Reproductive Performance, Cholesterol and Progesterone Status of Garut Ewes Fed Ration Containing Different Levels of Sun Flower Oil

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate reproductive performance, cholesterol, glucose and progesterone of Garut ewes fed rations containing different levels of sun flower oil. Using completely randomized design, four ration treatments were given to thirty two ewes (BW 22.12±1.69 kg) with eight animals for each treatment. Four iso-protein rations were used i.e., control (SFO0) without sun flower oil; SFO2, SFO4 and SFO6 were the same as SFO0 but containing 2, 4 and 6% of sun flower oil, respectively. Estrous synchronization was conducted by double injection of Prostaglandin (PGF2α) 11 days apart before mating. Reproductive performance (litter size, ratio of male to female, mortality), cholesterol and glucose plasma were measured two weeks before mating and at the first month of pregnancy. Progesterone serum concentration were measured on day 25th, 28th and 31st of pregnancy, using radioimmunoassay. Number of embryo was detected using Ultrasonograph detector at the day 18-20th after mating. Result showed that plasma cholesterol concentration of ewes fed control ration was lower than ewes fed rations containing sun flower oil, while glucose concentration two weeks before mating was lower than those at the first month of pregnancy. Progesterone concentration was the same in all treatments on day 25th, 28th and 31st of pregnancy. Pregnancy rate and number of embryo in SFO2 and SFO6 was 75% and lower than in SFO4 (100%). The highest litter size was in SFO4 (225%) similar to the number of embryo detected by USG, with the male to female ratio of 3:1. However, the percentage of embryo mortality was still high (>20%). It is concluded that inclusion of 4% sun flower oil in the ration could improve reproductive performance (litter size and male sex ratio) and cholesterol concentration.