Effect of Estrus Induction on Blood Biochemical and Mineral Profiles and Fertility Rate in Retained Fetal Membranes Affected and Normally Calved Riverine Buffaloes

Calving to conception interval is abnormally extended by the occurrence of retained fetal membranes (RFM) by altering the blood biochemical and mineral milieu in cows. Hence this experiment was conducted in RFM affected and normally calved (NC)

buffaloes by inducing estrus with CIDR plus PGF₂α protocol to study the blood biochemical and mineral profiles and to correlate them with fertility rate.

Buffaloes (n=64) at 45–60 days postpartum including 32 treated for RFM and 32 NC from field were equally divided into groups I and II and groups III and IV, respectively. Buffaloes of groups I and III were initially dewormed and administered 35–50 g mineral mixture daily orally for 15 days in the concentrate feed. Then, buffaloes of all the groups were treated with CIDR plus PGF₂α. After CIDR removal, all the buffaloes were artificially inseminated twice at 48 and 72 hrs. Blood was collected during different stages of treatment from all the buffaloes to assess the blood biochemical and mineral status. The animals returned to estrus following FTAI were again inseminated during subsequent estrus. Pregnancy diagnosis was done at 60 days post-AI and conception rates for induced estrus and overall of two cycles were calculated.

In all the groups, blood glucose, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol and phosphorus levels increased from the time of selection to 10 days post-AI. There was an altered calcium phosphorus ratio in RFM affected buffaloes (1:1) at the time of selection.

CIDR plus PGF₂α protocol influenced the blood biochemical constituents and brought the calcium and phosphorus ratio as 2:1 and improved the fertility in riverine buffaloes. The overall conception rate was 62.50, 37.50, 87.50 and 75.00 per cent, in group I, II, III and IV buffaloes, respectively.