Impact of dibasic sodium phosphate treatment on ovarian inactivity in buffalo-heifers

The objective of the present work was to investigate the effect of dibasic sodium phosphate solution treatment on reproductive performance of unestrum Egyptian buffalo-heifers. The study was conducted during the season of highest breeding activity of buffaloes in Egypt (October- March) on 60 anestric buffallo-heifers reared at Upper Egypt, Assiut province. All heifers were examined using an ultrasonic device 6/8 changeable linear probe once weekly. The heifers were divided randomly into two groups. The dibasic sodium phosphate-treated group (DHP, n=30) was injected with sterile anhydrous disodium hydrogen phosphate. The control group (C, n=30) was injected with saline s/c. Ovarian structures, follicles, corpora lutea and ovulation were recorded. Blood samples were collected twice per week for progesterone analysis. Pregnancy diagnosis was determined at 40–50 days post service. The results showed that only 15 heifers had small follicles, while 45 heifers showed no ovarian structures. The number of heifers with functional ovaries did not increased in any group after treatment. The number of small sized follicles tended to be higher in (DHP) than in (C) (P = 0.06). There were no significant differences in serum progesterone concentration between groups (DHP:0.70 ± 0.57 ng/ml versus C:0.74 ± 0.62 ng/ml), the number of animals showing estrous signs (P = 0.69), time of appearance time of appearance and conception rate (P = 0.40). In conclusion, treatment of ovarian inactivity in buffalo-heifers with dibasic sodium phosphate tended to increase the number of small sized follicles but did not affect follicular growth, ovulation and consequently the resulting conception rate.