Welcome to the clinical conference 

presentation

Topic of interest
Effect of Photoperiod on
Reproduction of Sheep and
Horse
Santosh Dhakal
B.V.Sc. and A.H. 9th  sem.
Roll no: 25
Photoperiod and Photoperiodicity

Duration of light an animal is exposed to, in a day.

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 Long day photoperiod (LDPP) :-16 - 18L / 6- 8D

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 Short day photoperiod (SDPP) :- 8L / 16D
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 Photoperiodicity is the physiological reaction of organisms
to the length of day or night.
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 What body does against or in accordance with light or
darkness is photoperiodicity.
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Photoperiod and reproduction
 Photoperiod regulates cyclicity in seasonal breeders.
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 Seasonal breeders are those animals which become ready for
breeding only on a particular season
 Short day breeders: those breed in short photoperiod
 Long day breeders: those breed in long photoperiod

 The mammalian pineal gland ( third eye) appears to be a major

endocrine component in the regulation of photoperiodic
responses.
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 Pineal gland produces melatonin ( dark hormone) in response

to photoperiod that controls GnRH and LH synthesis
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Photoperiod and melatonin synthesis
 Melatonin is hormone of darkness. So melatonin production
is less during long photoperiod and high in short

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photoperiod.
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 It is synthesized from serotonin in two steps

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 The mechanism behind this pattern of secretion during the

dark cycle is that activity of the rate-limiting enzyme in
melatonin synthesis - serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT)
- is low during daylight and peaks during the dark phase.
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Seasonality in Sheep and Horse

 Most sheep are seasonally polyestrous and short-

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day breeders.
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 It is because in sheep melatonin enhances GnRH

synthesis.
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 Most horses are also seasonally polyestrous but
long day breeders.

 In horse melatonin suppresses GnRH synthesis.
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 Effect of short photoperiod
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Sheep Horse
 Short photoperiod ( decrease light)
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 Firing of retinal nerves
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 Excitation from superior cervical ganglion

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 Pineal gland activity (NAT enzyme)

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 Melatonin
symbol:
 Enhance GnRH
 Suppress
 FSH / LH 7
 seasonal cyclicity. Seasonal anestrous.
Ef fect of long Photoperiod

Sheep Horse
 Long photoperiod ( increase light)
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 Firing of retinal nerves
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 Excitation from superior cervical ganglion

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 Pineal gland ( NAT synthesis)

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 Melatonin
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 GnRH
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 FSH /LH
 seasonal anestrous seasonal cyclicity.8
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During non- breeding season
In male In female
Sperm production  Ovaries are inactive.

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decreases. No dominant follicles are 
Abnormal spermatozoa  present.
increases. No behavioral estrous.
Fertility decreases.

During breeding season
In male
Sperm production increases.
Abnormal spermatozoa decreases.
Fertility increases.
In female
Ovaries are active.
Follicles are present.
Behavioral estrous.

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Artificial management of photoperiod
to control reproduction

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 In sheep and horse, photoperiod can be
altered artificially to bring them in heat.
 In sheep, dark period can be increased to
allow more melatonin synthesis and hence
to allow for reproductive performance or
synthetic melatonin can be
administered.
 In horse, lightening hour should be
increased to bring them into cyclicity.

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Conclusion

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 Photoperiod is responsible for maintaining
seasonality in sheep and horse.
 It affects on reproduction by its action on pineal
gland which synthesizes melatonin.
 Melatonin is synthesized at night.
 In sheep melatonin enhances GnRH synthesis so
sheep are short day breeders.
 In horse melatonin suppresses the synthesis of
GnRH so they are long day breeders.
 Photoperiod can be controlled artificially to drive
the reproductive behavior in our desired
direction.
 However the biasness of
melatonin action on these two 13
species of animal is still a topic
of research.
Bibliography
Anonymous. Seasonality of Reproduction. 2008.
http://www.ttuhsc.edu/som/obgyn/faculty/Prien/Lecture%20notes/ASFT3401
. Retrieved on 2011-5-23.

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Bowen, R.. "The Pineal Gland and Melatonin".2009.
http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/otherendo/p
ineal.html. Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
Barbara A. M. 2011. Absence of a serum melatonin rhythm under
acutely extended darkness in the horse. Journal of Circadian
Rhythm. Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
Choosing the right breeding season for horses.
www.horseandhound.co.uk. Retrived on 2011-5-23.
Goldman and Darrow. The Pineal Gland and Mammalian
Photoperiodism. www.PubMedresult.htm . Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
Hafez E.S.E. and B. Hafez. 2000. Reproduction in Farm Animals. 7th

edition.
Horse breeding. www.horses-and-horseinformation.com Retrieved on
2011-5-23.
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Johnson, M.H., and Barry Everitt. Essential Reproduction.

Blackwell Publications, 1999. Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
McKinnon, A.O. and J. L. Voss. 1993. Equine Reproduction. LEA and

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FEBIGER publication, Philadelphia, London.
Notter, D.R, "Opportunities to Reduce Seasonality of Breeding in

Sheep by Selection". http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/Extenstion.

Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
Reproduction in Horse. www.univet.hu. Retrieved on 2011 -5-23.

Schoenian. "Sheep 201". 2009.

http://www.sheep101.info/201/ewerepro.html. Retrieved on 2011-5-
23.
Seasonal breeding. en. wikipedia.org. Retrieved on 2011-5-23.
Seasonal breeding in sheep. www.ansci.wisc.edu.com Retrieved on
2011-5-23.
Seasonal breeding in Sheep – Mechanism of action of melatonin.

linkinghub.elsevier.com Retrieved on 2011-5-23.

Senger, P.L.. Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition. Pullman:
Current Conceptions, Inc., 2003. 15
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Thank You for Your Patience.
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