Advanced pregnant healthy HF crossbred cows (n=20) of 2-4 parity were equally divided in to control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment/nutrients supplementation (RFF + bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/d and ASMM @ 50 g/h/d) groups and were studied from 2 wks prepartum to 8 wks postpartum for plasma profile of steroid hormones and metabolites on days -14, -3, 0, +3, +14, +28 and +42 as well as for puerperal events and postpartum fertility. The mean plasma progesterone values were maximum (>6 ng/ml) on day 14 prepartum, which declined significantly (p<0.01) on day 3 prepartum reached to the basal levels (<1 ng/ml) on the day of calving, remained basal till day 14, and thereafter showed a rising trend on days 28 and 42 postpartum. The oestradiol-17 values were at its peak on the day of calving (p<0.01), showed a rapid fall by day 3 postpartum and remained low till recrudesce of follicular activity around day 35 postpartum. However, there were no statistical differences between the two groups in either of the hormones, except on day 42 postpartum. The levels of cortisol and PGF 2  Metabolites (PGFM) were 3-8 times higher on the day of parturition as compared to values at day 14 pre-and postpartum, and declined further till day 42 postpartum reaching to prepartum levels. The plasma cholesterol gradually decreased as parturition approached and increased in postpartum days to reach the highest value (p<0.01) at day 42. The nutrients supplemented cows had significantly (p<0.01) higher plasma cortisol, PGFM and cholesterol values than the control cows around parturition. However, no such variation was noted in plasma protein profile. The period of uterine involution in control and supplemented groups was identical (31.97±1.82 and 30.27±1.41 days), yet the cows in treatment group resumed estrous cycle earlier (38.00±1.95 vs 42.32±4.14 days, p<0.05) and had shorter service period (85.22±7.17 vs 100.67±5.60 days) with improved pregnancy rate (80 vs 60 %) as compared to those in control group. Thus, the peripartum nutrient supplementation in crossbred cows was beneficial and had positive effect on the postpartum fertility and plasma cortisol, PGFM and cholesterol profile.

Twenty healthy advanced pregnant crossbred (HF x K) cows of 2-4 parity were included in the study from 2 weeks prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum. They were equally divided in to control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment (RFF plus area specific multi-minerals @ 50 g/h/d and bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/d) groups to evaluate the effect of bypass fat and minerals supplementation on plasma metabolites and hormonal profile and postpartum fertility. The plasma levels of T3 increased (P less tha 0.01) on the day of calving and then abruptly dropped till day 14 postpartum as compared to levels at other periods, while T4 decreased (P less than 0.05) consistently throughout the study period particularly in control group. However, the influence of nutritional supplementation was found to be non-significant on both these hormones. The blood glucose levels were at peak concurrent to highest plasma cortisol on the day of calving. The cows under supplemented group had significantly (p less than 0.01) higher mean blood glucose (64.51±3.10 vs 59.13±3.06 mg/dl) and cortisol (16.19±2.51vs 11.23±1.34 ng/ml)than the control cows. The mean plasma levels of NEFA increased from day 14 prepartum to the highest (p less than 0.01) on the day of calving and thereafter reduced in postpartum days in both the groups with significantly higher mean value in supplemented than control group (0.58±0.09 vs 0.47±0.07 mmol/l). The prepartum plasma BHBA also increased as parturition approached, continued to increase further in the early postpartum period to reach a peak (1.21±0.09 and 0.87±0.04 mmol/l for control and treatment group) (p less than 0.01) on day 14, and thereafter decreased. In general, the plasma NEFA, BHBA, cortisol and glucose levels were found to be higher in the cows of nutrient supplemented group which had lesser time intervals for expressing first postpartum estrus and service period with better pregnancy rate. Thus the nutrient supplementation during transition period was beneficial in maintaining energy status of the cows and improved reproductive performance postpartum.

This study evaluated the fertility response and plasma profile of biochemical and mineral constituents in 46 postpartum anoestrus (>90 days) buffaloes treated under field conditions with TriU-B/PRID, Ovsynch and Heatsynch protocols (n=12 each), keeping untreated anoestrus control (n=10) and normal cyclic control (n=10) groups. The estrus induction response with 3 treatment protocols was 83.33, 83.33 and 91.66 % respectively within 2-3 days of PGF 2 α injection. The conception rates (CRs) obtained at induced estrus in buffaloes under TriU-B, Ovsynch and Heatsynch protocols were 25.00, 33.33 and 25.00 %, and those of overall three cycles' 50.00, 58.33 and 50.00 %, respectively, which were at par with normal cyclic control group (CR at first cycle 30.00 & overall of 3 cycles 50.00 %). Among untreated anoestrus control group, only two buffaloes (20%) exhibited estrus and conceived over 90 days follow up. The overall pooled mean plasma total cholesterol concentrations (mg/dl) in anoestrus buffaloes under TriU-B and in normal cyclic control group were the same (166.70±5.28 and 165.18±6.37) and significantly (P<0.01) higher than in Ovsynch (131.54±3.71) and lower than in Heatsynch (186.14±5.69) group. The value for total protein (g/dl) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in TriU-B (7.27±0.08) followed by other two groups (7.62±0.07 & 7.44±0.07) and highest in normal control group (7.98±0.10). The calcium was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Ovsynch (10.41±0.07 mg/dl) than other 3 groups (8.82±0.11 to 9.09±0.09 mg/dl), while inorganic phosphorus (3.99±0.10 to 4.29±0.13 mg/dl) did not vary between groups. Normal cyclic control buffaloes had significantly higher protein and lower calcium levels than in most treatment groups. The conceived buffaloes had apparently higher values of total cholesterol and protein as compared to non-conceived ones in all groups. In general, Ovsynch protocol was the best followed by TriU-B and Heatsynch for induction of estrus and improvement of fertility in anoestrus buffaloes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peripartum nutrients supplementation on uterine involution and postpartum fertility in crossbred cows. Twenty healthy advanced pregnant HF crossbred cows between 2-4 parity of identical body size were included in the study from two weeks prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum. They were equally divided into control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment (RFF + bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/day + ASMM @ 50 g/h/day) groups. Animals of both the groups were subjected to per rectal as well as ultrasonographic examinations at weekly intervals from day 7 till day 42 postpartum. On day 7 postpartum, gravid and non-gravid uterine horns in all animals were lying cranial and ventral to pelvic brim in abdominal cavity as large, soft, flabby water bag like structures. The cervical and uterine horn diameters and wall thickness showed a significant decreasing trend from day 7 to 28-35 postpartum with gaining tonicity and elasticity, yet the differences between groups were non-significant. The walls of the cervix and uterus appeared as bright hyperechoic structure, while lumens were found hypoechoic with bright hyperechoic spots. The middle uterine arteries were represented as dark circular anechoic structures and the caruncles as a bright hyperechoic structures. The diameter of artery reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the days postpartum. The gross involution of the uterus was observed to be completed by 24.50±1.14 and 23.80±1.14 days, while the complete uterine involution occurred by days 31.97±1.82 and 30.27±1.41 with occurrence of first estrus postpartum in 42.32±4.14 and 38.00±1.95 days (p<0.05) for control and nutrient supplemented groups, respectively. The service period (85 vs 100 days) and pregnancy rate (80 vs 60%) were non-significantly better in treatment than control group. Thus it can be asserted that the peripartum nutrient supplementation yielded no beneficial effect on uterine involution, but enhanced postpartum fertility in optimally fed and managed crossbred cows.