HONNAPPAGOL, SURESH STANDLE, MANIK KISHANRAO2019-09-272019-09-272001No . of references 208http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810129532The cyclic ewes were supplemented with progesterone, GnRH and during the luteal phase of the cycle following breeding. The supplementation of progesterone and hCG during the luteal phase of cycle did not register any significant difference in the levels of progesterone in relation to the untreated control group. However, these levels were marginally higher in treated ewes on the contrary mean plasma following GnRH therapy was 2.45 ± 0.33 as against 1.38 ± 0.07 ng/m! in the control group. The ewes that were confirmed pregnant registered significantly higher level of progesterone on day 23 of the cycle in relation to day 0 and the respective levels were 3.01 ± 0.33 and 0.31 ± 0.05 ng/ml. The lambing percentage in GnRH treated was 83.33 followed by 66.67 in hCG; 50.00 in late luteal progesterone supplementation and 16.67 in early luteal progesterone supplemented ewes. The cost of therapy ranged between Rs. 7.80 to 46.90 per ewe. The supplementation of graded doses of eCG on day 9 of the cycle combined with PGF2 alpha on day 11 and fixed doses of hCG at estrus were tried to improve fertility and fecundity in sheep. The mean plasma estradiol 17-beta on day of natural estrus ranged between 3.78 + 0.58 to 6.42 ± 1.26 as against 7.57 ± 1.93 to 10.14 ± 2.36 pg/ml at superovulation estrus. The mean plasma progesterone levels at natural and superovulation estrus ranged between 0.27 ± 0.02 to 0.31 ± 0.07 and 0.30 ± 0.06 to 0.43 ± 0.04 ng/ml respectively. The ewes supplemented with 200 to 400 IU of eCG on day 9 registered significantly higher levels of progesterone on day 10 while this increase was marginal in the ewes supplemented with 200 and 300 IU of eCG. The mean plasma progesterone levels following PGF2 alpha dramatically came down to basal level within 24 hr of PGF2 alpha administration. The pregnant group of ewes registered significantly higher level of progesterone on day 23 of the cycle in relation to day of estrus and the respective levels were 2.26 ± 0.23 and 0.34 ± 0.04 ng/ml. The lambing percentage was only 33.33 in the untreated control ewes as against a range of 57.14 to 85.71 in the combined eCG, PGF2 alpha and hCG therapies. The cost of these hormonal treatments ranged between Rs. 94.60 to 184.20 per ewe.ennullThesis