• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1059-1062
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• 2000

The objective of the investigation was to study the effect of intramuscular $PGF_2\;{\alpha}$ and GnRH on estrus behavior and ovarian response in Murrah buffalo heifers. Twelve Murrah buffalo heifers at 32 months of age that had not exhibited behavioral estrus symptom were included in the experiment. Out of 12,4 heifers were in follicular phase (plasma estradiol $57.05{\pm}12.52pg/ml$), another 4 heifers were in luteal phase (Plasma progesterone $2.24{\pm}0.25ng/ml$) while the ovaries of remaining four heifers were inactive (estradiol $23.70{\pm}1.66pg/ml$and progesterone $0.32{\pm}0.06ng/ml$). $PGF_2\;{\alpha}$ (25 mg, Lutalyse, im) and GnRH (200 ug, Fertagyl, iv) was administered to each heifer at interval of 10 days. The plasma progesterone concentration decreased within 48 hrs after $PGF_2\;{\alpha}$ injection and followed thereafter with follicular growth, estrus and ovulation. GnRH administration induced follicular growth, elevation of plasma estradiol concentration with subsequent exhibition of behavioral estrus in 2 out of 4 heifers having inactive ovary. The observation reveals that Murrah buffalo heifers at 32 months of age have developed receptors for $PGF_2\;{\alpha}$ and GnRH on ovarian and pituitary tissue respectively and response the single injection of $PGF_2\;{\alpha}$ and GnRH similar to the mature cycling animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.789-793
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• 2008

The gayal (Bos frontalis) in China is a very rare semi-wild and semi-domestic bovine species. There still exist remarkable divergences on the gayal's origin and taxonomic status. In the present study, the cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene entire sequences (1,140 bp) of 11 gayals in Yunnan China were analyzed. Combined with other bovine Cyt b sequences cited in GenBank, the phylogenetic trees of genus Bos were reconstructed by neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony (MP) methods with Bubalus bubalis as outgroup. Sequence analysis showed that, among 1,140 sites compared for 11 gayals, 95 variable sites (8.33% of all sites) and 6 different haplotypes were observed, showing abundant mitochondrial genetic diversity in gayals. Both NJ and MP trees demonstrated that gayals in this study were markedly divided into three embranchments: one embranchment clustering with Bos gaurus, another clustering with Bos taurus, and the third clustering with Bos indicus. The result of phylogenetic analysis suggested that the gayal might be the domesticated form of the gaur, and a great proportion of the gayal bloodline in China was invaded by other bovine species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1523-1526
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• 2001

To study the secretion of trace elements during early lactation, twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected from the herd of the institute. The buffaloes were divided into two groups of six each. Buffaloes of group I were not injected and served as control. Buffaloes of group II received oxytocin injection (2.5 I.U.) intramuscularly for a period of five days for let down of milk. Milk samples were collected from both groups of buffaloes five days before, during and after the administration of oxytocin. Aliquots of milk samples from each buffalo were composited in proportion to their milk yield and used for analysis of trace elements in milk. In both the groups of buffaloes Cu, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn contents did not vary significantly between animals. However, Ca levels varied significantly (p<0.01) between animals. Administration of oxytocin influenced (p<0.01) Cu, Mg, Zn, Fe and Mn secretion in milk. However, Ca secretion was not affected by oxytocin administration. Secretion of these elements also varied significantly during different days of the study. Zinc content of milk in the control group also varied significantly (p<0.01) during different days and periods of study indicating thereby no effect of oxytocin. The study indicated that administration of oxytocin increases Cu and Mn content and decreases Mg, Fe and Zn content without altering the Ca concentration of milk.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 1990

Thirty-six yearling (18 bulls, 18 heifers) swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with average liveweight $177{\pm}26kg$, were randomly allotted to receive 6 dietary treatments according to a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor A assigned for two types of straw; untreated rice straw (RS) and urea-treated (5%, w/w) rice straw (UTS). Factor B assigned for three ratio of roughage to concentrate (R:C) at 80:20, 50:50 and 20:80. Feeding trial lasted for 9 months during which respective feeds were offered at 3% body weight and adjusted at bi-weekly intervals using corresponding liveweights. Parameters measured under this experiment were feed intake, ruminal fluid for pH, $NH_3-N$, volatile fatty acids (VFA), liveweight change at bi-weekly intervals, carcass characteristics and cost-net profit analysis. It was found that intakes and digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP except NDF and ADF were improved appreciably when ratio of concentrate increased. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were highest in group fed urea-treated rice straw at R:C levels of 20:80 (551.2 g/d, 10.7 kg/kg) and 50:50 (542.3 g/d, 10.6 kg/kg). It was obvious that FCR was best in the group fed on urea-treated rice straw (13.8 kg/kg) as compared to untreated rice straw fed-group (24 kg/kg). Carcass compositions of buffaloes measured resulted in 48.2 dressing percentage in all treatments offered at R:C levels of 50:50 and 20:80, however, loin eye area were 46.0, 53.6, 50.0 and $54.0cm^2$ for RS and UTS at respective levels of R:C. It was notable that carcass fat content was low which resulted in higher content of lean meat particularly in group fed UTS at 50:50 ratio R:C. Simple cost-net profit analysis was performed, it was found that net profits were obtained as follows 27, 30, -47, 44, 58, 22 $US/hd for respective treatment groups of RS and UTS at respective R:C levels. As shown, the best net profit resulted in group fed UTS at 50:50 R:C level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.672-676
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• 2018

Objective: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of a blend of essential oils (BEO) on enteric methane emission and growth performance of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Methods: Twenty one growing male buffaloes (average body weight of $279{\pm}9.3kg$) were divided in to three groups. The animals of all the three groups were fed on a ration consisting of wheat straw and concentrate mixture targeting 500 g daily live weight gain. The three dietary groups were; Group 1, control without additive; Group 2 and 3, supplemented with BEO at 0.15 and 0.30 mL/kg of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively. Results: During six months feeding trial, the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients (organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre) were similar in all the groups. The average body weight gain was tended to improve (p = 0.084) in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Feeding of BEO did not affect feed conversion efficiency of the animals. The calves of all the three groups were in positive nitrogen balance with no difference in nitrogen metabolism. During respiration chamber studies the methane production (L/kg DMI and L/kg digestible dry matter intake was significantly (p<0.001) lower in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Conclusion: The results indicated that the BEO tested in the present study have shown potential to reduce enteric methane production without compromising the nutrient utilization and animal performance and could be further explored for its use as feed additive to mitigate enteric methane production in livestock.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.398-403
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• 1998

The objective of the present study was to examine the developmental rates, and the stage of development in relation to time since fertilization, of in vitro produced buffalo embryos. Buffalo cumulus-oocyte complexes obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured and fertilized in vitro. The fertilized oocytes (n = 248) were then co-cultured with buffalo oviductal epithelial cells and evaluated for the developmental stages on Days 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 post-insemination. The peak of 4-cell stage embryos was observed on Day 2 (63.7 %), whereas Day 4 was marked by peaks of 6-8-cell stage embryos (20.9%) and 16-cell stage embryos to early morulae (50%). On Days 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 post-insemination, 49.5, 48.3, 38.3, 33.8 and 33.4% embryos were found to be at morula/compact morula stages, 8.8, 12.5, 25.4, 6.0 and 1.2% at early blastocyst/blastocyst stages, 0, 6.8, 7.2, 15.3 and 2.0% at expanded blastocyst stage and 0, 1.6, 4.8, 19.3 and 38.5% hatching/hatched blastocyst stages, respectively. The peaks of early blastocyst/blastocyst, expanded blastocyst and hatching/hatched blastocyst stages were observed on Days 8, 9 and 10, respectively. The percentages of oocytes which initially became arrested and subsequently degenerated were 3.6, 4.8, 10.4, 14.5, 21.3 and 24.5% on Days 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 post-insemination, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1262-1265
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• 2006

The present study was undertaken to analyze the status of erythrocytic malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) as an index of lipid peroxidation in normal cycling and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers. Before supplementation, the blood samples were collected at weekly interval in anestrus and normal cycling buffalo heifers and data from four samples was pooled to establish pre-supplementation base line. Thereafter, the blood samples from anestrus and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers were taken at fortnightly interval for 12 weeks during supplementation and for four weeks during the post-supplementation period. The pre-supplementation endogenous erythrocytic MDA, 0.3% $H_2O_2$ induced-erythrocytic MDA and 1.5% $H_2O_2$ induced-erythrocytic MDA levels (nmol/g Hb) increased significantly (p<0.05) in anestrus heifers ($372.3{\pm}5.0$, $564.4{\pm}5.7$, $862.4{\pm}8.5$) when compared to normal cycling animals ($289.6{\pm}3.0$, $508.2{\pm}6.0$, $777.7{\pm}4.9$). Oral supplementation of 3,000 mg of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol per week per animal in anestrus heifers resulted in a progressive and significant (p<0.01) decline in erythrocytic MDA levels. These observations implied that supplementation of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol to anestrus buffalo heifers ameliorated their antioxidant status by alleviating the effects of oxidative stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1407-1415
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• 2016

Isolation and culture of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are attractive for production of genetic modified offspring. In the present study, buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells were isolated, cultured and expression pattern of different germ cell marker genes were determined. To recover spermatogonia, testes from age 3 to 7 months of buffalo were decapsulated, and seminiferous tubules were enzymatically dissociated. Two types of cells, immature sertoli cell and type A spermatogonia were observed in buffalo testes in this stage. Germ cell marker genes, OCT3/4 (Pou5f1), THY-1, c-kit, PGP9.5 (UCHL-1) and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, were determined to be expressed both in mRNA and protein level by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining in buffalo testes and buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells, respectively. In the following, when the isolated buffalo buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells were cultured in the medium supplemented 2.5% fetal bovine serum and 40 ng/mL glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor medium, SSCs proliferation efficiency and colony number were significantly improved than those of other groups (p<0.05). These findings may help in isolation and establishing long term in vitro culture system for buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells, and accelerating the generation of genetic modified buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 2015

Phenotypic characterization and body biometric in 13 traits (height at withers, body length, chest girth, paunch girth, ear length, tail length, length of tail up to switch, face length, face width, horn length, circumference of horn at base, distances between pin bone and hip bone) were recorded in 233 adult Gojri buffaloes from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh states of India. Traits were analysed by using varimax rotated principal component analysis (PCA) with Kaiser Normalization to explain body conformation. PCA revealed four components which explained about 70.9% of the total variation. First component described the general body conformation and explained 31.5% of total variation. It was represented by significant positive high loading of height at wither, body length, heart girth, face length and face width. The communality ranged from 0.83 (hip bone distance) to 0.45 (horn length) and unique factors ranged from 0.16 to 0.55 for all these 13 different biometric traits. Present study suggests that first principal component can be used in the evaluation and comparison of body conformation in buffaloes and thus provides an opportunity to distinguish between early and late maturing to adult, based on a small group of biometric traits to explain body conformation in adult buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.774-780
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to test the efficacy of induction of estrus and determine the timing of ovulation in relation to preovulatory LH and estrogen surges in cycling Murrah buffaloes subjected to Heatsynch protocol (GnRH-$PGF_2{\alpha}$-Estradiol benzoate). In experiment 1, the buffaloes (n = 10) were treated with Heatsynch protocol and observed for estrus and ovulation. In experiment 2 and 3, 30 cycling Murrah buffaloes were used to investigate the efficacy of Heatsynch protocol in terms of conception rates in summer (experiment 2) and winter (experiment 3) seasons. Fixed time A.I. was performed in all the buffaloes at 48 and 60 h post-estradiol benzoate (EB) injection. All buffaloes responded to the Heatsynch protocol with expression of estrus for which ovulations were induced in 8 buffaloes (80%). Mean time interval from the EB injection to ovulation was 50.0${\pm}$2.0 h (range 44.0 to 60.0 h). The interval from the end of LH surge to ovulation was 18.5${\pm}$2.47 h (range 8 to 26 h). The interval from end of estrogen surge to ovulation was 26.75 ${\pm}$2.07 h (range 22 to 36 h). Mean LH peak after EB injection occurred at 20.81${\pm}$1.61 h (range 14 to 28 h) and mean estrogen peak after EB injection occurred at 9.62${\pm}$1.03 h (range 7 to 16 h). Hence, the mean estrogen peak preceded the mean LH peak by 11 h. It was observed that the percentage of conceptions to total number of estruses for control buffaloes was 18 and 30 in summer and winter, respectively, whereas it increased to 26 and 40 in Heatsynch treated buffaloes in respective seasons. The results suggest the possibility of using Heatsynch treatment followed by fixed time A.I. in buffaloes for fertility improvement, especially since the incidence of silent heat in buffaloes is very high.