Induction of Oestrus With Single or Split Ecg Administrations in Turkish Van Cats During the Non-Breeding Season

Abstract

Effects of equine chrionic gonadotrophin (eCG) upon reproductive traits of Van cats during the non-breeding season were investigated herein. In the non-breeding season (October), a total of 18 queens were divided equally into three experimental groups, as follows: one ml of 0.9% saline solution, as single placebo injection (intramuscularly, i.m.) was given to queens, as control (Group I, n=6), while single (250 IU, i.m.) or split dose of eCG (75 IU/daily for 5 d) was injected in Group II and III (n=6 each), respectively. Data from the rates of oestrus, days of mating, pregnancy, parturition, litter size, survival of kittens and lactation period were recorded. The oestrus rates (100% both) in Groups II and III were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in controls (33.3±21.1%). Days of mating (9.0±1.0, 4.7±0.7 and 5.8±0.4 d) were significantly (P≤0.01) different between the groups (Group I, II and III, resp.). Pregnancy period (65.8±0.5 d) was significantly (P<0.05) longer in Group III ((65.8±1.0 d) than in Group II (62.4±1.0 d) and controls (62.5±0.5 d). The litter size tended (p=0.062) to be higher in Group II (4.6) than those in Group III (2.6) and controls (3.0). Finally, the lactation period (105.2±2.6 d) was significantly (P<0.05) longer in Group III than those in Group II (94.6±1.7 d) and controls (95.0±5.0 d). Findings suggest that; both single and split eCG injections were equally highly effective for induction of fertile oestrus in endemic Van cats in non-breeding season.