Comparing follicle stimulating hormone from two commercial sources for oocyte production from out-of-season dairy goats

Until recently, two sources of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-P; Scherin g-Plough; Kenilworth, NJ and Super-Ov; FSH-SOV; AUSA International, Tyler, TX) have been commercially available in the United States and routinely use d for superovulation of ruminants. Because there have been no comparative f ollicle stimulating hormone studies on small ruminants, we determined the d ifference between the number of follicles induced and the number of oocytes that can subsequently be harvested from goats stimulated with either of th ese two follicle stimulating hormone products. Anestrous Saanen does mere f itted with a progestin implant then randomly assigned to one of two ovarian stimulation groups. Starting 4 d after introducing the progestin implant, donors in treatment 1 were administered daily injections of FSH-P for 4 d. Does in treatment 2 were similarly treated but were administered FSH-SOV fo r 4 d. Follicle aspirations were performed by laparotomy in the morning of treatment d 8. In summary, no difference was detected between the two stimu latory agents for the number of follicles and quality of oocytes harvested from stimulated does, indicating that these two commercial FSH products cou ld be used successfully for ovarian stimulation of anestrous dairy goats.