Relationship between electrical resistance of cervical mucus and ovarian steroid concentration at the time of artificial insemination in ewes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether fertile or non-fertile inseminations (AI) in synchronized ewes are correlated with the electrical resistance of cervical mucus (ERCM) and the ovarian steroid concentration. AIs were performed either at fixed-time (group A) or after estrus detection (group B). Retrospective analysis revealed that at AI, pregnant ewes had lower ERCM values and progesterone concentrations than non-pregnant ones (p < 0.05). It appears that ERCM may be used as an additional index for fertility enhancement of inseminated ewes. (C) 2014 Society for Biology of Reproduction & the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.