The timing of oestrus, the preovulatory LH surge and ovulation in Blanca Andaluza goats synchronised by intravaginal progestagen sponge treatment is modified by season but not by body condition score

The aim of this study was to determine whether a seasonal pattern of reproductive events is followed after synchronisation by intravaginal progestagen sponge treatment in female Blanca Andaluza goats, and whether the timing of these events is affected by body condition score (BCS). During seasonal anoestrus (March), and again during the breeding season (November), the same 32 does were distributed into four subgroups according to their BCS: ≤2.25, =2.50, =2.75, and ≥3.00 (n = 8 in all cases). They were then synchronised using a commercial intravaginal sponge treatment. Every 4 h over the 72 h following sponge removal, oestrous activity, the LH concentration and each doe's number of follicles were followed by transrectal ultrasonography. The does synchronised during seasonal anoestrus produced more follicles than those synchronised during the breeding season (P < 0.01). The time elapsed between sponge removal and the onset of oestrus, the LH surge and time of ovulation, was also shorter in these does (P < 0.001). The BCS only modified the number of follicles present in the ovary just before ovulation; this number was significantly lower in the =2.50 BCS subgroup than in the other subgroups (P < 0.05). The present results show that the time to ovulation, and all events around it, are modified by the season in which Blanca Andaluza does are synchronised, but not by BCS.