Ovarian Response of Buffalo Cows with Prolonged Anoestrus Following Hormonal Treatment During Indoor Housing

Abstract

Large calving intervals in water buffalo cows is attributed to the existence of periods of the year when sexual activity is absent. It is considered that if fertilization did not occur before the buffalo cows entered in the winter season, when kept indoors, then it will take a significant longer time until they enter again in heat and the calving interval will be negatively influenced. The work was conducted over 4 years and consisted of the evaluation of ovarian response following administration of a prostaglandin hormone (PGF2α) during the winter period for a number of 61 buffalo cows, between 5 and 14 years of age. In 22 buffalo cows that showed oestrus within 5 days of PGF2α administration, two artificial inseminations were performed at 12 hours intervals. In 39 buffalo cows that did not show any signs of oestrus, a second dose of PGF2α was administrated 11 days after the first administration, after which they were artificially inseminated at 48 and 78 hours, respectively. Of the 22 buffalo cows that showed oestrus, 19 cows became pregnant, and out of the 39 buffalo cows with prolonged treatment, only 20 heads remained pregnant. The treatment of sexual inactivity in water buffalo cows during indoor hosing by hormonal methods with PGF2α leads to the shortening of the calving interval, the cost of hormonal treatments being balanced by the increase in the number of calves obtained and the milk production.