Blood biochemical indices at different intervals postpartum in buffaloes retaining and not retaining fetal membranes

The study was made to compare serum biochemical indices between healthy normal parturient buffaloes (Control, n=15) and buffaloes affected with retained fetal membranes (RFM) following abortion (RFM/AA, n=10) or parturition (RFM/AP, n=12). Blood glucose and serum total protein, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were estimated on day 0, 30 and 45 of calving. The mean blood glucose level and serum protein was significantly (P<0.05) higher in control group than in RFM/AA group. The mean serum cholesterol level on day 45 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the levels observed on day 30 and 0, the latter two also differed significantly (P<0.05). The mean serum aspartate aminotransferase activity on day 0 was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that observed on day 30 and 45. The mean serum alanine aminotransferase activity observed in control group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that observed in RFM/AP and RFM/AA groups. The values varied significantly (P<0.05) between periods, irrespective of groups for alanine aminotransferase activity. The breeding efficiency in terms of postpartum first estrus and fertile estrus and number of services per conception was significantly reduced in RFM groups as compared to control group.