Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T13:26:37.511Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Patterns of oestrus, time of LH release and ovulation and effects of time of artificial insemination in Mediterranean buffalo cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

B. M. Moioli ,
F. Napolitano ,
S. Puppo ,
V. L. Barile ,
G. M. Terzano ,
A. Borghese ,
A. Malfatti ,
A. Catalano  and
A. M. Pilla
B. M. Moioli
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
F. Napolitano
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
S. Puppo
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
V. L. Barile
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
G. M. Terzano
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
A. Borghese
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
A. Malfatti
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisiologia, Facoltá di Veterinaria, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
A. Catalano
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisiologia, Facoltá di Veterinaria, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
A. M. Pilla
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo, Italy
Get access

Abstract

Thirty-two post-partum Mediterranean river buffalo cows were continuously observed for signs of oestrus from September to December with the aid of two vasectomized bulls. Symptoms of oestrus among female Mediterranean buffaloes are weak, therefore oestrus was assessed based on bull behaviour (following and licking a cow and trying to mount her). Oestrus was divided into three phases based on the bull behaviour assessment. Status of the uterus and ovarian follicles were checked rectally every day for each cow which was detected by a teaser bull to be in oestrus. All cows in oestrus were bred twice by artificial insemination (AI), the first at ovulation and the second (using a different bull) 22 h later.

The average duration of interest shown by the bull towards a cow (from the very first to the last sign of interest) was 68 h and the average length of the three phases was: phase 1 = 21 (s.d. 29) h, phase II = 32 (s.d. 24) h and phase III = 15 (s.d. 15) h. Fifteen buffaloes were bled during oestrus, and LH profiles were determined. No differences were evident among oestruses followed by pregnancy (no. = 18) and the others (no. = 26) for the variables describing behavioural events. Neither intensity of the bull courtship, presence or clarity of mucous discharge, or housing system affected the success of AI. The only differences between pregnant and non-pregnant cows were in the timing between the LH peak and the end of phase II (2·4 v. 14·7 h, P < 0·001), end of phase III (22 v. 40 h, P > 0·05) and ovulation (25 v. 46 h, P < 0·05). Successful pregnancies occurred 34 (s.d. 14) h after the end of phase II. The endocrinology and behavioural patterns of buffalo reproduction need further research to clarify the reasons for non-optimal pregnancy rates after AI.

Keywords

artificial inseminationbuffaloesLHoestrus
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 66 , Issue 1 , February 1998 , pp. 87 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aboul-Ela, M. B. 1989. Reproductive patterns and management in buffaloes. European Association of Production publication no. 38, pp. 174–178.Google Scholar
Aboul-Ela, M. B. 1993. Oestrous detection and reproductive management of buffaloes raised in small holdings in Egypt: a survey study. European Association of Animal Production publication no. 62, pp. 381–384.Google Scholar
Aboul-Ela, M. B., Khattab, R. M., El-Kerabi, F. E., Shafie, M. M. and Bedeir, L. H. 1988. Patterns of ovarian and oestrous activity and induction of cyclic activity during the post-partum period in Egyptian buffaloes. In Isotope aided studies on livestock productivity in Mediterranean and North African countries, pp. 239–253. International Atomic Energy Agency Publication, Vienna.Google Scholar
Associazione Italiana Allevatori. 1995. Milk recording activity in Italy. Associazione Italiana Allevatori, via Tomassetti 9, 00161 Rome, Italy.Google Scholar
Barkawi, A., Bedeir, L. H. and El-Wardany, M. 1993. Oestrous behaviour of buffaloes raised in small holdings. European Association of Animal Production publication no.62. pp. 378–380.Google Scholar
Borghese, A., Terzano, G. M., Barile, V. L., Seren, E., Parmeggiani, A., Soflai, S. M., Zicarelli, L., Boni, R. and Di Palo, R. 1996. News in buffalo reproduction. Bulgarian journal ofAgricultural Science 2: 35–48.Google Scholar
Kanchev, L., Vlahov, K. and Danev, A. 1993. The reproductive performances of the riverine buffalo. European Association of Animal Production publication no. 62, pp. 349–355.Google Scholar
Khattab, R. M., Barkawi, A. H. and Aboul-Ela, M. B. 1988. Patterns of ovarian and oestrous activity in problem buffaloes as monitored by plasma progesterone concentration. Buffalo Journal 2: 173–181.Google Scholar
Khattab, R. M., El-Wardany, M. A., Mokhless, E. M. and Barkawi, A. H. 1995. Patterns of ovarian activity influencing calving interval of Egyptian buffaloes in relation to season of calving. Journal of Agricultural Science, Mansoura University, Egypt 20: 4331–4335.Google Scholar
Maurel, M. C., Malfatti, A., Debenedetti, A., Catalano, A. and Barile, V. L. 1993. Detection of the preovulatory LH surge in the buffalo by an enzyme-immunologic assay. In Reproduction and animal breeding: advances and strategies (ed. Enne, G., Greppi, G. F. and Laurie, A.), pp. 405–406. Elsevier, Paris.Google Scholar
Seren, E., Parmeggiani, A., Zicarelli, L., Montemurro, N., Pacelli, C. and Terzano, G. M. 1993. Periestrous endocrine changes in Italian buffaloes. European Association of Animal Production publication no. 62, pp. 393–396.Google Scholar
Talevi, R., Pelosi, S., Sansone, G., Grasso, F. and Matassino, D. 1994. Effect of different pre-freezing rates on buffalo sperm mobility and ultrasonic preservation. Proceedings of the fourth world buffalo congress, vol. III, 537–539.Google Scholar
Vankan, D. M., Moore, S. S., Bell, K. and Hetzel, D. J. S. 1994. Evaluation of DNA microsatellites for parentage and paternity testing of cattle. Animal Genetics 25: (suppl. 2) 41 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Villa, E. and Fabbri, G. 1993. Results of AI for improvement schemes in buffaloes. European Association of Animal Production publication no. 62, pp. 367–369.Google Scholar
Zicarelli, L. 1992. Advances in buffalo reproduction. Proceedings of the fourth national meeting on reproductive efficiency of livestock, Bergamo, Italy, 10 April 1992.Google Scholar