A case-control study was conducted to identify the factors associated with the success or failure of artificial insemination (AI) of buffaloes in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines. The cow-calf pair was used as the unit of interest in this study regardless of breed and number of buffalo cows the farmers own. Of the 24 selected barangays, an equal number of cases (38 failed AI) and control (38 successful AI) were selected from 78 farmercooperators of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) AI program and data were collected using a questionnaire. On the one hand, our study found that every year increment beyond the age at first breeding of the cow could predispose the animals to fail by as much as 2.5 times when compared to younger cows. On the other hand, a monthly increment in the calf weaning age may increase the likelihood of AI success by as much as 50 percent. These results imply that the age at first breeding must be conscientiously considered to allow optimal sexual and physical maturity of the breeding cows while ensuring that first breeding does not occur with too much delay. Moreover, while more mature calves have higher chances of success at weaning, provision of wallow during pregnancy also appears to support AI success as an effective method of cooling.

During the last years buffalo reproductive researchers have been tried to develop and apply fixed timed artificial insemination protocols to increase pregnancy rates to maximize improvement. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the pregnancy rates of different protocols of synchronization (Ovsynch and progesterone implants) and resynchronization of ovulation in a meat water buffalo herd during reproductive season of 2016. 194 mature Mediterranean females, were randomly assigned to four different protocols, ultrasound evaluation were used to determine cyclicity (presence of corpus luteum or follicles GT= 7 mm de diameter). 18 days after insemination all females were resynchronized and at day 25 ultrasound were performed, those nonpregnant females were inseminated 28 days after first insemination. All inseminations were performed by the same technician and only one bull was used. InfoStat software was used, statistical significance was considered when p value was lower than α of the 5 percent. No statistical significance were found within the protocols. Early embryonic dead 50 days after IA was 3.4 percent. Pregnancy rate was 47.9 percent and 53.5 percent for insemination and reinsemination respectively and the final pregnancy rate after the adjust for early pregnancy loss 73.2 percent, during the 28 days of the breeding period. The results obtained allow breeders to choose the best pharmacological option to use FTAI in their herds based on their own needs to improve production without affecting pregnancy rates.