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THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE OF THE AFRICAN PYGMY AND TOGGENBURG GOAT

Summary.: Using a laparoscopic technique for examination of the ovaries in situ, we have studied the relationship between vaginal cytological oestrus, behavioural oestrus and ovulation in the African Pygmy and Toggenburg goat. Pygmy goat oestrous cycles were found to average 4 days longer than Toggenburg cycles and Pygmy and crossbred goats exhibited vaginal and behavioural symptoms of oestrus lasting nearly a day longer than in Toggenburg goats. Superficial acidophilic and intermediate basophilic cell numbers varied with the stage of the cycle whereas superficial basophilic and intermediate acidophilic cells did not. Ovulation occurred 3·1 days after the appearance of behavioural oestrus in Pygmy goats compared to 4·3 days in the Toggenburg goat.