Effect of Intravenous Glucose Injection and Nutritional Flushing on Reproductive Performance and Twinning Rate in Moghani Ewes Crossed with Bakhtiari Rams

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an integrated reproductive management protocol, focusing on intravenous glucose injection and nutritional flushing, on the twinning rate of Moghani ewes crossed with Bakhtiari rams. Methods: The field trial was conducted in April ۲۰۲۰ near Bojnurd, Iran, involving ۲۴ multiparous Moghani ewes (average parity ۳). The ewes were divided into a glucose-treated group (n=۱۷) and a control group (n=۷). All ewes underwent a ۱۲-day estrus synchronization using Pfizer CIDR and ۲.۵ cc Hipra PMSG. A two-phase flushing program (۱۰ days of restriction followed by a ۶۰% high-concentrate diet) was implemented. For the treatment group, ۱۰ cc of ۱۰% intravenous glucose was administered daily for ۳ days prior to ram introduction. A ۳-day fence-line ram effect was applied before natural mating with Bakhtiari rams. Results: The protocol resulted in a ۱۰۰% lambing rate. In the glucose-treated group, ۷ out of ۱۷ ewes produced twins, achieving a twinning rate of ۴۱.۱%, while the remaining ۵۸.۹% produced single lambs. No cases of dystocia or clinical complications were recorded. The results indicate that the combination of acute metabolic signaling (glucose) and nutritional flushing significantly enhances the prolificacy of Moghani ewes compared to standard breed averages. Conclusion: The findings suggest that short-term intravenous glucose administration is a practical and effective metabolic stimulus to increase twinning rates in sheep. This protocol offers a viable strategy for producers to optimize lamb output and biological efficiency in semi-intensive sheep production systems during the transitional breeding season

کلیدواژه ها:

Estrus synchronization ، Flushing diet ، Metabolic signaling ، Prolificacy ، Sheep reproduction