This study was attempted to identify subfertile bulls by quantifying the endogenous levels of osteopontin (OPN), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma of buffalo bulls. On the basis of conception rate, buffalo bulls were classified into two groups: high-fertile (conception rate >50%) and subfertile bulls (conception rate <40%). A total of 100 ejaculates (10 ejaculates from each bull) were collected through artificial vagina method. The concentration of OPN, TAC and catalase (CAT) of high-fertile bulls was found to be higher (p < .05) than that of subfertile bulls. Further, MDA level in seminal plasma was found to be lower (p < .05) in high-fertile bulls compared with subfertile bulls. The fertility status had no effect on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration in seminal plasma of both the groups. The levels of OPN (r = .678, p = 0.013) and TAC (r = .648, p = .042) were found to be positively correlated with bull fertility and the level of MDA (r = -.718, p = .019) was found to be negatively correlated with bull fertility. However, the fertility of bulls was not found to be significantly correlated with SOD, CAT and sperm motility. In conclusion, seminal OPN, TAC and MDA tended to be more realistic in identification of subfertile bulls from breeding herds.
Background: Vitamins A and E are unable to get synthesized by animal’s body and due to unavailability of sufficient green fodder in the ration, supplementation is required. Buffaloes are the major milk producer dairy animal in India and hence a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supplementing vitamin A and E on the colostrum composition of peri-parturient Murrah buffaloes.
Methods: Twenty-two multiparous Murrah buffaloes during their advance stage of pregnancy (-30 day) were selected and divided into three groups i. e. control (C, n=8), treatment 1 (T1, n=7) and treatment 2 (T2, n=7) based on the most probable producing ability of milk, parity and body weights. Buffaloes were fed either control diet (C) or supplemented with vitamin A and E @ 75,000 IU and 1,500 IU/day, respectively, in group T1 and @ 1,50,000 IU and 3,000 IU/day, respectively in group T2. Colostrum samples were collected from one day after parturition up to day 5th after calving and analysed for fat, protein, lactose, solid-not-fat and total solids.
Result: Supplementation of vitamin A and E at a higher level (T2) was helpful to increase (P less than 0.05) colostrum protein levels for first three days and total solids percentage for first two days as compared to control, while colostrum lactose and solid not fat % were high (P less than 0.05) in T1 groups as compared to control at day third only. The fat percentage had a reducing tendency (P less than 0.05) in control and T1 group and total solids in the T1 group only with the advancement of the post-parturient period. Based on the findings of the study, it may be concluded that vitamins A and E supplementation had a positive influence on the colostrum composition of peri-parturient Murrah buffaloes.
This study was designed to investigate the relationship of temperament with oestrus, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post-partum buffaloes. For this study, 102 post-partum Murrah buffaloes were observed for temperament in open paddock and during milking. Based on the temperament score (1-5 score), they were classified into docile, slightly restless, restless, aggressive and nervous. Oestrous behaviour was monitored twice daily in all the buffaloes along with milk yield (weekly), body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) at day 0, 30, 60 and 90 post-partum. Based on the temperament score, the number of buffaloes classified as docile, slightly restless, restless and aggressive was 37 (36.27%), 28 (27.45%), 30 (29.41%) and 7 (6.86%), respectively, but none under nervous category. Number of buffaloes resuming cyclicity in various temperaments groups were as follows: docile (n = 35; 94.59%), slightly restless (n = 22; 78.57%), restless (n = 20; 66.67%) and aggressive (n = 7; 85.71%). Temperament was not correlated (p = .128; r=-.152) with oestrous behaviour. But, temperament was correlated (p < .0001; r = .384) with the resumption of cyclicity as docile and slightly restless buffaloes resumed cyclicity (p < .0016) earlier. Temperament of buffaloes was weakly correlated (p = .0017; r=-.306) with milk production with higher (p < .0358) total milk yield in docile (1022 ± 23.75 kg) and slightly restless buffaloes (948 ± 35.86 kg) as compared to other temperament groups. In summary, temperament of post-partum buffaloes was related with resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield, but not oestrous behaviour.
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