• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1858-1864
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• 2007

Influence of varying level of sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on milk yield and its composition was examined in a randomized complete block design in early lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes during summer. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets were formulated. The diet 0B contained 0 while LB, MB and HB diets contained 0.50, 1.0 and 1.50% SB levels, respectively. The diets were randomly allotted to twenty buffaloes, five in each group. A linear increase in nutrient and water intake was recorded with increasing SB level. Buffaloes fed MB and HB diets showed higher nitrogen balance than those fed 0B and LB diets. A significant increase in blood pH and serum bicarbonate was noticed with increasing SB level. Urine pH increased significantly with increased SB level. A linear increase in milk yield was also noticed with increasing SB level. Milk fat% increased significantly in buffaloes fed MB and HB diets compared with those fed 0B and LB diets. Buffaloes fed HB diet had higher conception rate and less services per conception than those fed 0B diet. This study indicated that a high SB diet not only increased dry matter and water intake, milk yield, milk fat% but also increased conception rate in early lactating buffaloes during summer.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2011

Ovulation synchronization (ovsynch) has proved to increase the number of insemination in cattle by overcoming the problems of heat detection. The aim of this study was to do ovsynch in water buffaloes where heat detection is a major reproductive problem and to determine the conception rates after timed artificial insemination (TAI). Twenty cyclic buffaloes at ${\geq}$ 60 days postpartum were selected by examining 24 unobserved estrus buffaloes based on milk progesterone assay (progesterone concentration ${\geq}$ 1.0 ng/ml) from the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Ovsynch treatment regimen was started irrespective of the stage of estrous cycle. Gonadorelin (500 ${\mu}g$) was injected intramuscularly at Day 0 followed by Alfaprostol (8 mg) at Day 7. A second injection of Gonadorelin was given at Day 9 and TAI was done with frozen semen from Mediterranean buffalo bulls at 16~20 hours of the second Gonadorelin injection. Milk progesterone ELISA at Day 10~12 post AI confirmed ovulation in 16 out of 20 (80%) buffaloes (progesterone concentration ${\geq}$ 1.0 ng/ml). High progesterone concentration (${\geq}$ 1.0 ng/ml) at Day 10~12 and Day 22~24 of AI showed pregnancy in six out of 20 (30%) buffaloes. Pregnancy was further confirmed by ultrasonography at Day 40 in these six buffaloes. In conclusion, ovsynch followed by TAI could be applied in cyclic buffaloes for overcoming the estrus detection problems; however, more studies are needed to increase the conception rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.886-890
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• 1999

From previous studies, there is a strong possibility in buffaloes that the marked increase in blood volume (BV) under hot conditions contributes to heat transportation from the rectum to the skin. The present study was done to clarify changes with environmental temperature on water-shift between blood and extracellular fluid (ECF), heat distribution between the rectum and the skin, and blood flow rates (BFR) at the hind legs (reflecting the skin surface). Four buffaloes and four Friesian cows were successively exposed to three different temperatures of $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. BV and ECF volume were measured with Evans' blue and sodium-thiocyanate dilution methods, respectively. Rectal and subcutaneous (as the skin) temperatures were measured by copper-constantan thermocouples. BFR were measured by a supersonic blood flow meter. With an increase in environmental temperature, skin temperature in buffaloes increased significantly than cows, but rectal temperature was not significantly different between two species. BV, especially plasma compartment, increased significantly in only buffaloes, while ECF volume did not change in both species. BFR increased significantly in buffaloes, but not in cows. From these results, the increased of BV may be caused by water flowing from ECF compartment. The water-shift may induce the increase of BFR and skin temperature. It is suggested in the present study that internal changes of blood compartment in buffaloes contribute to transfer of heat to the skin surface.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.577-580
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• 1993

Six lactating crossbred cows and six Murrah buffaloes, maintained under similar conditions of feeding and management were studied for body composition by the antipyrine dilution technique. Measurements were made at the start of the experiment when the animals had completed about 50 days in lactation and thereafter at monthly intervals up to 90 days of the experimental period. The percent body water estimates in both species at different time intervals did not change significantly. Percent body fat and protein content also remained unchanged. The correlation coefficient between body composition parameters and various hormones (growth hormone, insulin, $T_3$ and $T_4$) were generally low and non-significant. It was concluded that body composition studies using body water are not sufficiently sensitive to predict changes in body composition of lactating cows and buffaloes and/or the changes in body composition during lactation are not very drastic.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 1998

To understand the caused for poor response to superovulation in water buffalo compared to crossbred cows, follicular events, before start of superovulation, during superovulation and after superovulation were compared. Follicular development was monitored a day before start of superovulation, daily upto superestrus and on the day of flushing. A real time B mode diagnostic instrument equipped with a linear array, 5 MHz transducer was used in five crossbred cows and five Murrah buffaloes. Crossbred cows yielded significantly (p < 0.01) higher number of corpora lutea than buffaloes (21 vs 10). The mean number of small size (2 to 5 mm); medium size (6 to 9 mm) and large size $({\geq}10mm)$ follicles, a day before start of superovulation were almost similar or even slightly higher in buffalo. Though initial shift in the mean number of follicles was higher in buffalo than cow, yet, from Day 2 to Day 3 of the treatment, the average increase in medium (3.2 vs 1.2) and large size (5.0 vs 2.0) follicles was higher in cows than buffaloes. The mean number of medium and large size follicles was 9.8 and 14.4 in cows and 6.4 and 7.6 in buffaloes. On the day of flushing, the number of large size follicle was more in buffaloes than cows, indicating the ovulation problem in this species. The major conclusion from this investigation was that, a day before start of superovulatory treatment, the number of small and medium size follicles was slightly higher in buffaloes, even then superovulatory response was better in cows, due to shift, recruitment and passage of follicles from smaller size to larger size from Day 2 of treatment. Ovulation problem in buffaloes was also responsible for lower superovulatory responses as revealed by the presence of higher number of large size follicles on the day of flushing.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2012

Anestrus is one of the most important production limiting disorders in dairy buffaloes and its underlying causes have been a current topic of studies. The objectives of this study were to explore the causes of anestrus in buffaloes with the application of ultrasonography. Two examinations were performed by transrectal ultrasonography at 12 days apart in buffalo cows that were not seen in oestrus at 60 or more days postpartum. As high as 54.5% buffaloes had silent ovulation and 45.5% suffered from the true anestrus with ovarian dysfunction. The duration of anestrus after calving was 60~90, 91~120, 121~180 and 181~365 days in 27%, 32%, 18% and 23% buffalo cows, respectively. Treatment with prostaglandin of cyclic buffalo cows with a corpus luteum (72.7%) resulted in higher estrous rate as compared with close observation of estrus (23.1%) by the farmer (p=0.021). Acyclic buffalo cows without any corpus luteum on ovaries were successfully treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone (70%), resulting in higher estrous detection rate than those treated with a vitamin-mineral mixture (20%) (p=0.035). In conclusion, poor heat detection due to silent ovulation is the most important cause of apparent anoestrus in buffaloes; however the percentage of the true anestrous is also quite high in postpartum buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.321-325
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• 2002

Karyotype analysis was carried out on blood samples of 30 water buffaloes belonging to different breed groups (i.e. Philippine Carabao (PC), Indian Murrah (IM), Bulgarian Murrah (BM), "$F_1$ 50% IM-50% PC", "$F_1$ 50% BM-50% PC" and "75% IM-25% PC"), using the modified Leucocyte Culture Technique. The modal chromosome numbers of the PC, "$F_1$ 50% IM-50% PC", "$F_1$ 50% BM-50% PC", IM, BM and "75% IM-25% PC" were 2n=48, 49, 49, 50, 50 and 50, respectively. The water buffalo chromosomes are mostly acrocentric (79.67%) and the remainder submetacentric (20.33%). Results of the ordinary least square analysis showed significant breed effects (p<0.01) on other karyotypic characteristics (i.e. relative length, arm ratio and centromeric index). Significant correlation between karyotypic characteristics and some animal performance traits were also found. The significant correlation values imply that karyotypic characteristics can be used as important criteria to select potentially productive young water buffaloes. In the future, more production and reproduction traits from non-institutional herds should be included in the analysis to reveal meaningful correlations with various karyotypic characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1240-1244
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• 2006

The complete coding region sequence of the SRY gene in Chinese swamp buffalo was determined by PCR product sequencing. Comparison of swamp and river buffalo SRY gene sequences revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, C/G) at the 202 bp site of the coding region. Further, a total of 124 male domestic buffaloes were genotyped at this SNP site using the PCR-SSCP method, and it was found that all Chinese indigenous swamp buffaloes had a guanine (G) at this site, while introduced river buffaloes and crossbred buffaloes showed a cytosine (C). Our findings suggested that this Y-linked SNP displayed type-specific alleles differentiating swamp and river buffaloes, and could be used as an effective marker to detect crossbreeding of swamp buffaloes with introduced river buffaloes in native buffalo populations, and thereby assess genetic diversity status and make proper conservation decisions for indigenous swamp buffaloes. In addition, this SNP can be potentially applied in the study of Asian water buffalo phylogeny from a male perspective.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.471-476
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• 2007

Little is known about the origin and genetic diversity of swamp buffaloes in China. To obtain more knowledge on genetics of the water buffalo in China, the complete mitochondrial D-loop sequences of 30 samples from 6 native types were investigated. The results revealed 12 mitochondrial haplotypes with 50 polymorphic sites. Among these polymorphic sites, there were 49 transitions and 1 transversion. The average nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity estimated from mtDNA D-loop region in 6 Chinese water buffalo types were 0.00684 and 0.798, respectively, showing rather abundant mitochondrial genetic diversity. The Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree of mtDNA of Chinese water buffaloes was constructed according to the 12 haplotypes. The NJ tree indicated two lineages being designated lineage A and lineage B, in which lineage A was predominant, and lineage B was at low frequency. The new lineage B was first discovered and defined in 6 Chinese water buffalo types. These results showed that two different maternal lineages were involved in the origin of domestic swamp buffaloes in China and the lineage B was probably an introgression from Southeast Asian buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.601-604
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• 1992

A total of 480 live buffaloes and 180 visceral samples from Dhaka, Mymensingh, Bogura and Rajshahi were examined for the presence of parasites of water buffaloes in Bangladesh during September, 1988 to August, 1989. The recorded parasites were eight trematodes, two cestodes, fourteen nematodes, two protozoa and two arthropods. The trematodes were Fasciola gigantica (18.9%-46.4%). Paramphistomes (Gigantocotyl explanatum, Ceylonocotyl scoliocoelium, Cotylophoron cotylophorum and Gastrothylax crumenifer (29.5%-48.3%). Schistosoma indicum (1.6%-31.6%), S. spindale (13.9%-27.7%) and S. nasalis (4.6%-8.3%). The cestodes were Hydatid cyst (24.4%), Cysticercus tenuicollis (11.1%). The nematodes were Strongyloides papillosus (14.8%-21.6%), Capillaria spp. (C. bilobata, C. bovis) (8.5%-20.0%), Setaria digitata (7.2%), Onchocerca armillata (27.2%), Thelazia rhodesii (2.3%), Gongylonema pulchrum (3.9%), Oesophagostomum radiatum (6.6%-41.6%), Hookworms (Agriostomum vryburgi, Bunostomum phlebotomum) (8.1%-17.2%), Trichostrongylus axei (11.2%-21.6%), Mecistocirrus digitatus & Haemonchus contortus (15.2%-25.5%) and Toxocara vitulorum (1.1%-9.8%). The protozoa were Eimeria zuerni (2.3%) and Trypanosoma theileri (0.4%). The arthropods were Haemaphysalis bispinosa (8.1%) and Haematopinus tuberculatus (34.6%).