Twenty-six postpartum Balady goats (primiparous, n=13; pluriparous, n=13) were used in this study. One animal of each group was slaughtered on postpartum days 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 13, 19 and 25; in addition, three control nulliparous goats were slaughtered, and the genital tracts collected. Progress of uterine involution was monitored by repeated ultrasonographic measurements in live animals (primiparous n=6; pluriparous n=6) and measurement of the outer circumference of the uterine horns of slaughtered animals (primiparous n=8; pluriparous n=8). A consistent and progressive decrease in ultrasonographic and outer circumference measurements was found, although faster during the first 7 days postpartum than between days 7 and 19 postpartum. Uterine involution, assessed by the upper limit of the measurements in the nulliparous goats, followed a quadratic pattern and was completed by day 19 postpartum. Ultrasonographically, two elliptical-circular echogenic areas separated by an anechoic line of the stratum vascularis were depicted. Regressing caruncles and fluid in uterine lumen were recognized during the first week postpartum. Further analysis revealed a highly positive correlation between the outer circumference and ultrasonographic measurements. In conclusion, uterine involution in Balady goats was completed by day 19 postpartum and was unrelated to parity. The close association between ultrasound findings and macroscopic involution indicated that ultrasonography can dependably be used to monitor uterine involution under field conditions and can be a suitable alternative to animal slaughter for the study of uterine involution.

Two types of locally produced live vaccines (HB1 and La Sota--lentogenic strains) and inactivated oil adjuvant (IOAV) vaccine were used to compare the efficiency of three vaccination techniques, namely drinking water, ocular and spray on broiler chicks. The ocular route of vaccination on 1-day-old chicks followed by a booster dose on the third week through the same route induced a significantly higher level of haemagglutination inhibition antibody titre (P < 0.0001). The highest mean antibody titre was log(2) 6.6 and 93.3% of the chicks were protected from the challenge. The spray technique induced a lower antibody titre (peak of log(2) 5.9) and only 53% of the chicks in this treatment survived against the challenge. The results of this study show that the ocular route is superior to the drinking water route, which is superior to the spray technique. The economic analysis result showed that the ocular HB1 and La Sota vaccine administration method to 1- and 21-day-old chicks gave the highest revenue followed by the drinking water method. In terms of total cost, the injection method required the highest cost (0.21 birr/chick) followed by the ocular method (0.18 birr/chick). The marginal cost of vaccine administration is too small compared with marginal revenues from relative effectiveness of the methods. The internal rate of return for the ocular method was very high. The results of sensitive analysis on revenues from different vaccination methods indicate that a 25% reduction in broiler price reduces the marginal revenue from the ocular method by 12 487 birr but this still does not prove that the ocular method is economically viable for small- and medium-scale poultry farms.

Twenty-six Balady goats categorized according to parity into primiparous and pluriparous goats were used to investigate bacterial flora of the genital tract and hormonal profiles during the postpartum (PP) period. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in pure or mixed culture from the uterus. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was isolated from swabs obtained from the vagina and cervix of one primiparous goat. Uteri and cervices but not vaginas were free of bacterial contamination by day 10 PP except for one pluriparous goat with scanty E. coli contamination on day 25 PP. Fluctuating oestradiol 17beta (E2) levels demonstrated resumption of follicular activity as early as day 13 PP in both parity groups. Progesterone (P4) levels remained low at basal levels throughout the study period. Higher concentrations of 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha (PGFM) were observed during the first week PP compared with the rest of the PP period. PGFM concentrations dropped to low basal level by day 10 PP and remained constantly low throughout the study period. P4, E2 and PGFM profiles were not different between the different parity groups. In conclusion, intrauterine infection is not common in goats with normal kidding. E. coli was the most common intrauterine bacterial isolate. E2 and P4 profiles were consistent with resumption of follicular growth but not ovulation. High PGFM concentrations coincided with the fast regression phase of uterine involution. Hormonal profile and bacterial contamination and clearance were similar to those reported in other related species and not related to parity.

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Genetic differences have been suggested as a possible cause for variation in responses to exogenous hormones. Here we evaluated the effect of follicle ablation, exogenous FSH and coasting time prior to ovum pick-up (OPU) on the number of follicles suitable for aspiration, oocyte quality, and cleavage rate in Ethiopian Boran cows. The experiment was carried out in three parts, I) Cows were synchronized using 500µg PGF2α given 11 days apart. Cows were then subjected to a biweekly ovum pickup session before ovulation (n=5) or starting Day 7 after ovulation (n=4) for three weeks. II) Cows were similarly synchronized and all visible follicles were ablated on the first days of overt estrus which were then further grouped into cows that received a divided dose of 350IU FSH (n=5) or 175IU FSH (n=5) over three days. In both groups OPU was carried out weekly starting 48h after the last FSH for six weeks. III) A similar protocol as in part II was carried out but coasting period was increased to 72hrs for cows that received 350IU FSH as divided dose (n=5) and 48hrs coasting period for single 350IU FSH dose (n=5). The covariates of follicles and oocyte were not affected (P>0.05) by corpus luteum presence at OPU. The mean number of medium (7.36±0.57) and large (8.28±0.96) follicles were significantly higher (P<0.05) in group that received divided 350IU FSH. Similarly, the mean number of Grade-1 (4.19±0.24) and Grade-2 (4.32±.27) COC, maturation rate (70.41%) and cleavage rate (47.5%) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in group that received 350IU FSH. COC quality was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by costing period. However, both maturation and cleavage rates were not affected by the coasting period. This study demonstrated that follicular ablation and treatment with FSH improves follicular population and oocyte recovery rate in Boran cows.

The variation of the dairy breed can determine the success of bovine embryo transfer by influencing the quantity and quality of in vivo embryo production. In this experiment, output and quality of in vivo produced embryos using semen of progeny tested Holstein Friesian (HF) sire in Boran and HF*Boran F1 cross cows, and semen from purebred Boran sire in HF*Boran F1 cross and Boran cows were evaluated. Boran (n=18) and HF*Boran cross (n=18) breed donor dams were superovulated using a previously optimized follicular  stimulating hormone (FSH) (Pluset®) dose regimen: 650 IU for HF*Boran cross and 250 IU for Boran breeds. Each cow was flushed on  Day-7 post insemination and embryos were evaluated for their developmental stages and quality. Superovulatory response rates were 88.9% and 83.3%, respectively, for Boran and HF*Boran with no significant (P>0.05) breed differences. Total recovery rates were relatively lower (56.5%) in Boran compared to in HF*Boran (67.4%). The mean (±SE) embryo flush outputs were 6.5±0.8 for Boran and 6.9±0.7 forHF*Boran with no significant breed difference. Recovery of a transferrable embryo was significantly higher (68.0%; P<0.05) in HF*Boran dam inseminated with HF sire semen. Boran cows yielded a significantly higher (P<0.05) proportion of unfertilized ovum (57.6 %)  irrespective of the sire breeds. Comparatively, a higher number of degenerated embryos were produced by HF*Boran cows. This study demonstrated that the presence of breed-related differences in both the quality and quantity of in vivo produced Bovine embryos.

The study was conducted to characterize the follicular dynamics of purebred Boran (Bos indicus) and Boran * Holstein Friesian crossbred heifers  during estrous cycles; for use in ovum pick up and in-vitro embryo production. Insight of reproductive physiology of cattle would help to understand and exploit the reproductive potential of elite animals for breed improvement. Follicular development, growth and atresia during estrous cycles were evaluated using a trans-rectal real-time B-mode ultrasound system for three consecutive estrus cycles. Luteal activity was evaluated by serum progesterone level. Follicular aspirations were done to investigate the potential of Boran cattle and their crosses for transvaginal oocyte production; using a vacuum pressure pump and Aloka SSD Prosound-2 ultrasound device. Boran heifers (n=15) manifested two (n = 6, 40%), three (n = 5, 33%), four (n= 3, 20%) and five (n=1, 6.7%) follicular waves. Crossbred heifers (n=14) showed one (n= 2, 14%), two (n= 6, 43%) and three (n= 6, 43%) follicular waves. Interovulatory interval was 21.1 ± 3.4 and 21.4 ± 2.7 days for Boran (n=45) and crossbred (n=42) heifers, respectively. The progesterone level in Boran and Crossbred heifers during diestrus was 9.5 ± 11.0 and 4.6 ± 8.8 ng/ml, respectively. The maximum diameter of the ovulatory follicle for crossbred heifers was higher (15.4 ± 1.6 mm) than the diameter of the Boran (14.0 ± 1.9 mm) heifers (p<0.005). Differences (p<0.005) were observed in the size of both right (26.6 ± 5.14 and 28.6 ± 5.1 mm) and left (21.7 ± 4.85 and 24.1 ± 5.07 mm) ovaries of Boran and Crossbred heifers, respectively. Difference (p<0.005) was also observed in follicular count of the  right ovaries of Boran (4.84 ± 1.96) and Crossbred  (5.13 ± 2.05) heifers. Oocyte recovery rate in once weekly collection scheme for Boran and their crossbred heifers was (n=19, 42.08%) and (n=17, 42.55%), respectively. The recovery rate for twice weekly collection scheme was (n=24, 34.53%) and (n=23, 40.44%) for Boran and crossbred heifers, respectively. Follicular dynamics in Boran heifers is characterized by a higher incidence of cycles with two, three and four waves, associated with a low persistence of the dominant follicles; and smaller size of ovulatory follicles and less intense heat signs from their crossbred counterpart. Boran heifers proved to have potential for comparable number of follicular population and ease of aspiration procedures that can be tapped for advancedreproductive techniques. Keywords: Estrus cycle; follicular wave; ovarian follicle; ovum pickup; ultrasound.