Y-chromosomal variation in the water buffalo was analysed by sequencing of DBY, ZFY and SRY gene segments. A clear separation of the paternal lineages of the river and swamp types parallels the differences between their maternal lineages and nuclear DNA. Sequence divergence was found to be comparable to the divergence of taurine cattle and zebu, and this divergence predated domestication, confirming that river and swamp buffalo originated from different wild populations. Within a sample of 23 Thai swamp buffaloes, we identified four haplotypes with different geographical distributions, two of which were shared by Thai wild buffaloes.

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Transplantation of canine amniotic membrane (AM) in conjunction with a third eyelid flap was performed after the removal of large dermoids by keratectomy and conjunctivectomy on 7 eyes of 7 dogs. Corneal epithelialization was completed within 2 weeks after the transplantation. Five eyes attained normal transparency of the cornea within 5 weeks. Slight pigmentation of the bulbar conjunctiva at the limbus was observed in 1 dog that had pre-existing pigmentary keratitis. Neovascularization and scarring of the cornea and impaired vision were not found in any dogs at 8 weeks after the transplantation. In conclusion, transplantation of canine AM can promote corneal healing after the excision of large dermoids in dogs.

This study characterized follicular activity and oestrous behaviour from 5 to 9 days post-calving up to the 4th ovulation postpartum (pp) in 16 multiparous (range 2-7 parities) Thai swamp buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis), aged 4-12 years and weighing from 432 to 676 kg. Ovarian follicular activity was examined by transrectal ultrasonography (TUS) every morning. Oestrous detection was performed twice daily by direct personal observation of behaviour and for presence of clear cervical mucus discharge and indirectly by video camera recording during 21 h/day. A follicular wave-like pattern was present before the 1st ovulation leading to short oestrous cycles. Growth rates and maximum diameters of the ovulatory follicles did not differ between the 1st and 4th ovulations. However, growth rate for non-ovulatory dominant follicles (DF) before the 1st ovulation was lower than for the ovulatory follicle (p<0.05). In addition, the diameter of all ovulatory follicles (14.3 ± 0.46 mm, n=39) was significantly larger (p < 0.01) than those of the preceding last but one non-ovulatory DF (10.8 ± 0.20 mm, n = 5), but similar to the last preceding non-ovulatory DF diameter (12.92 ± 0.96 mm, n = 14). Short oestrous cycles were most common between the 1st and 2nd ovulations (93.75%, 15/16 cows, 10.2 ± 0.38 days) decreasing in prevalence thereafter (50%, 3/6 buffaloes, 12.0 ± 1.53 days). Oestrous signs were relatively vague around the 1st ovulation pp to become more easily detectable thereafter. This study suggests that properly fed swamp buffaloes could be mated successfully within 2 months pp, at their 2nd spontaneous ovulation, provided oestrous detection is at least performed daily at 06:00-08:00 hour.

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Contents Stray dogs are a significant problem in large cities. Contraception is an important and useful solution to control the growing population of these dogs. Early‐age neutering is an effective technique for canine population control; however, surgical neutering may not be possible in various situations. GnRH‐agonist implantation has been successful for long‐term reversible contraception in dogs. The efficacy of GnRH‐agonist implantation on long‐term suppression of reproductive performance was observed in male dogs. Eleven 4‐month‐old dogs were implanted with 4.7, 9.4 mg deslorelin or placebo. Sexual behaviour and testicular size were monitored every 2 months. Ejaculates were collected and evaluated at 8, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 32, 34 and 36 months of age. Dogs implanted with placebo were found to be healthy and in normal reproductive status. Most dogs (3/4) implanted with 4.7 mg deslorelin showed male sexual behaviour at age of 34 months old. From this group, two dogs had normal semen quality, while semen could not be collected from the other dog, and after castration, no sperm were obtained following epididymal flushing. One dog implanted 4.7 mg deslorelin and four dogs implanted with 9.4 mg deslorelin remained in the non‐pubertal reproductive status at 30–34 months. The delay to puberty was longer in dogs implanted with higher dose of GnRH agonist. Implantation of pre‐pubertal dogs with high doses of GnRH agonist will delay the onset of puberty and may be an effective strategy to reduce the number of unwanted breedings.

The environmental factors in summer tend to reduce oestrus incidence and fertility in the bitches. According to litter size, the Labrador retriever seems to have a more efficient reproductive performance than the German shepherd dog. The Labrador retriever had a longer inter-oestrus interval than the German shepherd dog.