Abstract
Precocious estrus was induced in goats by daily subcutaneous administration of 50 i.u. oxytocin BID on Days 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the estrus cycle. The mean (± SEM) length of the cycle in oxytocin-treated goats was 6.4±0.3 d, significantly (P<0.001) shorter than that of 19.8±0.3 d in saline-treated controls. Peripheral plasma concentrations of LH and estradiol-17β did not differ at induced and natural estrus. Mating with a fertile buck during the induced estruses resulted in pregnancy in two out of three goats.