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.

This study compared the effect of Kisspeptin-10 or GnRH administration on LH release in swamp buffalo during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Six animals were treated with a single intravenous injection of 1,000 pmol/kg b.w. of kisspeptin-10 or a single intramuscular injection of 10 µg/cow of GnRH agonist buserelin. For plasma LH analysis blood samples were collected every 15 minutes, 1 h before and 6 h after Kisspeptin-10 and GnRH administration. An increase in LH plasma concentrations was observed after GnRH administration but not after Kisspeptin-10 administration. The results of this study indicate that during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, administration of GnRH, but not Kisspeptin-10, stimulate LH secretion.

A postpartum swamp buffalo with a high body condition score (4.5/5) that did not show any signs of heat after calving (days open = 122 days) was submitted for reproductive examination. The buffalo was milked every morning and suckled after that the whole day. On examination, an ovarian cyst of about 3 cm diameter was palpated rectally in the left ovary, which was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography and by measuring the plasma progesterone level 7 days later. The case was treated with a common treatment regimen of gonadotropin releasing hormone followed by prostaglandin F2 alpha 7 days later. The buffalo returned to estrus and was mated with a bull 16 days after the onset of treatment. This case study suggests that a regular postpartum reproductive examination should be performed for a timely diagnosis of problems, and that treatment with a standard hormonal protocol can resolve cases of ovarian cyst in swamp buffaloes.

The present study evaluated the impact of once-used intravaginal progesterone inserts (TRIU-B) from day 4 to day 10 post-ovulation on luteal profile (corpus luteum diameter, CL; plasma progesterone) and conception rate in buffalo (n=80) during summer season. The buffaloes were estrus synchronized by Cloprostenol (500 micro g, i.m.) administered 11 days apart, followed by AI during standing estrus. All the buffaloes were equally categorized into control (without TRIU-B) or treatment (pervaginally inserted with once-used TRIU-B) group. From each group, 15 buffaloes were subjected to ovarian ultrasonography for CL diameter measurements on day 4 and day 10 postovulation followed by jugular vein blood collection for plasma progesterone analysis. On day 10 postovulation, the control group buffalo had larger (P LT 0.05) CL diameter (15.2+-0.5 vs. 14.0+-0.3 mm), whereas, plasma progesterone was higher (P LT 0.05) in treatment group (3.4+-0.2 vs. 1.7+-0.1 ng/ml). Conception rates were 55.0 and 37.5 percent in treatment and control groups, respectively (χ2=2.46, P GT 0.05). Moreover, pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo of treatment group exhibited higher (P LT 0.05) plasma progesterone on day 10 post-ovulation compared to their control counterparts. In conclusion, pervaginal insertion of once-used TRIU-B enhanced post-ovulation plasma progesterone but failed to improve conception rate in buffalo.

The aim of the present study was to compare plasma mineral status of anoestrus and normally cyclic cattle and buffaloes of central zone of Punjab and to evaluate the use of area specific mineral mixture as a treatment of anoestrus in dairy animals. Thirty two non-cyclic animals (16 cattle, 16 buffaloes) and 32 cyclic animals (16 cattle, 16 buffaloes) in the 2nd to 3rd lactation were selected for the study on basis of rectal examination and plasma progesterone levels at 0, 7 and 14 days by Radio Immuno Assay (RIA) technique. Blood samples from these animals were analyzed for various minerals viz., Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. Anoestrus dairy animals had significantly lower levels of calcium, phosphorus and copper as compared to cyclic animals. For therapeutic trial, anoestrus animals (10 cattle and 10 buffaloes) kept as treatment group were fed area specific mineral mixture (50 gm/animal/day) for 2 months. In total, 17 animals out of 20 (85 percent) regained cyclicity i.e. had at least one value of plasma progesterone level above 0.5 ng/ml out of 3 weekly samples collected. Average time taken for animals to come into heat after area specific mineral mixture supplementation was found to be 53.4+-2.7 and 48.9+-2.1 days in buffaloes and cattle, respectively.

The aim of present study was to evaluate efficacy of Modified Co-Synch Plus Protocol with or without progesterone device for estrus induction, progesterone concentration and conception rate in Murrah buffaloes under field conditions during summer season. The study was conducted using 30 postpartum anestrus Murrah buffaloes divided in two groups. In Group 1 (n=15), the buffaloes were administered with PMSG 400 IU on -3 day, Buserelin acetate 10 micro g, on day 0, cloprostenol 500 micro g, on day 7, and on day 9 h CG 2000 IU. Thereafter, timed artificial insemination (TAI) was done at the time of h CG injection and 24 h later once again. In Group 2 (n=15), the buffaloes were treated with same protocol as Group 1, in addition to progesterone device, which was placed in vagina on day 0 and was removed on day 7 of the protocol. Thereafter, TAI was done as in Group 1. Plasma Progesterone concentration was estimated during the different days (-3, 0, 7, 9 and 10 day) of protocol. The estrus induction rate was 86.6 percent and 100 percent in Group 1 and Group 2 respectively showing very good estrus (46 percent), good estrus (30.7 percent) and poor estrus (23.07 percent) in Group 1 while very good estrus (46.6 percent), good estrus (40 percent) and poor estrus (13.4 percent) in Group 2. The conception rates in Group 1 and 2, at FTAI and overall including subsequent estrus were 46.2 percent and 61.53 percent and 53.33 percent and 73.33 percent respectively. The plasma progesterone concentrations were higher (P LT 0.05) on day 7 in Group 2 than Group 1 (4.16+-0.32 vs 2.30+-0.24 ng/ml). Both two protocol treatment during non breeding season resulted in very good estrus induction and acceptable conception rate in anestrous buffaloes.