The effect of flushing with fatty acid supplementation in ewes ration on folliculogenesis

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of flushing with different fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from lemuru fish oil in the rations of local sheep on folliculogenesis. Sixteen ewes divided into 4 groups fed rations T0=basal ration; T1=flushing rations containing linoleic without enriched EPA and DHA; T2=flushing rations containing linoleic enriched with EPA and DHA, T3=flushing rations containing linoleic enriched with EPA and DHA with two times from maintenance requirement. Ratio forages and concentrates in the ration were 30%:70%. The parameter observed were body weight gain (BWG), body condition score (BCS), nutrient consumption, corpus luteum, diameter and amount of follicle, blood cholesterol, and blood glucose. The data obtained are analyzed by analysis of variance follow by Duncan Test. The results showed that the treatments did not significant effect to the dry matter consumption, protein, fiber, and total digestible nutrient, but significantly effect to fat consumptions (P<0.05). Flushing treatment for three weeks increased BCS from 0.75 to 0.87. There were significant effect to large follicles, the diameters of large follicle and corpus luteum. Plasma glucose and cholesterol concentrations during the flushing period have significantly different (P< 0.05) among all treatments.