Promoting viable twin birth on single-bearing ewes in the Arabian Gulf region: reproductive, nutritional, and economic perspectives

Trop Anim Health Prod. 2021 Nov 3;53(6):531. doi: 10.1007/s11250-021-02964-0.

Abstract

Raising sheep and goats in the gulf region is a large entrepreneurial business. This is, of course, derived from the big demands of lamb and goat meats for citizens and expatriates. There is a major population living in the rural desert areas whose main income steps from rising local sheep and goats. Despite large number of farmers into sheep production, the country still imports from foreign countries to meet augment local demand. Thus, improving local sheep production is a means to reduce the importation of sheep from foreign land. The low twinning rates in the main two indigenous breeds (i.e., Najdi and Noemi) in the region motivated the researchers to pursue an avenue for maximizing the neonatal outcomes is a contributing factor to low level of sheep proliferation in the region. Thus, pursuing an avenue for maximizing the neonatal outcome per female is a good strategy. Application of hormonal induction protocol support reproductive efficiency by improving viable twin birth in single-bearing ewes. By applying this method, several sheep raisers could retain their business more effectively.

Keywords: Prolificacy; Reproductive inefficiency; Sheep; Single-bearing ewes; Twinning.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproduction*
  • Sheep* / physiology