The effect of hCG administration on reproductive performance of Alpine goats during the natural breeding season was evaluated. Thirty-two nulliparous and 124 lactating goats, after estrus identification and breeding, were randomly assigned according to the categories to two treatments. In T1 (n=75) and T2 (n=81) the animals received 1 mL of saline solution or 250 IU of hCG intramuscularly, respectively, five days after breeding. Pregnancy was detected and confirmed on days 35 and 70 after breeding by transabdominal ultrasonography (3.5 MHz probe), respectively. Pregnancy rate did not differ between T1 (86.7 %) and T2 (70.6%) for nulliparous and T1 (78.3%) and T2 (84.4%) for lactating does. There were no differences for kidding rate (75.0 and 75.7%), gestation period (150.47 and 150.80 days) and prolificacy (1.75 and 1.80 fetuses) between T1 and T2, respectively. Prolificacy was superior in lactating (1.90) than in nulliparous (1.41) goats. The administration of hCG five days after breeding did not increase reproductive performance in Alpine goats.
goat; hCG; reproductive performance
