Prevention of suckling improves postpartum reproductive responses to hormone treatments in Pelibuey ewes

To determine the effects of suckling on postpartum (pp) reproductive efficiency in Pelibuey ewes, two experiments were performed. In Experiment 1, 112 ewes were randomly assigned to one of two groups at parturition: Without restriction of suckling (WRS) 24 h day−1 for 60 days (n = 56), and Weaned Ewes (WE), weaned at 40 days pp (n = 56). On Day 30 pp, all ewes were given Prostaglandin (PGF2α) and one of four treatments (n = 14): T1, intravaginal progestagen (FGA; 40 mg) for 12 days from day 30 pp + equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; 300 UI) until 2 days before removing FGA; T2, FGA was applied for 12 days; T3, a second application of PGF2α was given on day 40 pp + eCG on the same day; T4, a second injection of PGF2α was applied on day 40 pp only. In all the analyzed characteristics, the best results were obtained in WE. Within the WE group, the best treatment (P < 0.05) was T1 with 85.7% of the ewes in oestrus, 71.4% pregnant and a prolificacy of 1.9. Within the WRS group the best results were observed in T1. In both groups, the lowest results (P < 0.05) were obtained in T4. In Experiment 2, 75 ewes were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 25) immediately after parturition: Group 1, Without restriction of suckling (WRS, as in Experiment 1); Group 2, with restriction of suckling (RS; suckling for 30 min day−1); Group 3, Early Weaning (EW: at 7 days pp). All ewes were given PGF2α at 30 days pp and the same hormonal treatment, FGA for 12 days + PGF2α and eCG 2 days before removing FGA. No differences were observed (P > 0.05) between RS and EW for the presentation of oestrus (96% vs. 92%), pregnancy (72% vs. 76%) or prolificacy (1.9 vs. 1.9), although group WRS did not perform (P < 0.05) as well as groups RS and EW for any measure of performance. In conclusion, the combination of hormonal treatment (FGA plus eCG) with weaning at 7 or 40 days pp, or restricted suckling, improves postpartum reproductive efficiency in Pelibuey ewes, demonstrating the inhibitory role of suckling on postpartum reproduction in this breed.