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The Use of Melengestrol Acetate as a Strategy to Improve Production Efficiency of Sheep in Rural Areas in Mexico



Author(s)

Jesus Antonio Rojo-Martínez and Guillermo Salas-Razo

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6256/2015.03.009

Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales de la Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Tarímbaro, Michoacán, CP 58880, México

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of melengestrol acetate (MGA) as a strategy to improve the production efficiency in ewes of rural areas in México. Twenty ewes of breeds (Dorper and Dorper with Pelibuey) non-pregnant and with ovarica activity were used. The treatment consisted of the administration of 0.22 mg MGA/ewe/d for 17 d. The MGA efficiency was measured once the treatment finalized, and the producer was responsible for the registration of the estrus presentation and prolificacy rate. 95% of the sheep presented estrus in a period of 14 d after stopping treatment. The prolificacy percentage was of 1.2 lambs born by ewe during a period of six months (including treatment and period of gestation). In conclusion, the use of MGA represents an alternative to improve the efficiency of sheep production in rural areas in México, since it can increase the number of lambs by 30% in a period of 12 months.

Melengestrol acetate, rural areas, sheep, estrus, prolificacy.