The urinary excretion of 5β-pregnane-3α : 20α-diol and gestational failure in Angora goats

Abstract

The urinary excretion of pregnanediol has been studied over the full period of gestation in a group of twenty Angora ewes. A comparison is drawn between animals in which conception presumably did not occur, those which kidded normally producing strong healthy kids, and those which produced weak undersized young, stillborn kids or aborted before term. Evidence is presented suggesting that abortion, prenatal and some instances of neonatal mortality in these animals are associated with deficient luteal function and progesterone secretion during the first third of the gestational period. The urinary excretion of pregnanediol during this period appears to be a useful prognostic guide as to the outcome of gestation in pregnant Angora ewes.