Veterinary Archives, Vol. 88 No. 5, 2018.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.0056
Dietary fish oil supplementation improved ovarian function, conceptus growth and certain reproductive variables in Marwari mares
Sanjay K. Ravi
; ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
Harendra Kumar
; ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India
Sumant Vyas
; ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
Krishnaswamy Narayanan
; ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India
Mustafa H. Jan
; ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana, India
Gyanendra Singh
; ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India
Raj K. Singh
; ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India
Ramesh C. Sharma
; ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India
Ram A. Legha
; ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
Bhupendra N. Tripathi
; ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
Abstract
We investigated the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on the development of the ovarian follicles, corpus luteum (CL), conceptus and certain reproductive events in Marwari mares, since it is reported to improve reproduction in cows. Accordingly, non-lactating mares (n = 20) were randomly assigned into two groups (10 per group) and fed either the control diet (CTR) or a diet enriched with fish oil (FOS) to supplement n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) at the rate of 64 mg/kg body weight/day for 70 days or until 45 days post-ovulation in the mares that became pregnant. Estrus was detected using a teaser and insemination was performed using frozen thawed semen in the experimental mares. Development of the ovarian follicle, CL and conceptus were recorded using trans-rectal ultrasonography. Plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were estimated by radioimmunoassay. In the FOS group, the diameter of the largest follicle from day 4 of estrus until ovulation, and the diameter of the CL on day 7 post-ovulation (D7PO) were greater (P<0.05). However, on day 15 post-ovulation (D15PO), the CL diameter increased significantly in the pregnant mares. Dietary fish oil significantly improved the development of the embryo as evidenced by an increase in the diameter of the embryonic vesicle on day 15 post-ovulation (D15PO), and the embryo proper on day 28 post ovulation (D28PO). Further, the mean plasma estradiol concentration was higher on the day of estrus onset (P<0.05) and day 4 of estrus (P<0.01) in the FOS group. Similarly, dietary fish oil significantly increased the plasma progesterone on D15PO in the pregnant mares (P<0.01). Although the duration of estrus was shorter by 19 hours (P<0.05), the length of the estrous cycle did not vary in the FOS group. A non-significant increase in the pregnancy rate was observed in the mares that received fish oil. It was concluded that dietary fish oil supplementation improved ovarian function and embryonic development in the Marwari mares.
Keywords
embryo; fish oil; follicle; mare; n-3 PUFA
Hrčak ID:
206841
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2018.
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