The effect of the laparoscopic insemination technique on the oestrous cycle of the ewe.

This investigation was designed to determine whether or not the technique of intrauterine insemination affects the length of the subsequent oestrous cycle. Dorper ewes (n = 31) were divided into treatment and control groups. All the ewes were synchronised using 40 mg fluorogestone acetate intravaginal sponges for 14 d and 300 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin on the day of sponge removal. A standard semen diluent was deposited laparoscopically in each uterine horn of ewes in the treatment group. Teaser rams were used to detect oestrus. Progesterone profiles were used to confirm oestrus. The mean oestrous cycle length of 17.83 +/- 0.69 d for the group in which the diluent was deposited by laparoscopy did not differ significantly (P less than 0.1) from the 18.36 +/- 2.11 d of the control group. The technique of laparoscopic insemination did not influence the length of subsequent oestrous cycles.