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Contents With an objective to evaluate the follicular dynamics and vascularity changes in follicles and corpus luteum, the ovaries of cyclic Surti buffaloes (n = 9) were examined daily sequentially by transrectal B‐mode and colour flow mode (CFM) ultrasonography starting from the day of oestrus till the onset of next oestrus. Higher proportion of buffaloes evidenced one‐wave cycle (66.66%) compared to two‐wave cycle (33.34%) with none showing a three‐wave cycle. The dominant follicle of the first follicular wave was the ovulatory follicle and persisted for 19.70 ± 0.50 days compared to its persistence for 16.5 ± 1.45 days in a two‐wave cycle. The maximum diameter of the ovulatory follicle in a one‐wave and two‐wave cycle did not differ yet their linear growth rates were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in a one‐wave cycle. Colour flow mode examination of follicles revealed that the percentage of follicles with detectable blood flow in the subsequently determined largest follicle (dominant follicle) was not different from that in the second largest follicle before follicle deviation. The blood flow in the dominant follicle increased significantly on the day of oestrus. The mean diameter and blood flow to the corpus luteum (CL) increased linearly and significantly from Day 5 of oestrus till Day 13 after which both parameters started declining. At or around Day 16, there was precipitous fall in the blood supply to the CL and CL diameter that continued declining thereafter to reach the lowest around Day 20 of the oestrous cycle. Rise in plasma progesterone concentrations was synchronous to CL diameter and vascularity and showed significant and positive correlations. It was concluded that Surti buffaloes evidence a preponderance of one‐wave follicular growth pattern with a significant increase in the vascularity of ovulatory follicle on the day of oestrus and corpus luteum on Day 13 of the oestrous cycle.

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Lumpy skin disease (LSD) was reported for the first time in India in 2019 and since then, it has become endemic. Since a homologous (LSD-virus based) vaccine was not available in the country, goatpox virus (GPV)-based heterologous vaccine was authorized for mass immunization against LSD in cattle. This study describes the evaluation of safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated LSD vaccine developed using an Indian field strain (LSDV/India/2019/Ranchi). The virus was attenuated by continuous passage (P=50) in Vero cells. The vaccine (50th LSDV passage in Vero cells, named as Lumpi-ProVacInd) did not induce any local or systemic reaction upon its experimental inoculation in calves (n=10). At day 30 post-vaccination (pv), the vaccinated animals were shown to develop antibody- and cell-mediated immune response and exhibited complete protection upon virulent LSDV challenge. We observed a minimum Neethling response (0.018% animals; 5 out of 26940 animals) of the vaccine in field trials among 26940 animals. There was no significant reduction in the milk yield in lactating animals (n=10108), besides there was no abortion or any other reproductive disorder in the pregnant animals (n=2889). Sero-conversion was observed in 85.18% animals in the field by day 30 pv.

Ultrasonographic evaluations of early pregnant Surti buffaloes revealed that the uterine fluid was visible on Day 18 of pregnancy, yet this was not a sure sign of pregnancy. The amniotic vesicle could be detected by Day 26 and was a sure sign of pregnancy. The embryo appeared on Day 26 but with clarity on Day 30. Fetal heart beats were visible from Day 26 and increased significantly (p less than 0.05) from Day 42 compared to Day 30, 34 and 38 of gestation and remained elevated till Day 62 of gestation. The crown rump length (CRL) of the embryo / fetus could be measured using inbuilt callipers starting from Day 30 till Day 58.

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