Effect of dietary supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) rich fish oil on reproductive performance of the goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract Dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFA decreases the luteolytic PGF 2α and improves the pregnancy rate in the dairy cow. However, its effect in the goat is not known. Accordingly, we studied the effect of supplementation of n-3 PUFA rich Fish oil (FO) on different reproductive events in the goat. Cycling goats (n = 30) were divided into two equal groups and fed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet supplemented with either FO (TRT; n = 15) or palm oil (PO) (CON; n = 15) @ 0.6 mL/kg body weight for 72 days during the breeding season. Estrus synchronization was done on day 25 and 36 of supplementation using two PG regimen and the goats in estrus were bred. Mean interval from PGF 2α administration to the onset of estrus was 12 h longer (P  4 ) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Mean concentration of serum estradiol (E 2 ) was significantly (P  2α metabolite (PGFM) and PGE 2 metabolite (PGEM) in the pregnant goats was significantly (P   0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of n-3 PUFA rich FO significantly increased the number of POF and ovulation rate with numerical increase in the kidding rate. Further, it decreased the serum E 2 and PGFM during the critical window of pregnancy recognition in the doe.