Effect of undernutrition on gonadotrophin profiles in non-pregnant, cycling goats

A. U. Mani, W. A.C. McKelvey, E. D. Watson*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    30 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Gonadotrophin profiles were studied in does during an oestrous cycle in which they were fed rations which provided maintenance or 25% of maintenance requirements. Undernutrition had no significant effect on basal LH and FSH profiles, but was associated with a decrease in the number of goats exhibiting a preovulatory surge of gonadotrophins, reduced magnitude of the surge, and reduced incidence of ovulation. In a further experiment, intravaginal progestagen sponges were used to synchronise oestrus in goats fed maintenance and restricted diets. A single intravenous injection of GnRH (13 μg) was administered 12 days after sponge removal. The magnitude of the surge of gonadotrophins following GnRH administration tended (P < 0.1) to be less in does on restricted feeding than in does on adequate nutrition. Short-term undernutrition appeared to decrease reproductive performance by interfering with gonadotrophin release.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)25-33
    Number of pages9
    JournalAnimal Reproduction Science
    Volume43
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPrint publication - 1 Jan 1996

    Keywords

    • Goat
    • Gonadotrophins
    • Undernutrition

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