Fertility in Ewes Receiving Low Doses of Estradiol during Synchronized Estrus

Two experiments were conducted to test whether exogenous estradiol given during an estrus synchronized by intravaginal treatment with progestogen would alter conception rate or prolificacy in Western and Dorset × Western ewes. In 126 ewes mated naturally and 93 ewes inseminated artificially, treatment of one-half of the ewes with a total dose of 30 μg estradiol-17β had no effect on conception rate, prolificacy or lambing rate.