News from the Midwest Sectional Meetings, March 16-18, 1998, Des Moines, Iowa
Contact:
Jay Daniel or Duane Keisler, University of Missouri (573) 882-7267
Joe Marks, (573) 882-6546
Ewes probably need full treatment of MGA to breed out of season
COLUMBIA, Mo. – To get ewes to breed out of season, sheep producers would probably have to feed MGA for seven days straight. A shorter time may not do the job, according to researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
MGA is melangestrol acetate, which acts like progesterone, the pregnancy hormone, MU doctoral student Jay Daniel said in a report this week to the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Sciences.
Breeding out of season can help get three lamb crops every two years instead of just one a year. Producers should first consult with a veterinarian about the use of MGA, Daniel said. Then they should plan to feed it to ewes for seven days straight.
"We tried feeding it just one day. It didn't work," said Daniel, who conducted the research with Duane Keisler, MU animal scientist. "Then we tried injecting progesterone. That worked a little, but nowhere near as well as feeding MGA for seven days."
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On Internet at: http://etcs.ext.missouri.edu/agebb/news. On the Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board in the Columbia dialing area at (573)882-8289 or at 1-800-862-4322 outside Columbia. Voice assistance for AgEBB at (573)882-4827.