Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias
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16 t h International Congress on Animal <strong>Reproduction</strong><br />
132 Poster Abstracts<br />
P315<br />
Supression of ovarian cyclic function and estrous<br />
behaviour <strong>in</strong> captive African lionesses (Panthera leo)<br />
<strong>in</strong>duced by the use of subcutaneous implants of the<br />
GnRH agonist, <strong>de</strong>slorel<strong>in</strong><br />
Guimaraes, MABV 1 *, Pizzutto, CS 1 , Braga, DPAF 2 , Correa, SHR 3 , Oliveira,<br />
CA 1 , Trigg, TE 4<br />
1Animal <strong>Reproduction</strong>, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; 2 Fertility Dept,<br />
Assisted Fertilization Center, Brazil,; 3 Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Division, Sao Paulo Zoo,<br />
Brazil; 4 Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director, Peptech Animal Health Limited, Australia<br />
Captive ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of large carnivores can produce overpopulation,<br />
especially with highly prolific species such African lions.This<br />
condition tends to promote the <strong>in</strong>breed<strong>in</strong>g of captive <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g to a reduction of the genetic diversity. The <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
captive population also br<strong>in</strong>gs the problem of space availability and<br />
the consequent <strong>in</strong>crease of fights between captive animals.The aim of<br />
this work was to achieve suppression of the ovarian cyclic function<br />
and the estrous behaviour <strong>in</strong> captive African lionesses (Panthera leo)<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g subcutaneous implants of the GnRH agonist <strong>de</strong>slorel<strong>in</strong>. Four<br />
captive adult lionesses, with successful breed<strong>in</strong>g history, were treated<br />
with subcutaneous implants conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g 9.4mg <strong>de</strong>slorel<strong>in</strong> acetate<br />
(Suprelor<strong>in</strong> 12®, Peptech Animal Health Pty Limited, Australia).<br />
They were followed us<strong>in</strong>g serial collection, extraction and dosage of<br />
fecal metabolites of estradiol and progesterone dur<strong>in</strong>g 36 months. The<br />
occurrence of estrous behaviour along the same period of time was<br />
recor<strong>de</strong>d, as well. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the whole period of the study, an adult<br />
vasectomised male African lion was kept with<strong>in</strong> the group <strong>in</strong> or<strong>de</strong>r to<br />
<strong>de</strong>tect heat. It was <strong>de</strong>monstrated that the effect of suppression of<br />
ovarian cyclicity and estrous behaviour were achieved <strong>in</strong> all lionesses<br />
and it lasted for 22 and 31 months for two of the animals and more<br />
than 36 months for the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g two. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the time of this study it<br />
was observed marked reduction of aggression and improvement of the<br />
general body condition. These results strongly suggest that the<br />
<strong>de</strong>slorel<strong>in</strong> implants can be used for reversible contraception and<br />
reduction of aggression <strong>in</strong> captive lionesses.<br />
P316<br />
Effect of a natural diet on the health and reproductive<br />
success of captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda<br />
melanolueca)<br />
Hou, R*<br />
Research Center, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breed<strong>in</strong>g, Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
The natural diet of giant pandas consists nearly entirely of bamboo. In<br />
the 52 years of ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g giant pandas <strong>in</strong> captivity <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a,<br />
however, the diet of these animals has conta<strong>in</strong>ed a significant amount<br />
of concentrated food items such as bov<strong>in</strong>e milk, eggs, beef, corn, rice<br />
and wheat. On this diet, captive giant pandas suffer from chronic<br />
diarrhea and frequent bouts of <strong>in</strong>test<strong>in</strong>al pa<strong>in</strong> and mucous faeces. In<br />
September 2005, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda<br />
Breed<strong>in</strong>g (Chengdu Panda Base) changed the diet of all its adult and<br />
subadult giant pandas from the traditional captive diet to one<br />
comprised almost entirely of bamboo and bamboo shoots. In the two<br />
years s<strong>in</strong>ce this nutritional adjustment, the health and reproductive<br />
success of the pandas at the Chengdu Panda Base has improved<br />
dramatically. The animals no longer have diarrhea, the occurrence of<br />
mucous faeces is rare, faecal quality and quantity have improved, the<br />
duration of post-wean<strong>in</strong>g diarrhea <strong>in</strong> cubs has <strong>de</strong>creased significantly,<br />
with no new cases of chronic diarrhea, and the body weights of adult<br />
pandas have <strong>in</strong>creased. Prelim<strong>in</strong>ary data compar<strong>in</strong>g male reproductive<br />
function on the traditional diet with that on the bamboo diet suggests<br />
that testicular volume <strong>in</strong>creased from 337.6 cm3 to 446.3 cm3 and<br />
abnormal sperm <strong>de</strong>creased from 54.6% to 28.7%. The number of live<br />
births has also improved greatly. In the seven years from 1999 to<br />
2005, live births averaged 63.3% per breed<strong>in</strong>g female (19/30). In 2006<br />
and 2007, these figures <strong>in</strong>creased to 92.9% (13/14). In conclusion, a<br />
natural diet that allows ad libitum consumption of bamboo and<br />
bamboo shoots and m<strong>in</strong>imal supplementation with concentrates is<br />
important to the health and reproductive success of captive giant<br />
pandas.<br />
P317<br />
Successful production of Koala pouch young follow<strong>in</strong>g AI<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g electroejaculated and exten<strong>de</strong>d-chilled semen<br />
Johnston, SD 1 *; Allen, C 1 ; Burridge, M 2 ; Mulhall, S 3 ; Holt, W 4 ; Carrick, F 1 ;<br />
Lundie-Jenk<strong>in</strong>s, G 5 ; Curlewis, J 1<br />
1The University of Queensland, Australia; 2 Dreamworld, Australia; 3 Currumb<strong>in</strong><br />
Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia; 4 Institute of Zoology, England; 5 Environmental<br />
Protection Agency (Queensland), Australia<br />
Artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong> the koala us<strong>in</strong>g chilled electroejaculated<br />
semen provi<strong>de</strong>s for a marked improvement <strong>in</strong> the reproductive and<br />
genetic management of captive colonies of koalas <strong>in</strong> Australia and<br />
overseas, as well as mak<strong>in</strong>g available the option of us<strong>in</strong>g semen<br />
collected from wild populations to expand restricted gene pools.<br />
Dilution of koala semen for artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation is complicated by<br />
this species be<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>duced ovulator and it is thought that ovulation<strong>in</strong>duc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
factors are present <strong>in</strong> the semen, so that semen extension for<br />
preservation purposes might be anticipated to result <strong>in</strong> a failure to<br />
<strong>in</strong>duce ovulation. This study was <strong>de</strong>signed to <strong>de</strong>term<strong>in</strong>e whether<br />
artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation us<strong>in</strong>g undiluted, exten<strong>de</strong>d and exten<strong>de</strong>d-chilled<br />
semen collected by electroejaculation was capable of <strong>in</strong>duc<strong>in</strong>g a luteal<br />
phase and/or the production of pouch young. In Experiment 1, 1 mL<br />
of undiluted electroejaculated semen, 2 mL of 1:1 diluted semen and 1<br />
mL of 1:1 diluted semen resulted <strong>in</strong> 7/9, 6/9 and 6/9 koalas show<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
luteal phase respectively; <strong>in</strong> each treatment 4 pouch young were<br />
produced. A second artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation experiment was conducted<br />
<strong>in</strong> which 2 mL of diluted (1:1) semen was <strong>de</strong>posited <strong>in</strong> 3 groups of 9<br />
koalas. The first group received semen that had been collected and<br />
diluted immediately without chill<strong>in</strong>g, the second group received<br />
semen stored chilled for 24 h, while the f<strong>in</strong>al group was <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ated<br />
with exten<strong>de</strong>d ejaculates that had been chilled for 72 h. In the first<br />
group, 5 females had a luteal phase but none gave birth. In the second<br />
group, 2 of the 5 females that had a luteal phase gave birth, while <strong>in</strong><br />
the third group, 4 of the 6 females that had a luteal phase produced<br />
pouch young. These experiments have shown that it is possible to use<br />
undiluted, exten<strong>de</strong>d or exten<strong>de</strong>d-chilled semen to produce koala<br />
offspr<strong>in</strong>g at conception rates similar to those achieved follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
natural mat<strong>in</strong>g. These f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs represent a significant advance <strong>in</strong> the<br />
use of reproductive technology <strong>in</strong> marsupials and provi<strong>de</strong> the basis for<br />
the shipment of koala semen over long distances. The pouch young<br />
produced <strong>in</strong> this study represent the first marsupials born follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation us<strong>in</strong>g exten<strong>de</strong>d-chilled semen and br<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
total number of koalas produced by artificial <strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ation to 31.<br />
P318<br />
Hierarchical structure effect over reproductive function <strong>in</strong><br />
captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu)<br />
Mayor, P 1 , Couron, E 2 , Jori, F 3 , Manteca, FX 4 , Lopez-Bejar, M 1 *<br />
1Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autonoma <strong>de</strong> Barcelona,<br />
Spa<strong>in</strong>; 2 Station Expérimentale <strong>de</strong> Soucoumou,, Chambre d’Agriculture <strong>de</strong><br />
Guyane, French Guiana; 3 Tropical Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Medic<strong>in</strong>e and Production,<br />
CIRAD, France; 4 Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autonoma <strong>de</strong><br />
Barcelona, Spa<strong>in</strong><br />
Introduction The social organization may <strong>in</strong>fluence physiological<br />
functions, especially the reproductive one. Thus, the study of the<br />
effect of hierarchical structure of the herd on reproductive function is<br />
essential to improve the efficacy of animal captive breed<strong>in</strong>g systems.<br />
A great variation <strong>in</strong> the reproductive performance of different captive<br />
collared peccary females, and the presence <strong>in</strong> general of two k<strong>in</strong>ds of<br />
females has been reported: females with a good reproductive success<br />
and cont<strong>in</strong>uous reproductive function, and females with no<br />
reproductive event. The aim of this study was to <strong>de</strong>term<strong>in</strong>e the<br />
relationship between the dom<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>x status and the estrous<br />
cyclicity of collared peccary females ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> captivity.<br />
Material and methods Twelve collared peccary females were kept <strong>in</strong><br />
captivity on an experimental farm of Chambre d’Agriculture <strong>de</strong><br />
Guyane at Soucoumou, Kourou (French Guyana). Four experimental<br />
groups, composed by 3 females and 1 male, were established <strong>in</strong><br />
paddocks with an area of 6.09 m2, which resulted <strong>in</strong> an average<br />
occupied space of 1.52 m2 per animal. Dur<strong>in</strong>g an experimental period