THE SYNERGISTIC ACTION OF PROGESTERONE ADMINISTRA TION AND FLUSHING IN OSSIMI EWES

Three groups of Ossimi ewes were flushed by feeding a concen trate ration for 4 weeks before treatment with progesterone.
The first group (A)was considered as control while the others (B&C) were intramuscularly injected with 15 mg. and 20 mg. progesterone, respectively: every other day for 8 occasions.
Ewes detected in heat were artificially inseminated twice during the period ranged from 6 to 24 hours from the onset of heat.Smears were taken from the cervix of each ewe to assure the occurrence of heat by the presence of large sized arborization.
The results could be summarized in the following: 1-20mg.progesterone could cease the incidence of estrus in Ossimi
ewes, after flushing, for a period of more one estrous cycle. 2-The same dose could shorten the number of days used to insemin
ate all the females in group C (7 days) if compared to the other
two groups A & B which needed 13 and 10 days, respectively. 3-The percentage of lambing was higher in group C (142.22.)
than in groups A and B (125.00 and 123.53%, respectively.) Thus the use of 20 mg, progesterone was recommended to be satisfactorily synchronize the estrous cycle in Ossimi ewes in order to increase the incidence of lambing especially after
flushing