Estrus Induction and Fertility Rates in Response to Exogenous Hormonal Administration in Postpartum Anestrous and Subestrus Bovines and Buffaloes

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A total of 130 animals (82 cattle, 48 buffaloes) with histories of anestrous 60-90 days post-partum and belonging to different agroclimatic zones of Punjab were subjected to rectal palpation and blood samplings at least three times at weekly intervals. The body condition score (BCS) of each animal was also recorded. The animals were divided into two groups; viz., true anestrous (Gp-I) and subestrus (Gp-II) through rectal palpation of ovaries and plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations. Furthermore, the Gp I and II animals were divided into treatment (Gp Ia, 40 cattle and 16 buffaloes; Gp IIa, 12 cattle and 14 buffaloes) and control groups (Gp Ib, 20 cattle and 8 buffaloes; Gp IIb, 10 cattle and 10 buffaloes). True anestrous animals (Gp Ia) were treated with 3 injections of hydroxyprogesterone caproate (750 mg, i.m.) at 72-hr intervals followed by injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; 750 I.U., i.m.) 72 hr after the last progesterone injection. The animals were bred at the first estrus after the induced one. The first service conception rate (FSCR), overall conception rate (OCR), services per conception and pregnancy rate of the true anestrous treated cattle (Gp Ia) were 44.4%, 48.0%, 2.08 and 60.0%, respectively. In the true anestrous control cattle (Gp Ib), only five that were observed to be in estrus failed to conceive. In the anestrous treated buffaloes (Gp Ia), the FSCR, OCR, services per conception and pregnancy rate were 50.0%, 62.5%, 1.6 and 62.5%, respectively. No buffalo amongst true anestrous control (Gp Ib) showed estrus. The subestrus animals (Gp IIa) were administered Prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ; 25 mg Dinoprost, i.m.) and bred at induced estrus. Amongst the Gp IIa animals, all cattle (100%) and twelve buffaloes (85.7%) responded to treatment. Of these animals, the FSCR and pregnancy rate at induced estrus in the cattle were 50.0% each, whereas they were 66.6% and 57.1%, respectively, in the buffaloes. The subestrus control animals (Gp IIb) remained infertile. In summary, the plasma P 4 profile can be used to differentiate true anestrous and subestrus animals and thus to determine a hormonal therapy. Furthermore, fertile estrus can be induced with hormonal therapy in anestrous and subestrus bovines. KEY WORDS: anestrous, buffalo, cattle, conception rate, subestrus.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 70(12): 1327-1331, 2008 The early return to cyclicity after calving is a prerequisite for high reproductive efficiency in dairy animals, that is, cattle and buffaloes. To maintain the recommended calving intervals, the animals need to conceive as soon as possible (85-90 days for the cow and 100-150 days for the buffalo) [7]. Increased intervals from calving to conception are due to deferred commencement of ovulation and estrus expression and reduced pregnancy rates, thus increasing the culling rate of the dairy herd.An increased calving-to-conception interval as a result of true anestrous or subestrus in bovines adversely affects the economics of the dairy sector. The incidence of true anestrous in th...

Hemato-biochemical and hormonal profiles in post-partum water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Lower levels of estradiol may be due lack of LH support or vice-versa in cystic animals [ 24 ]. Progesterone levels are in accordance with published values in literature indicating lower concentration at the time of estrus [ 25 ]. It is thought that the turnover of ovarian steroids is rapid and that the ovary does not have large stores of them; thus FF concentrations of steroidal hormones may be a true index of follicular endocrine well-being.…”

Milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a tool to investigate ovarian cyclicity of water buffaloes in relation to body condition score and milk production

“…A poor BCS may have a negative impact on ovarian activity in buffaloes as anoestral buffaloes have lower BCS than buffaloes having oestral cycles [4]. Our study shows that the BCS is not only associated with the interval from calving to first oestrus but also with milk production, as shown previously [29,30].…”

“…Presicce et al [3] used plasma progesterone concentration measurement along with ultrasonography to monitor ovarian follicular dynamics in Mediterranean Italian buffaloes and in a recent study using plasma progesterone concentration measurement along with rectal palpation, 50 % of buffaloes suspected of having anoestrus were actually in suboestrus [4]. Milk is preferred over plasma for progesterone concentration determination under field conditions, because milk is easy to collect and ultimately ensure farmers compliance.…”

​Induction of Postpartum Oestrus in Lakhimi Cows through Hormonal and Nutritional Interventions

“…The oestrus induction response in postpartum anoestrous Lakhimi cows treated with hydroxyprogesterone caproate + eCG estimated in the present study was similar (83.33%) to Chhetri (2018) in anoestrous indigenous cows treated with progesterone + eCG. On the other hand, higher oestrus induction response (90.00%) was reported by Honparkhe et al (2008) in true anoetrous cows treated with hydroxyprogesterone caproate +eCG. The variation in the percentage of induced oestrus in different studies might be due to doses of hormones and resumption of follicular development and its maturation after treatment.…”