• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1071-1086
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• 2003

Reproductive biotechnologies continue to be developed for genetic improvement of both river and swamp buffalo. Although artificial insemination using frozen semen emerged some decades back, there are still considerable limitations. The major problem appears to be the lack of efficient methods for estrus detection and timely insemination. Controlled breeding experiments in the buffalo had been limited and similar to those applied in cattle. Studies on multiple ovulation and embryo transfer are essentially a replica of those in cattle, however with inherent problems such as lower number of primordial follicles on the buffalo ovary, poor fertility and seasonality of reproduction, lower population of antral follicles at all stages of the estrous cycle, poor endocrine status and a high incidence of deep atresia in ovarian follicles, the response in terms of transferable embryo recovery has remained low with 0.51 to 3.0 per donor and pregnancy rates between 15 to 30%. In vitro production of buffalo embryos is a valid alternative to recovery of embryos by superovulation. This aspect received considerable attention during the past decade, however the proportion of embryos that develops to the blastocyst stage is still around 25-30% and hence the in vitro culture procedures need substantial improvement. Embryo cryopreservation procedures for direct transfer post thaw need to be developed for bubaline embryos. Nuclear transfer and embryo cloning is a technique that has received attention in various species during recent years and can be of immense value in buffaloes as they have a low rate of embryo recoveries by both in vitro and in vivo procedures. Gender pre-selection, genome analysis, gene mapping and gene transfer are a few of the techniques that have been studied to a limited extent during recent years and are likely to be included in future studies on buffaloes. Very recently, reproductive biotechnologies have been applied to feral buffaloes as well, but the results obtained so far are modest. When fully exploited they can play an important role in the preservation of endangered species.

• 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.17 no.7
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• pp.910-913
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• 2004

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) gene is a structural gene associated with the growth and development of the animals. The present investigation was carried out to unravel nucleotide sequence and polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of IGFBP-3 gene in buffalo. Genomic DNA was isolated from a total of 157 animals belonging to Murrah, Surti, Jaffarabadi and Nagpuri breeds of Indian riverine buffalo. A 655 bp of IGFBP-3 gene was amplified in all the breeds and amplicons were digested with Hae III, Taq I and Msp I restriction enzymes. On digestion with Hae III yielded single restriction pattern of 8 fragments of sizes 201, 165, 154, 56, 36, 19, 16 and 8 bp in all the animals studied. Similarly Taq I and Msp I also revealed single restriction pattern yielding fragments of sizes 240 and 415 bp and 145 and 510 bp, respectively. This shows nonpolymorphic nature of restriction sites in buffalo. Nucleotide sequencing of 587 bp of IGFBP-3 gene in Murrah buffalo was done and submitted to the GenBank (Accession No. AY304829). Nucleotide sequencing revealed an addition of 4 bases in the intronic region as compared to cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.918-921
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• 2000

A comparative study on rumen bacterial and protozoal population and fungal zoospores in cattle (Brahman$\times$Native) and swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) was conducted. Forty animals, twenty of each, with same sex and similar age which were raised under similar condition in the Northeast of Thailand, were used. Rumen digesta were sampled immediately post slaughtering for total microscopic counts of bacteria, protozoa and fungal zoospores. It was found that total bacterial population were higher in swamp buffalo that those in cattle (1.6 vs $1.36{\times}10^{8}cells/ml$) having more population of cocci, rods and ovals. Lower rumen protozoal pupulation in swamp buffalo with lower numbers of Holotrichs and Entodiniomorphs were found as compared to those in cattle. Significant higher fungal zoospore counts were in swamp buffalo than those in cattle being 7.30 and $3.78{\times}10^6$, respectively. Study under electron microscope, revealed Anaeromyces sp. with acuminate apex were more predominant in the rumen of swamp buffalo. With these findings, cattle and swamp buffaloes showing differences in rumen bacterial, protozoal population and fungal zoospore counts, offer new additional information as why swamp buffaloes exhibit conditionally better than cattle especially during long dry season without green grass.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2020

The objective of this research work was to know ovarian dynamics and pregnancy rate of cyclic Murrah buffalo cows with induced estrus by administration of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and timed artificial insemination (TAI) with frozen thawed semen. A total of 31 female buffaloes were selected for the study. The buffalos having matured CL observed by ultrasonography were given one intra muscular injection of cloprostenol 500 ㎍ and TAI was performed using frozen thawed semen of Indian Murrah buffalo bull. Results showed that 90.32% (significantly, at p < 0.05) cows explore the sign of heat after injection of PG and 67.85% (significantly, at p < 0.05) cows were become pregnant out of 28 inseminated (TAI) cows. In the 28 inseminated (TAI) cows, average number of smaller and larger size of follicles were non-significantly (p > 0.05) higher at day 3 post PG injection, but the medium size of follicles was nonsignificantly (p > 0.05) higher at PG injection. At day 3 post PG injection the diameter of follicles was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, but the diameter of CL was significantly (p < 0.01) lower compared at PG injection. At PG injection the diameter of largest follicle was non-significantly differences (p > 0.05) in between pregnant and non-pregnant cows. But at day 3 post PG injection it was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in pregnant cows compared to non-pregnant cows. The number of small, medium, and large follicles at PG injection and at day 3 post PG injection were non-significantly (p > 0.05) difference in between pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo cows. Finally, it is concluded that the CL was effectively regresses and induced the sign of heat in buffalo cows and after AI the cows were become pregnant with significant rate. The study will help to the veterinarian and researcher to know the efficacy of PG injection and AI for reproductive efficiency in buffalo cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.524-526
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• 1989

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.626-635
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT), Pentoxifylline (PTX), Theophylline (TPY) and Theobromine (TBR) on cold protection ability of Murrah buffalo semen at room ($22-25^{\circ}C$) and refrigerated temperature ($4-7^{\circ}C$). Each semen sample was divided into six parts of equal volume and sperm concentration; the first was kept as a control and the remaining five were treated with BHA, BHT, PTX, TPY or TBR. Sperm motility, abnormal spermatozoa, live-dead count, hypo-osmotic swelling and acrosomal integrity were studied at room and refrigerated temperature for various incubation periods viz.; 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h at room and 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h at refrigerated temperature. Significant improvement in sperm motility, live-dead count, hypo-osmotic swelling and acrosomal integrity were observed in BHT, PTX and TPY fortified extender at room and refrigerated temperature for various incubation periods. From the present study it could be concluded that cold protection ability of buffalo semen can be improved through the addition of BHT followed by PTX and TPY.

• 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.