be prepared as required by the funding agency and abstracts, posters and presentation will be designed and developed as data become manageable and available. UMES undergraduate and graduate students will actively participate and implement different phases of the experimental project. Students will learn how to conduct experiments, how to analyze data, how to manage small ruminants in an experimental setting. Results will be presented at professional meetings (American Society of Animal Science, Association of Research Directors Symposium, National Goat Conference, etc.) in the United States, at sheep/goat producers training sessions and articles will be posted in the eXtension-Goat Industry website. At least 300 agricultural service providers (extension educators, veterinarians, students, scientists, administrators, USDA researchers, etc.) from 13 Northeast states will be invited to participate in training conferences (lectures and hands-on workshops) to learn advanced sheep/goat estrus synchronization concepts. Sheep and goat producers will be invited to form a producer panel for question/answer session. The University of Maryland Extension-1890 Program sponsors every year multiple training events featuring an annual Small Farm Conference attracting more than 150 Delmarva farmers. The proposed research project and the results from it will be an addition to the tools the University of Maryland Extension-UMES has to convey between environmental balance and economic sustainability of small farms on Delmarva. The purpose of this study is not to determine efficacy of CIDRs in sheep (or goats), which has been already established in sheep by very large studies in 1998 and 1999 and results of studies done with goats will soon be available. The objectives of the three year study are: 1.- To determine applicability and practicality of the CIDR use in commercial flocks/herds in order to reduce lambing and kidding periods to target peak demands for lamb/chevon, and 2.- To examine economic benefits of breeding ewes/does on demand for the sustainability of small sheep/goat farms on Delmarva.

Project Methods
This study will be carried out during 3 years and the test will be conducted during the "normal breeding" period (fall) and during the anestrous period (May-June). The selected ewes/does will be separated into two groups: CIDR TREATED (TRT n= up to 30 ewes/does) and CONTROL (CTL n=up to 30 ewes/does). The ewes/does will be arranged in a randomized complete-block design consisting of 2 or more replications. The ewes/does will be contained in alternate plots (pastures) and will have the same feeding and management regimen, i.e., hay, pasture, mineral salt and supplemental 15% CP commercial diet. During the acclimation period, for at least three wks the CTL and TRT ewes/does will be isolated (sight and smell) from rams and bucks. Fresh water and mineral salt will be available ad libitum. For sheep, 165 days before lambing and 170 days before kidding the TRT ewes/does will be fitted with one CIDR using a specially designed applicator with sufficient lubricating jelly. For removal, a clear plastic line is pulled gently 14-18 days later until the CIDR is completely out. Estrus evaluation Monitoring: The same day the CIDRs are removed rams/bucks will be introduced to groups of ewes/does of no more than 8 females/group. The rams/bucks will be fitted with breeding marking harnesses to identify those ewes/does which are receptive to the males at onset of estrus and data will be collected twice daily (8:00 am and 4:00 pm) identifying the ewes/does which are marked which will be an indication of onset of estrus. The rams/bucks will remain in the pastures with ewes/does for 7-10 days, and then the males will be separated from the females and returned to a distant pasture. Blood sampling and hormone assay: Blood samples will be collected by jugular venipuncture from CTL and TRT ewes/does. Serum will be harvested from the samples and stored at -20 degrees C for subsequent analysis of progesterone (P4), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) using commercial radio-immuno assays. Pregnancy determination: 40 days after the last female is marked, a jugular vein blood sample will be collected to determine pregnancy by the BioPRYN test, measuring the level of placental pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) in serum. Also, pregnancy will be monitored weekly using ultrasonography. From that information pregnancy/conception rates will be calculated and compared to the data from the onset of estrus period when the females were marked by the males. The variables used to evaluate response to the treatments and productivity benefits for the sheep/goat producers on Delmarva will be: a) Estrus response (percentage of does/ewes in estrus, marked by the ram/buck), b) Fertility expressed as pregnancy rate, c) Fecundity, lambing/kidding ratio to the number of exposed females, and d) Prolificacy, number of lams/kids born per female. The data collected from the blood samples and the productivity parameters will be analyzed by ANOVA using PROC GLM is SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The manipulation and utilization of sheep/goats to determine the use of EAZI-BREED CIDR sheep inserts has been approved by the UMES Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience: During the reporting period, undergraduate and graduate students from the UMES' Agriculture Department actively participated on hands-on activities to carry out the project. Two undergraduate students worked in the field managing and taking care of pregnant does and ewes. Subsequently, sheep and goat producers along with undergraduate and graduate students participated assisting ewes and does during lambing and kidding. Also, producers attending the UMES Small Farm Conference toured the kidding and lambing facilities and were instructed about the use of lambing and kidding jugs to facilitate lambs and kids survival. Elementary school students, 4-H Club members and homeschoolers visited the UMES Small Ruminant Farm to learn about lambs and kids being born and how they grow. Changes/Problems:Anincreased sheep and goat gastrointestinal parasite burden was experienced during 2014 and 2015. The severe helmintosis in the flock and herd drastically reduced the number of sheep and goats available for the breeding groups. The number of breeding does was reduced to only two groups instead of four. The procedures and actions taken to manage the parasite outbreak was documented and used to train sheep and goat producers using the UMES Small Ruminant Farm experience as a case study. In order to have a consistent body of work, this project would benefit by extending the project two more breeding cycles in one year. A non-cost extension will be requested to complement the present data bank. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Sheep and goat producers have inquired about synchronizing ewes and does and partial and guarded recommendations have been enumerated since the data from the project has not been analyzed yet. Preliminary results were presented at farm visits, small farm conferences and NIMSS-SCC081 conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Two more synchronized breeding cycles (Spring/Summer and Fall) will be planned and implemented Data on reproductive performance will be collected Analyzed data will be presented in a poster during the Graduate Research Symposium at UMES Abstracts will be prepared for the Summer 2016 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Anincreased sheep and goat gastrointestinal parasite burden was experienced during 2014 and 2015. The severe helmintosis in the flock and herd drastically reduced the number of sheep and goats available for the breeding groups. The number of breeding does was reduced to only two groups instead of four. Twelve does and 20 ewes were selected by weight and age and distributed in two major treatment groups: CIDRs and No-CIDRs. For 10 consecutive days, the does and ewes were exposed to bucks and rams fitted with marking harnesses to indicate breeding activity. After 35 days a blood sample was taken from the does and ewes to determine pregnancy. At lambing and kidding lambs and kids were processed: tagged, body weight, sex and litter size were recorded for further analysis. During this period, data collected on pregnancy rates for females with CIDRs and No-CIDRswas added to the previously collected data for further analysis. Preliminary results were presented at farm visits, small farm conferences and NIMSS-SCC081 conference.

Publications

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience:1.- During this reporting period, UMES- Agriculture Department's students, undergraduate and graduate, have participated implementing required activities of the research and outreach project 2.- Two undergraduate students worked as Research Field Assistants taking care of sheep and goats at pasture and at kidding and lambing. 3.- Sheep and goat producers along with UMES students have learned application of CIDRs before breeding periods. 4.- At kidding and lambing time, kindergarten and elementary students from nearby schools in Pocomoke, MD visited the barn and parents and teachers were explained about synchronization of estrus. 5.- UMES students participating in regular courses worked at the farm helping during kidding and lambing Changes/Problems:Climate change on Delmarva seems to have had an effect on this project. However, the scope of the initial project design does not allow for definitely measure of the effects. For example, in January 2013, minimum temperatures remained below freezing (as low as -13 C degrees) for several consecutive days increasing stress on the reproductive performance of pregnant ewes and does on pasture. Taking into account the previous situation a non-cost extension will be requested to mitigate the climate change effects. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The University of Maryland Extension-1890 Program will sponsor in November, 2015 multiple training events featuring an annual Small Farm Conference in attracting more than 150 Delmarva farmers. The proposed research project and the results from it will be an addition to the tools the University of Maryland Extension-UMES has to convey between environmental balance and economic sustainability of small farms on Delmarva. Abstracts and or posters will be prepared for presentation at national professional meetings, like the American Society of Animal Science.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the UMES Small Farm Conference, several sheep and goat producers gathered for an informal conversation about estrus synchronization, cost and benefits.

Publications

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: During this reporting period, UMES undergraduate and graduate students have actively participated and implemented different phases of the experimental project. Two undergraduate students are working as Research Field Assistants taking care of the sheep and goats in the field. In addition graduate students have demonstrated an interest in the synchronization technique and have approached the PI and co-PI inquiring about details of implementation, at sheep/goat producers training sessions Graduate students, undergraduate students and farmers have participated in the application of CIDRs during the Spring/Summer breeding and the fall breeding periods. A short presentation explaining the UMES Small Ruminant Farm projects' goals and objectives was prepared for sheep and goat producers and agriculturists during the 2013 Delaware Agricultural Week. About 60 persons were in attendance. At kidding and lambing time, 120+ elementary school children and their parents from Somerset and Worcester counties visit the UMES Small Ruminant Farm and it is explained that the does and ewes are part of research project to plan and schedule lambing by a practice known as estrus synchronization. Prospective students (25 students) from nearby Wor-Wic Community college visited the UMES Small Ruminant Farm and a succinct conference was prepared to explain the benefits of estrus synchronization Every year, in September the University of Maryland Extension brings up to 40 new faculty to UMES. During the UMES Small ruminant Farm tour it was explained that one of the three research topics is the use of CIDRs for modifying the breeding cycles of small ruminants. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? For the next reporting period one full breeding cycle would had occurred and some of the preliminary data could be discussed with targeted audiences.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project started in October 2012. During this reporting period, under the guidance and supervision of PI and Co-PI UMES undergraduate and graduate students have actively participated and implemented different phases of the experimental project. None of the other proposed goals have been accomplished yet.

Publications