Short-term betacarotene supplementation positively affects ovarian follicular development and ovulation rate in goats

This study evaluated the effect of short-term betacarotene supplementation in goats upon ovarian activity. Adult goats (n=22, 34 mo.) were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups: 1) Betacarotene (BETA, n=10) and 2) Control (CONT, n=12). Once estrually synchronized with P4-vaginal sponges, the BETA group received 50 mg of betacarotene on a daily basis during 35 d pre- and 17 d post-ovulation. Once ovulation occurred, towards the end of the late luteal phase (d 18), transrectal ultrasonographic scanning was performed in all animals to evaluate total follicles (FT), corpus luteum number (CLT) and total ovarian activity (TOA). The BETA group goats had higher ovarian activity (P=0.07). Results suggest that betacarotene supplementation positively affected ovarian activity in goat.