INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF ROYAL JELLY IN OVARIAN ACTIVITY AND OVULATORY RATE OF PELIBUEY SHEEP

Abstract

Royal jelly (RJ) is a substance secreted by bees (Apis mellifera L.) that improves some reproductive characteristics in different species. The objective of this study was to determine whether the administration of 500 mg of RJ intravenously during seven days before retiring a progestogen influences the synchronization, beginning and duration of estrus, the follicular population and the ovulatory rate of Pelibuey sheep. Twelve Pelibuey sheep of 1.5±0.32 years of age were used, in which an intravaginal device impregnated with progesterone (CIDR P4 0.3 g) was inserted, for nine days. Seven days before withdrawing the device, the sheep were assigned randomly to one of two treatments: T1=(CIDR) (n=6) and T2=(CIDR+500 mg of RJ for seven days) (n=6). No difference was observed (p>0.05) between treatments in the synchronization, estrus duration, and small follicles as well as medium ones. The time until the start of estrus was lower (p<0.05) in the sheep with RJ (49.08±2.09 h), with regards to those treated only with progesterone (54.08±1.35 h). The population of large follicles >4mm (0.83±0.43) and the ovulatory rate (2.83±0.16) were higher (p<0.05) in sheep with RJ compared to those to which only progestogens (0±0.43 and 1.83±0.16, respectively), were applied. The RJ can be an alternative for the reproductive management of sheep production units, since it decreases the time until the beginning of estrus and increases the number of large follicles >4mm and the ovulatory rate in Pelibuey sheep.