• 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.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.11 no.4
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• pp.416-421
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to investigate the responsiveness of hypophysis and gonads to synthetic GnRH among noncycling Murrah buffalo heifers at 24 months of age. The plasma FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone levels were measured in blood samples collected at 1 hour before and upto 18th day subsequent to the administration of GnRH ($(200 {\mu}g)$) or saline (2 ml). The pretreatment levels of plasma FSH, LH estradiol and progesterone among GnRH treated heifers (N = 6) were $11.55{\pm}0.57ng/ml$, $0.68{\pm}0.06ng/ml$, $19.84{\pm}0.82pg/ml$ and $0.45{\pm}0.07ng/ml$ respectively. A quick elevation of FSH (p < 0.01) and LH (p < 0.05) within 5 min of GnRH administration was observed in all the heifers. The peak FSH ($74.97{\pm}18.63ng/ml$) and LH ($3.09{\pm}0.54ng/ml$) level was obtained at 30 min of GnRH administration. The elevated level of plasma estradiol on 5th to 18th day, FSH on 7th to 9th day (n = 3) and the progesterone on 13th to 18th day (n = 2) of GnRH injection was obtained. The study indicates that gonads of buffalo heifers at 24 months of age are responsive of GnRH induced gonadotropin release for folliculogenesis and luteal tissue formation

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 2003

The present investigation was undertaken to study status of erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes in normal cycling and $\alpha$- tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers. The pre-supplementation erythrocytic activities of superoxide dismutase (U/mg Hb), glutathione peroxidase (U/mg Hb) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (U/g Hb) upregulated significantly (p<0.05) in anestrus heifers ($10.08{\pm}0.09$, $14.09{\pm}0.54$, $9.25{\pm}0.29$) when compared to normal cycling ones ($6.93{\pm}0.04$, $11.61{\pm}0.19$, $5.58{\pm}0.26$). The oral supplementation of $\alpha$-tocopherol (a) 3,000 mg per week per animal in anestrus heifers declined erythrocytic superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities significantly (p<0.01) but led to non-significant increase in erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase activity. Results indicated that supplementation of $\alpha$-tocopherol to anestrus buffalo heifers mitigated the effects of oxidative stress to improve their antioxidant status.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1088-1092
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• 2004

The present investigation was undertaken to study the status of plasma antioxidant vitamins in normal cycling and $\alpha$-tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers. The pre-supplementation plasma levels ($\mu$mol/L) of vitamin E and $\beta$-carotene were significantly (p<0.05) lower and of vitamin C was significantly (p<0.05) higher in anestrus heifers (4.06$\pm$0.07; 4.56$\pm$0.17; 21.04$\pm$0.21) when compared to normal cycling ones (4.92$\pm$0.05; 6.76$\pm$0.12; 14.24$\pm$0.16). The oral supplementation of$\alpha$-tocopherol at 3,000 mg per week per animal in anestrus heifers resulted in a significant (p<0.01) increase in vitamin E and $\beta$-carotene levels and a significant (p<0.01) decrease in vitamin C concentration. Results indicated that supplementation of $\alpha$-tocopherol to anestrus buffalo heifers improved the antioxidant status by mitigating the harmful effects of free radical induced oxidative stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.545-548
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• 1992

Twelve indigenous buffalo heifers were grouped into 3 and were supplied with following diets-urea-ensiled rice straw + wheat bran + green grass (A); rice straw soaked in urea-water + wheat bran + green grass (B); and untreated straw + wheat bran + green grass (C); so that each group received any one diet. Total dry matter intake was highest in animals on diet C and lowest on B. However, straw DM intake was highest in animals on silage diet and lowest on untreated straw diet. Organic matter and crude fibre digestibility of silage and soaked straw diets were significantly higher (p<0.01) than those of untreated straw diet. Although the values were lower with soaked straw diet than on silage diet and soaked straw diet were significantly (p < 0.01) higher, however, the value for silage diet was not significantly different from that of soaked straw diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to investigate the responsiveness of hypophysis and gonads to synthetic GnRH among prepubertal buffalo heifers at 12 months of age. Peripheral plasma FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone level were measured in blood samples collected at 1 hr before and up to 18 days subsequent to the administration of $200{\mu}g$ GnRH (n=6) or saline (n=6) in Murrah buffalo heifers. The pretreatment peripheral plasma FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone among GnRH treated heifers were $7.35{\pm}0.45ng/ml$, $1.08{\pm}0.3ng/ml$, $22.93{\pm}1.06pg/ml$ and $0.27{\pm}0.04ng/ml$ respectively. A quick elevation (p < 0.01) of FSH and LH within five min of GnRH administration was observed in all geifers. Although the peak FSH $(89.57{\pm}23.43ng/ml)$ and LH $(7.52{\pm}3.08ng/ml)$ reached by 10 min of GnRH administration, yet the animals differed both in terms of their amplitude response of FSH and LH release as well as in terms of time which animals took to exhiit maximum response to GnRH administration. The GnRH administration did not cause alteration in plasma estradiol and progesterone level. The present study suggests that the pituitary of 12 month buffalo heifers has capacity to synthesize and store of gonadotropin and have developed receptors for GnRH for a spike of gonadotropin release.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1402-1406
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• 2007

Thirty pregnant heifers (Jersey, Holstein Friesian and Hariana) were divided into three groups (10 animals/group) according to their stage of pregnancy viz. seven-month (181-210 days) pregnancy (SMP), eight-month (211-240 days) pregnancy (EMP) and nine-month (241-280 days) pregnancy (NMP) group. Time spent in various feeding activities (eating fodder, eating concentrate, standing rumination, sitting rumination and drinking) by each animal in the three pregnant groups was recorded in four different sessions (each session of 24 h per week). The time spent eating concentrate, eating fodder, standing rumination, sitting rumination and drinking was 61.4, 271.3, 84.6, 367.6 and 10.6 min/day, respectively in the SMP group; 52.7, 289.5, 103.3, 345.8 and 9.2 min/day, respectively in the EMP group and 65.0, 277.7, 138.1, 291.0 and 9.8 min/day, respectively in the NMP group. The animals in the EMP group spent significantly (p<0.01) more time on eating fodder and concentrate compared to the animals in SMP and NMP groups. The pregnant heifers preferred rumination in standing posture in comparison to sitting posture. The time spent on standing rumination was significantly higher in the NMP group whereas the time spent on sitting rumination was significantly lower in this group. Except for the sitting rumination activity, all the other activities were predominant in daytime compared to night time; the diurnal variation was significant (p<0.01) for all the activities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.897-900
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• 2000

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of GnRH administration at induced estrus on pituitary and ovarian response in buffalo heifers. Eight Murrah river buffaloes of 12 to 13 months of age were treated with $PGF_{{2}{\alpha}}$ and eCG combination. GnRH (Fertagyl) 200 ug was injected (iv) at estrus in four heifers (treated group) while saline (2 ml, iv) was injected in remaining four heifers (control group). Blood was collected through jugular catheter to estimate plasma FSH, LH and estradiol level. The pretreatment plasma FSH, LH and estradiol values ranged from $8.46{\pm}1.97ng/ml$ to $12.31{\pm}1.30ng/ml$, $0.87{\pm}0.21ng/ml$ to $1.19{\pm}0.29ng/ml$ and $19.09{\pm}2.38pg/ml$ to $20.24{\pm}1.00pg/ml$ respectively. The plasma estradiol concentration elevated significantly (p<0.05) within 24 hr after eCG administration and reached its peak levels of $154.09{\pm}17.28pg/ml$ and $181.95{\pm}31.82pg/ml$ at estrus in respectively treatment and control groups. The plasma FSH and LH concentrations did not increase during follicular development after eCG administration while initial significant (p<0.05) increases in both plasma FSH and LH concentrations occured within 5 and 10 min, reaching peak levels of respectively $110.06{\pm}23.56ng/ml$ and $13.15{\pm}3.13ng/ml$ within 90 min after GnRH injection was detected. A sharp and significant decline in plasma estradiol concentration ($59.27{\pm}8.78pg/ml$) associated with synchronized ovulation within 24 hours after GnRH injection was recorded. The observation suggest that the hypophysis of prepubertal buffaloes treated with eCG have gonadotrophins awaiting the releasing factor to evoke release of gonadotrophin during the follicular phase to induce synchronized ovulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.451-455
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• 2015

The buffalo is an important livestock resource in several countries of South Asia and the Mediterranean regions. However, reproductive efficiency is compromised due to known problems of biological and management origins, such as lack of animal selection and poor nutrition. Under optimal conditions puberty is attained at 15 to 18 months in river buffalo, 21 to 24 months in swamp buffalo and is influenced by genotype, nutrition, management and climate. However, under field conditions these values deteriorate up to a significant extant. To improve reproductive efficiency, several protocols of oestrus and ovulation synchronization have been adopted from their use in commercial cattle production. These protocols yield encouraging pregnancy rates of (30% to 50%), which are comparable to those achieved in buffaloes bred at natural oestrus. The use of sexed semen in buffalo heifers also showed promising pregnancy rates (50%) when compared with conventional non-sexed semen. Assisted reproductive technologies have been transferred and adapted to buffalo but the efficiency of these technologies are low. However, these latest technologies offer the opportunity to accelerate the genetic gain in the buffalo industry after improving the technology and reducing its cost. Most buffaloes are kept under the small holder farming system in developing countries. Hence, future research should focus on simple, adoptable and impact-oriented approaches which identify the factors determining low fertility and oestrus behaviour in this species. Furthermore, role of kisspeptin needs to be explored in buffalo.