Effect of cervical flora during breeding season on future fertility in Iraqi Awassi ewes

Abstract

Seventeen Iraqi pluriparous healthy Awassi 3-5 years old ewes were included in this study during breeding season selected randomly from flock with relatively low fertility to investigate effect of cervical microflora during breeding season on pregnancy rate, swabs for bacteriological examination collected from cervix pre natural insemination. The study results revealed 100% positive swabs culture with single, double and triple types of isolated microorganisms on culture and different pregnancy rates achieved, 41.17%, 47.05% and 11.76% subsequently. Single, double and triple isolated microorganisms of cervical swabs significantly (p<0.01) affect pregnancy rate of ewes, while no significant differences found in between these isolates on pregnancy rate. In conclusion: The study showed influence of microorganisms and combinations in the cervix during breeding season on pregnancy rate of ewes.