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.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Ovsynch and Mid-cycle PGF 2 α protocols on conception rate and influence on plasma biochemical and mineral constituents in 20 each repeat breeding cows and buffaloes equally divided into Ovsynch and Mid-cycle PGF 2 α protocols. Ten each healthy early postpartum cows and buffaloes served as normal cyclic controls. All the animals were inseminated at mid-estrus using good quality frozen-thawed semen and were kept under observation for next estrus or pregnancy. The first service conception rates at induced estrus obtained in repeat breeding cows and buffaloes were 50.00 and 40.00 % in Ovsynch protocol, and 40.00 and 50.00 % in mid-cycle PGF 2 α treatment, respectively, and 40.00 % each in normal control group. The overall mean values of total protein for conceived and non-conceived cows of Ovsynch protocol were 7.98±0.17 and 7.38±0.11 g/dl and for buffaloes 9.18±0.18 and 7.30±0.05 g/dl, respectively, being significantly higher in conceived ones in both the species. The mean cholesterol level in Ovsynch protocol was insignificantly higher in non-conceived than conceived cows (197.43±13.45 vs. 176.80±9.54 mg/dl). Contrary to this finding, in buffaloes it was higher in conceived than non-conceived group (149.43±9.02 vs. 135.65±9.81 mg/dl). No significant difference was observed in total protein and cholesterol profile between conceived and non-conceived groups of cows and buffaloes under Mid-cycle PG treatment. Also no significant differences were observed in values of calcium and inorganic phosphorus between days and between conceived and nonconceived groups of cows or buffaloes, apparently the values of both were higher in normal cyclic groups as compared to repeat breeders. The overall pooled values of calcium and phosphorus in cows under Ovsynch protocol were 9.17±0.12 and 4.44±0.10, and under Mid-cycle PGF 2 α group 9.23±0.10 and 4.61±0.05 mg/dl, respectively, while in buffaloes the corresponding values under Ovsynch protocol were 9.88±0.10 and 4.94±0.05, and under Mid-cycle PGF 2 α group 9.33±0.10 and 4.67±0.05 mg/dl, respectively. From the results, it can be inferred that hormonal therapies used significantly improved the pregnancy rates in repeat breeding cows and buffaloes under field conditions, without influencing the plasma biochemical and minerals profiles.