Pubertal onset in the ewe is subject to a multitude of physiological and environmental constraints. As seasonal breeders, sheep rely on decreasing photoperiod to enter puberty and the subsequent breeding periods, hindering production. The initiation of puberty defines the reproductive yield of the ewe, and as such is a critical factor influencing production outcomes. Currently, the misconception that ovine puberty is reliant on age results in ewes being bred at over a year old, leading to a substantial unproductive period between birth and first conception. As such, transcending pubertal barriers to allow for earlier initiation of reproductive competency has significant commercial merit. The primary candidate to achieve this is the neurohormone melatonin, a key factor that naturally signals photoperiodic change that facilitates seasonal remodeling of the ovine hypothalamic-hypophyseal-gonadal axis. Despite being known to modulate reproductive seasonality in both the mature ewe and ram, the ability of melatonin to advance ewe puberty remains underutilized in industry. To optimize melatonin application and shape perceptions of breeding ewe lambs, a greater understanding of pubertal impediments and the natural role of melatonin is warranted. This review examines the physiological role and applications of melatonin to advance ewe puberty, and how this may act in conjunction with other physiological and metabolic cues.

母羊的青春期发作受多种生理和环境限制。作为季节性繁殖者，绵羊依靠降低的光周期进入青春期和随后的繁殖期，从而阻碍了生产。青春期的开始定义了母羊的繁殖产量，因此是影响生产结果的关键因素。当前，对绵羊青春期依赖年龄的误解导致母羊的繁殖年龄超过一岁，导致从出生到第一次受孕之间的绝大部分生产期。因此，超越青春期障碍以允许较早地开始生殖能力具有重要的商业价值。实现这一目标的主要候选人是神经激素褪黑激素，一个自然地发出光周期变化信号的关键因素，它促进了绵羊下丘脑-垂体-性腺-性腺轴的季节性重塑。尽管已知其能调节成熟母羊和公羊的繁殖季节，但褪黑激素促进母羊青春期的能力在工业上仍未得到充分利用。为了优化褪黑激素的应用和繁殖母羊羔羊的形状感知，有必要对青春期的障碍和褪黑激素的天然作用有更深入的了解。这篇综述探讨了褪黑激素在促进母羊青春期中的生理作用和应用，以及它可能如何与其他生理和代谢线索一起发挥作用。褪黑激素促进母羊青春期的能力在工业中仍未得到充分利用。为了优化褪黑激素的应用和繁殖母羊羔羊的形状感知，有必要对青春期的障碍和褪黑激素的自​​然作用有更深入的了解。这篇综述探讨了褪黑激素在促进母羊青春期中的生理作用和应用，以及它可能如何与其他生理和代谢线索一起发挥作用。褪黑激素促进母羊青春期的能力在工业中仍未得到充分利用。为了优化褪黑激素的应用和繁殖母羊羔羊的形状感知，有必要对青春期的障碍和褪黑激素的天然作用有更深入的了解。这篇综述探讨了褪黑激素在促进母羊青春期中的生理作用和应用，以及它如何与其他生理和代谢线索一起发挥作用。