This study was conducted to assess the therapeutic efficiency of antioxidant in subclinical mastitis. Therapeutic trials were conducted in twelve buffaloes affected with subclinical mastitis and were randomly divided into two groups. The buffaloes of Group 1 were treated with intramuscular injection of Inj. Mofoi 5 mg/kg body weight, while Group 2 buffaloes were treated with intramuscular administration of Inj. Mofoi 5 mg/kg body weight along with antioxidant powder orally. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed based on bacteriological cure and the pre and post therapeutic values of somatic cell count, electrical resistance, pH and milk yield. The use of antioxidant along with Moxifloxacin was found to be superior than antibiotic alone by improving udder's natural defence mechanism, early restoration of milk yield and quick recovery.

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of increasing temperature humidity index (THI) on lactating Murrah buffalo. The study was conducted on six lactating buffaloes which were offered the same basal diet and were blocked by days in milk, milk yield and parity. The study was conducted during May, June and July with average THI of 79.88, 80.57 and 85.36, respectively. Milk yield was recorded twice a day at 06:00 and 18:00 h and physiological parameters were recorded and blood was sampled on 30th day of each month at 14:30 h. The results showed a significant decrease (P LT 0.05) in milk yield in buffaloes only at a THI of 85.36 as compared to THI up to 80.57. The rectal temperature (RT) did not change (P=0.580) with increasing THI up to 85.36, however, the respiration rate (RR) and pulse rate (PR) changed (P LT 0.05) progressively with increasing THI. Leucocytopnoea, lymphocytopnoea and neutrophilia; and alteration in serum urea, alkaline phosphatase activity, reactive oxygen species and phosphorus concentration were observed only at a THI of 85.36 as compared to THI up to 80.57. Similarly, significant (P LT 0.05) alteration in serum T4, cortisol and prolactin levels were observed at a THI of 85.36 as compared to THI up to 80.57. It can be concluded that lactating buffaloes experienced mild heat stress up to a THI of 80.57 (May and June) and a moderate type of heat stress at a THI 85.36 (July).

Present study was conducted on 40 pregnant Murrah buffaloes belonging to Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, India. Animals were divided into two groups, Group I (n=10) consisting of clinically healthy animals and Group II (n=30) consisting of hypophosphataemic animals with a history of passing coffee colored urine, reduced appetite and decreased milk production. Serum biochemical parameters divulged high mean concentration of serum glucose, bilirubin, total bilirubin, ALT and AST besides serum alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen while as notably decreased levels of serum albumin, enzyme glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and total serum protein. The blood mineral picture divulged elevated levels of potassium, molybdenum and iron whereas remarkably reduced concentrations of copper and phosphorous were recorded. Hematological studies revealed decreased red blood cells (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) with increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), neutrophil and lymphocyte count.

The present study was conducted in buffaloes to determine the occurrence of subclinical mastitis and its diagnosis in relation to milk SCC and biochemical composition. The results showed that taking quarter foremilk (QFM) somatic cell count (SCC) threshold limit of LT 200*10**(3) cell for defining healthy quarters, 16.48 percent of buffaloes and 5.79 percent of quarters were positive for specific subclinical mastitis. In total, 57/363 (15.70 percent)of quarters were bacteriological positive with 21 (5.79 percent) representing specific and 36 (9.92 percent) latent infections. The major pathogen isolated were 28 (49 percent) coagulase-negative staphylococci followed by 16 (28 percent) S. aureus, 09 (16 percent) Streptococcus and 4(7 percent) Corynebacterium spp. The average QFM SCC was found as 52.50*10**(3) cells /ml for the quarter with no bacteria, and 356.51*10**(3) cell /ml for the quarters infected with one or the other bacteria (p LT 0.05). The milk electrical conductivity (EC), Fat and Lactoseshowed significant alterations with the quarter infection, the EC and Fat increased while Lactose decreased in infected quarters (p LT 0.05). The California mastitis test CMT) at cut off score of GT 0.5 for diseased quarters showed 68.75 percent sensitivity with 99.09 percent specificity. The EC with 87.50 percent sensitivity and 74.02 percent specificity and Lactose with 84.37 percent sensitivity and 66.16 percent specificity also showed significant (p LT 0.01) discrimination ability to differentiate healthy and mastitis quarters in buffaloes. The milk pH was not found to be a good parameter to identify diseased quarters.

A one way anova experiment was conducted to evaluate the meat production and physicochemical properties (pH, Color, Drip loss, Cook loss, TC, TG, Cholesterol, LDL, HDL and Iron content) of cattle and buffalo meat and blood. Five buffaloes and five cattle of similar age were considered as two groups and kept under a single plane of nutrition. No significant difference was observed between the groups in case of BCS, pH, drip loss and cooking loss of fresh or chilled meat. Buffalo meat reflected (L *) low lights (P LT 0.05) and showed significant (P LT 0.01) deep red - greenness (a *) contrast than cattle meat. Iron content of meat was found (P LT 0.05) higher in buffalo meat. In chemical composition, only ash and OM content differed significantly (P LT 0.05) between the species. IM fat and TC of buffalo meat was found significantly low (P LT 0.001) than cattle. Significant difference of TG and HDL (P GT 0.05) indicated the better quality of buffalo meat. But, LDL of meat and lipid profile of blood found non - significant. Finally we observed that, buffalo meat is better than cattle meat in context of nutritive value or physiochemical properties.

A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the effect of season and climatic factors on age at puberty, service period and successful mating of Nili-Ravi buffalo maintained at a Public Sector Dairy Farm in Okara, Pakistan. Records, spread over a period of 13 years (2000 to 2012), for 583 buffaloes were analyzed for this purpose. Age at puberty was calculated by subtracting date of birth from date of first fruitful service. Average age at puberty and service period were 1056.87+-83.11 and 193.81+-47.32 days respectively. Season of birth had a significant effect (P LT 0.05) on age at puberty. Calves born in winter had a shorter age at puberty (962.09+-9.81) compared with those born in other three seasons (spring, summer and autumn). Effect of calving season on service period was significant (P LT 0.05). Autumn calvers had the shortest service period (193.81+-47.32). Service period did not differ with calving year (P GT 0.05). Month of the year and successful mating (r = 0.67) were positively correlated with each other (P LT 0.05). Maximum and minimum number of successful mating were recorded in October (21.75 percent) and June (3.88 percent). The correlation between individual climatic factors (i.e. daily temperature, rain fall, sunshine hours, relative humidity) and successful mating was non-significant (P GT 0.05). It was concluded that climatic factors did affect the reproductive activities but their individual effect was non- significant in buffalo. However, season, a combination of climatic factors, had significant effect on reproductive activities.

Data on Egyptian buffalo were analyzed to estimate the effect of age at first calving (AFC, mo) classes on some productive traits [milk yield (MY, kg), milk yield per day, (MY/D, kg), and lactation period (LP, d) and reproductive traits [calving interval (CI, d) and number of services per conception (NSPC, count). Means for AFC were 916+-41, 1143+-72 and 1414+-119 days for early, average and late respectively. Additionally, means of milk yield (MY) for mentioned three levels of AFC were 1780+-774, 1920+-607 and 2040+-812 kg, respectively. Economic evaluations indicated that the profit per buffalo cow during the lifetime production were L.E 62960 (us dollars 3778), L.E 38538 (us dollars 2312) and L.E 3695 (us dollars 222) of early, average and late AFC, respectively. Reducing AFC was a positive influence on lifetime profit per buffalo cow. Lifetime profit rises to about L.E 24400, L.E 59200, and L.E 34800 when AFC decreased to 30 months from (38 months), to 30 months from (55 months) and to 38 months from (55 months), respectively. Heritability estimates for MY, MY/D, LP, CI, NSPC and AFC were 0.39+-0.09, 0.31+-0.07, 0.21+-0.08, 0.15+-0.06, 0.11+-0.07 and 0.57+-0.18, respectively. Genetic correlations between AFC and MY, MY/D, LP, CI, NSPC were -0.146+-0.33, -0.382+-0.30, +0.038+-0.47, +0.530+-0.49 and +0.311+-0.63, successively. The present results revealed that the buffaloes having late AFC were unprofitable during her productive life in the farm, but still needs further investigation of large data with different geographical area and management conditions.

The objective of present study was to assess the effect of Modified Co-synch protocol with or without progesterone device on estrus induction and conception rate in Murrah buffaloes under field conditions during summer season. The study was conducted on 30 postpartum anestrous Murrah buffaloes, divided into two groups containing 15 animals in each group. All animals were of parity between 2nd to 5th and body condition score of more than 3. Group 1 animals were treated with Modified Co-synch protocol. In Group 2 animals, in addition to Modified Co-synch protocol progesterone device was supplemented exogenously and kept in situ for 7 days. Another objective of study was to estimate plasma progesterone concentration on different days of protocols in both the groups. In Group 1, out of 15 animals that received Modified Co-synch protocol treatment, 12 (80 percent) animal responded and exhibited signs of heat after the prostaglandin administration and out of which four animal (33.33 percent) exhibited excellent symptoms, five animals (41.7 percent) showed medium category estrus and only three animal (25 percent) responded with poor estrus symptoms. Similarly in Group 2, all 15 animals that received Modified Co-synch protocol along with progesterone device for 7 days responded to treatment and expressed sign of heat and out of which seven buffaloes (46.7 percent) responded with excellent symptoms, five animals (33.3 percent) showed medium estrus symptoms and only three animals (20 percent) expressed poor estrus signs. In Group 1, out of 12 animals which were inseminated, five animals (33.3 percent) were found to be pregnant after FTAI at induced estrus and three animals (30 percent) got pregnant following AI during second estrus. Thus, an overall conception rate (53.53 percent) with pregnancy of eight buffaloes following induced and subsequent estrous was achieved in this Group. Similarly in Group 2, out of 15 animals, seven buffaloes (46.6 percent) were found to be pregnant following induced estrous and three animals (37.5 percent) got pregnant following AI at subsequent estrous. Thus, an overall conception rate (66.67 percent) with pregnancy of ten buffaloes following induced and subsequent estrous was recorded in this group. Concentration of progesterone in Group 1 was 0.24+-0.04, 1.38+-0.11, 0.31+-0.05, 0.25+-0.04 ng/ml (on Day 0, 7, 9, 10) and in Group 2 was 0.26+-0.04, 3.75+-0.40, 0.24+-0.05, 0.25+-0.05 ng/ml (on Day 0, 7, 9, 10). Therefore, it was concluded that progesterone supplementation in Modified Co-synch protocol treatment during non-breeding season results in very good induction and acceptable conception rate in anestrous buffaloes under field conditions.

The objective of the present study was to measure pixel intensity mean (Echogenicity) and pixel intensity standard deviation (Heterogeneity) of testicular parenchyma in constantly low or high sperm concentration producing bulls. The average sperm concentration/ml in ejaculate over thirteen month's period (GT= 100 ejaculates) was recorded. On the basis of sperm concentration, bulls were grouped into: Low sperm concentration (Group A, n=6: age 4.5 to 6 years) and High sperm concentration (Group B1, n=6: age 4.5 to 6 years and B2, n=3: age 7 to 7.5 years) for this experiment. Digital image analysis of ultrasound scan images was done to measure echogenicity and heterogeneity by using ImageJ software. There was no significant difference in echogenicity values between groups, whereas image heterogeneity values of Group A showed statistically significant (P LT 0.05) lower in comparison with B1 and B2. However, between Group B1 and B2 there was no difference. No correlation was observed between the echogenicity and heterogeneity values in any of the groups. Heterogeneity of echo structure may indicate the seminiferous tubule diameter, sertoli cell population and fluid density within tubules. In conclusion, lower sperm output was observed in testes that were less heterogenic at the tissue level. The heterogeneity values in bulls for rejection at the time of BSE (Breeding soundness evaluation) should be studied in more detail to have more insight and to incorporate in BSE of Murrah bull.

The study was carried out to understand the effect of various concentrations of cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) on cryosurvivability of buffalo spermatozoa. Twenty four ejaculates with mass motility GT= 3+ from 4 bulls (6 from each bull) were collected as per standard procedure. Each ejaculate was split into four groups viz., Group I (control: extended with Tris-egg yolk-glycerol extender upto 80*106 sperm/ml), Group II (treated with CLC 1 mg/ml), Group III (treated with CLC 2 mg/ml) and Group IV (treated with CLC 3 mg/ml). Semen samples of Group II, III or IV were incubated with CLC at 37 deg C for 15 minutes for the entry of cholesterol into sperms and finally diluted upto 80*106 sperm/ml. The results revealed that post-dilution and after freezing at 0.7 and 30 days of cryopreservation motility, live and dead, acrosomal integrity and hypo-osmotic swelling test were significantly (P LT 0.05) higher in Group III as compared to all other groups. However, significantly (P LT 0.05) higher percentage of abnormal sperm was observed in control group as compared to other groups. Therefore, addition of CLC 2 mg/ml in extender during buffalo semen cryopreservation has beneficial role in improvement of semen quality.