~ 375 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2020; 9(6): 375-380 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.03 TPI 2020; 9(6): 375-380 © 2020 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 14-04-2020 Accepted: 17-05-2020 Anil Kumar Pandey Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India Utsav Sharma Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India Anil Kumar Kaul Department of Sheep Husbandry Jammu, Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India Sudhir Kumar Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India Nishi Pande Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India SEH Andrabi PhD Scholar, Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India Corresponding Author: Anil Kumar Pandey Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu Kashmir, India Response to FSH (Folltropin-V) and hCG treatment on superovulation and embryo production in sheep under sub-tropical climate Anil Kumar Pandey, Utsav Sharma, Anil Kumar Kaul, Sudhir Kumar, Nishi Pande and SEH Andrabi DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/tpi.2020.v9.i6f.4796 Abstract The effectiveness of FSH (Folltropin-V) in two different doses (80 mg and 100 mg) with or without use of hCG was assessed on achieving superovulation and embryo production in sheep under sub-tropical climate of India. During the breeding season, 39 crossbred ewes were synchronized using progesterone impregnated intravaginal sponges kept in situ for 12 days. Superovulation treatment was given in two groups (80 mg FSH and 100 mg FSH) in six tapering dose schedule. Each group was subdivided in two groups, without hCG treatment or with hCG treatment 24hrs after removal of progesterone implant, thus making four treatment groups. The ewes were observed for estrus every 4h, on the 5th day following estrus ovarian response was evaluated using rigid laparoscope and ewes showing superovulatory response were subjected to embryo collection using retrograde flushing of uterine horns after catheterization of the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube. No differences were found among the treatment groups in incidence of estrus and percentage of ewes showing superovulatory response. Treatment with hCG improved percent ovulation and fertilization percentage in superovulating ewes at higher dose of FSH (100 mg). Although additional treatment with hCG improved total ovarian response and percent ovulations, the mean number of viable embryos and number of unfertilized ova remained statistically unaffected. It is concluded that the FSH (folltropin-V) at 80 mg in six reducing dose schedule is suitable and economical for superovulation in ewes. Keywords: FSH, Superovulation, hCG, embryo transfer, Folltropin-V 1. Introduction Reproductive biotechnologies have been a boon for increasing productivity of livestock. Multiple ovulation and Embryo transfer (MOET) in sheep, is useful in reducing generation interval and maximizing production of lambs from genetically superior breeding stocks (Wuliji et al., 1995) [58] . The success and economy of MOET programmes largely depends on the donor's ability to produce embryos and the recipient's pregnancy rate. However, this technology is not so popular on the sheep breeding farms due to highly variable response to superovulation treatments and inconsistency in production of quality embryos among various treatments. Superovulation and embryo production in sheep are variable between the ovarian follicular status (Gonzalez-Bulnes et al., 2000) [21] , hormone used (Driancourt and Fry, 1992) [16] , dose schedule (D'Alassandro et al., 2005) [13] , season (Chagas et al., 2003) [9] , re-use of animals (Magarey et al., 2003) [37] etc. Folltropin-V is highly a purified porcine FSH hormone and due to its short half life multiple injections are required to achieve superovulation. The hCG is commonly used as a substitute for LH to initiate luteinisation in the absence of an endogenous LH surge in treated cows and ewes (Kamomae et al., 1989) [29] . It maintains the life span of CL in the treated cows and stimulates the synthesis of progesterone (Litch and Condon, 1988) [32] . It has been tested beneficial in cyclic goats for superovulation using eCG (Urnaru et al., 2013) [55] . Hormonal protocols use for superovulation needs to be standardized at every place for the optimum response and the information on the superovulation of sheep using Folltropin-V in sub-tropical climate is very scanty. The present experiment was aimed to evaluate two doses of FSH (Folltropin-V) with or without additional treatment of hCG in achieving superovulation and embryo production in sheep. Material and Methods The present study was carried on crossbred ewes housed at Sheep Breeding Farm, Panthal,