Effect of Season on Reproductive Efficiency of Murrah Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Treated with Heatsynch Protocol

This chapter evaluate the seasonal efficacy on reproductive efficiency of Murrah buffaloes treated with the Heatynch protocol and changes in plasma estrogen concentration to evaluate if the Heatsynch protocol induces estrus in Murrah buffaloes. Buffaloes trends to reproduce mainly in winter season as compared to summer season in tropical and subtropical countries. Reproductive efficiency is the primary factor affecting productivity of water buffaloes. The study was carried out at the experimental herd of the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India from May to July 2006. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein on alternate days from 20 days prior to treatment. All treated animals responded to the treatment by displaying obvious signs of estrus. The mean plasma estrogen concentration among the individual buffalo was 191.9 ±68.3 pg / ml after Estradiol benzoate (EB) injection. The plasma progesterone profile of these animals indicated that out of 16 animals 8 animals were acyclic before Heatsynch treatment (8/16) as plasma progesterone concentrations in these animals were basal (<0.24±0.01 ng/ml) for most of the sampling period during the course of treatment. This study indicates that Heatsynch protocol is capable of inducing estrus cycle in anestrous. The Heatsynch protocol can have distinct advantage in enhancing the fertility of buffaloes especially since the technique can circumvent the need for heat detection. Following Heatsynch treatment only two buffalo out of sixteen were acyclic (2/16) on the basis of their plasma progesterone profile. It is concluded that Murrah buffaloes can be successfully induced to estrus using the Heatsynch procedure. The results of this study also showed that, in Murrah buffaloes, a summertime Heatsynch regimen could result in a significantly higher conception rate.