Enhancing reproductive performance in dairy buffalo: major constraints and achievements

Abstract

Buffalo are of high economic importance for farmers in several developing countries but reproductive performance is poor. A large proportion of heifers attain puberty at 3-5 years of age. A good quality diet supplemented with extra nutrients reduces the age of puberty, whereas the effects of administration of exogenous GnRH or equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) are equivocal. The incidence of anoestrus in buffalo ranges from 20 to 80% depending on season. Most buffalo cease ovarian cyclicity during hot summers probably due to the combined effects of nutrition, environment and management. Keeping buffalo cool by wallowing, water sprinklers or shade improves fertility. Supplementary feeding with Urea Molasses Multi-nutrient Blocks (UMMB) for 60 days before calving enhances the early onset of postpartum oestrus. Regular UMMB supplementation also improves pregnancy rates in anoestrous non-pregnant buffalo. Prepartum vaginal prolapse is hereditary and eradication can be achieved by genetic selective breeding programmes. Treatment with calcium, phosphorus and progesterone gives only transient relief to clinical cases. Uterine torsion is the most common cause of dystocia (70%). Deployment of Sharma's detorsion method and anti-stress measures increase survival rates in cases presented within 36 h. In conclusion, greater understanding about the effects of better year-round nutrition, improved management and markers for logical breeding programmes are essential to curtail the incidence of the reproductive disorders that reduce buffalo ferti Iity. are made and 23% of inseminations are carried out during the luteal phase of the oestrous

Estrus Performance and Pregnancy Rate in Types of Local Cows on Different Estrus Synchronization Protocols

“…Malik et al (2018) stated that the Bali-cows responded better than Bali-heifers did. The environment is one of the factors influencing the emergence of heat (Nanda et al, 2003). This research selected cattle traditionally raised in the countryside.…”

“…Conception rates (CR) of Bali cattle and Limousin cattle are the same, but different from that of Rambon cattle due to different duration of estrus. The duration of estrus that is too short or too long will affect the spread of ovulation while sperm works in a relatively short time (Hafez and Hafez, 2016 (Nanda et al, 2003). Variations in CR scores are influenced by livestock conditions, heat detection, and reproductive management that affect livestock fertility and conception scores .…”

“…The difference may be due to different reproductive management. In this study, the local cattle are those kept in rural areas with locally available feed (Nanda et al, 2003).…”

Investigating Post-partum Ovarian Cyclicity Following Various Treatments in Dairy Cows

“…Therefore, management practices which help in early resumption of ovarian cyclic activity should be followed to improve further reproductive performance (Cerri et al, 2004). Administration of PGF 2α after parturition enhances uterine contractility and lochial clearing from the uterus which helps in clearance of uterine infection and timely resumption of ovarian cyclic activity (Nanda, Brar, & Prabhakar, 2003). In improving the uterine defense and uterine clearance mechanism and consequently reducing persistent inflammation, antibiotic administration is required (McDougall, 2001).…”

Ovsynch Plus protocol improves ovarian response in anovular Murrah buffaloes in low‐breeding season

“…In India, majority (77%) of buffaloes become anoestrus during summer months (Singh, Singh, & Dhaliwal, ) and the incidence of post‐partum anoestrus ranges from 20 to 80%, with the greatest incidence during summers (Nanda, Brar, & Prabhakar, ). Thus, the two major factors that limit the reproductive performance in buffaloes are absence of ovarian cyclicity and absence of overt signs of oestrus in cyclic animals.…”