Résumé:
This thesis explores the effectiveness of heat synchronisation in small ruminants using vaginal sponges. Heat synchronisation is a crucial technique in reproductive management, aimed at improving the productivity of sheep and goat flocks by controlling reproductive cycles.
Firstly, the study involved a survey in the region with veterinarians on the use of the technique in the region in order to obtain a general viewpoint and to find out about the constraints encountered when using the technique.
The study was then carried out on a group of ewes and showed a pregnancy rate of 55% compared with 44%, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method. The use of vaginal sponges is relatively simple and economical, offering a viable alternative to more invasive or expensive techniques. However, a number of factors can influence these results, including the state of health of the ewes, their diet and environmental conditions.
The results of this study are consistent with those reported in the literature, where similar pregnancy rates have been observed with heat synchronisation techniques in small ruminants. This consistency reinforces the validity of the method studied.
During our study we found that the use of the heat synchronisation technique with vaginal sponges in goats is almost non-existent.
The use of vaginal sponges for heat synchronisation in small ruminants has significant potential for optimising reproductive management on sheep farms. However, further research is needed to identify and control the specific factors that influence the effectiveness of this technique, in order to further improve reproductive management practices on farms.
