Evaluation of Uterine Involution by Rectal Palpation and Ultrasonography in Peripartum Nutritional Supplemented Jaffarabadi Buffaloes

Abstract

Studies on influence of peripartum nutritional supplementation on uterine involution and postpartum fertility are meager in Jaffarabadi buffaloes. Hence this investigation was undertaken at Cattle Breeding Farm, JAU, Junagadh on 40 advanced pregnant Jaffarabadi buffaloes of 2-4 parity. The animals were divided into two equal groups, viz., control and treatment groups. The control goup was maintained on standard routine farm feeding, while the animals of treatment group received additional daily oral supplements of 50 g chelated mineral mixture and 150 g bypass fat along with concentrate for 6 weeks prepartum till 2 weeks postpartum. The bypass fat was then given @ 15 g/litre of milk produced limiting maximum up to 200 g/head/day till 60 days postpartum. All the buffaloes were subjected to per rectal gynaeco-clinical and ultrasonographic examinations, using hand calibration technique and a 5.0-7.5 MHz linear array transducer on day 7, 15, 30, 45 and 60 postpartum. On day 7 postpartum, the gravid and non-gravid uterine horns of both the groups were lying cranial and ventral to pelvic brim in abdominal cavity as large, soft, flabby water bag like structures, and were found to be larger than the cervix. In the subsequent days postpartum, the genitalia reduced even further, regaining the tonicity and elasticity. The gross involution of the uterus was observed to be completed by 37.00±0.56 and 32.75±0.57 days (p<0.05) in the buffaloes of control and treatment groups, respectively. The USG screening on day 7 postpartum revealed the wall of the cervix as a bright hyperechoic structure, while its lumen was found to be hypoechoic with bright hyperechoic spots denoting the cervical folds. The wall of the uterine horns was hyperechoic with anechoic lumen with hyperechoic spots (lochia). The echogenicity got pronounced with an increase in postpartum intervals till day 45 postpartum. The uterine caruncles were represented as a bright hyperechoic structures. The mean diameters of cervix and past gravid and non-gravid uterine horns were recorded to be reduced gradually and significantly from day 7 to days 15 and 30 postpartum, and thereafter the mean diameters were reduced non-significantly till day 60 postpartum. By 120 days postpartum, 50 and 85% animals in control and treatment group had conceived suggesting beneficial effect of peripartum nutrients supplementation.