The Effect of PGF 2 a Analogue with or without GnRH on Fertility Rate of Anestrus Kundi Buffalo

INTRODUCTION

Buffalo is a major dairy animal in Pakistan with the total population of 28.4 million, 64%, 27%, 7%, 3% in Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier and Balochistan provinces respectively and 0.487 million in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (DOP, 2006). About 67.5% milk is produced by buffaloes, 30% by cattle and only 2 to 3% by goats and other species (Anonymous, 2006). Buffaloes and cattle are kept in different parts of the country under different production system. The production of these animals is much below their genetic potential because of feed shortage, unscientific management and inadequate disease control program (Ahmad et al., 2004). Nili Ravi and Kundhi buffalo are famous for their highest milk production in the world.

Nili Ravi buffaloes are found in Punjab while Kundhi in Sindh province. In buffalo breeding, there are many factors, which hinder its potential efficiency. One of these factors is anoestrus or unobserved estrus. There are numerous causes of anestrus e.g. poor nutrition, season, prolong suckling of dam during lactation, acquired abnormalities of female reproductive tract, hormonal imbalance etc. (Beg et al., 1997). Prolonged post-partum acyclicity and anestrus are major source of economic loss to buffalo breeders, anestrus being the most common single cause of infertility in buffaloes (Dessouky, 1973). The survey of more than 12,000 infertile buffalo-cows revealed that 65% causes of infertility were due to functional disorders of ovaries (Rao, 1982).

Previous research has suggested that after estrus was induced by use of prostaglandin, conception rates in dairy cows and buffaloes were increased through the use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone at the time of artificial insemination (Schels et al., 1978). However there are also reports that do not support this concept. (Stevenson et al.1995). The exact phenomenon of GnRH treatment at the time of AI or prior to it is not known. But it has been speculated that GnRH treatment might induce an early LH surge and ovulation which results in synchronization of ovulation and insemination.

The prostaglandin and its synthetic analogue are considered as drug of choice in reproductive management (Seguin, B.E. 1981). It has also been used successfully for treating subestrus and unobserved estrus in dairy cattle and buffaloes and can be used either singly or in combination with other drugs for synchronization of ovulation and fixed time insemination between 72 and 80 hours following treatment (Archbald et al.1992). The GnRH hormone is considered as a drug of choice in improving efficiency of dairy animals by improving ovulation process. It stimulates the release of both FSH and LH in domestic species (Foster J. P, 1980). Administration of GnRH hormone or its analogue during early postpartum period improves calving interval by inducing early post partum estrus in buffaloes (Samo et al., 2005). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous treatment of prostaglandin double dose regime and its role in combination with GnRH to increase the conception rate in anestrus Kundhi buffaloes in field conditions. The study was therefore designed to investigate the effect of PGF2 α analogue with or without GnRH on fertility rate of anestrus Kundhi buffaloes after fixed time insemination using fresh semen. All the Kundi buffaloes were of same age, body score and calving interval.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was completed at the department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Sindh Agricultural University, Tandojam. In this experiment 40 anestrus Kundhi buffaloes were selected randomly in the area of Mir Colony, Tando Qaisar and in the village of Jam Samo near Kisana Moory of Tandojam. The buffaloes were identified and complete history of each animal was recorded. The animals were divided in four equal groups, A, B, C and D, each group comprising of ten animals. Each animal was given a local name for identification. The local name, group name and treatment of each group were written with non washed ink on steel plate. The steel plate hanged in small chain was put on to the neck for identification of each animal. Experimental protocol is given in the Table 1.

Treatment regimn: The animals in group A (n=10) were injected the synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2α, 2 ml Dalmazin (Cloprostenol 0.150 mg/ 2 ml) on day 1st and 2nd dose of the same quantity of Dalmazin on day 11. Fixed time AI (72 hours) was conducted to all the animals by using fresh semen collected from the Kundhi Sire on the same day with 60% motility. Group B animals (n=10) were given the same treatment of prostaglandin F2α as in group A. In addition, GnRH (gonodotrophin releasing hormone) at the time of insemination, 2 ml Dalmarelin (lecerilin acetate) was injected to each animal, one hour prior to fixed time (72 hours) artificial insemination. For group C animals. The same protocol was followed as in group A but in addition 2 ml licerilin acetate was injected simultaneously on day 11 with the injection of PGF2α and fixed time (72 hours) artificial insemination. Group D animals (n=10) were kept as control, injected only 2 ml normal saline solution on day- 1 and day 11 and fixed time AI (72 hours) was conducted as in group A. The conception rate was recorded on 21 days non return basis and was also confirmed after 45 to 60 days of AI through rectal palpation of each animal in each group and the conception rate of each group was calculated as percentage.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Conception rate of Kundhi buffalo on the basis of 21st day non return is presented in Table-02. The date indicated no definite pattern of conception rate in all the groups. Non return rate of treated groups varied from 70- 90% whereas of the control/animals came in heat between first and second treatments. Palpation is presented in Table-3. Out of 40 anestrus Kundhi buffalo treated with various hormonal treatments or without treatment, 9 animals (22.5%) conceived during the study period. The conception rate in hormone treated groups A, B & C was 20, 30 and 30% respectively and of control (Group-D) was 10%. The mean conception rate of treated group A, B & C was higher (26.6%) than the control (10%). It was found that 16.6% increase was achieved through hormonal therapy in field conditions in Kundhi buffalo during the study period. The conception rate in hormone treated groups A, B & C was 20%, 30% and 30% respectively and in control group D was 10%. The mean conception rate of treated group A, B & C was higher (26.6%) than the control (10%). It was found that 16.6% increase was achieved through hormonal therapy in field conditions in Kundhi buffalo in the current study.

The conception rate on 21 days non return basis in the study confirmed that there is not a reliable parameter to be used for pregnancy confirmation in Kundhi buffalo. The animals that did not return were either out of range of hormonal treatment or there was early embryonic death (Ullah et al.1996).

Treatment regime containing prostaglandin and gonadotrophin releasing hormone after 11 days of the first treatment or at the time of A.I. was found to be superior to control and other treatment groups i.e. prostaglandin only. The FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which are released under the influence of GnRH resulted maximum ovulation after synchronization and maximum conception was achieved after fixed time artificial insemination (72 hours). Similar observations have also been reported (Baruselli et al.2005).

This study helped in evaluating the effectiveness of PGF2α to that of GnRH to improve conception rate in Kundhi buffaloes following timed insemination (72 hours) after treatment with luteolytic dose of PGF2α and to develop a year round management scheme to improve the conception rate of anestrus Kundhi buffaloes. Furthermore this scheme would involve the use of PGF2α to induce Luteolysis and the concurrent use of GnRH and timed insemination without estrus detection.

The most important aspect of the study was, the estrus behavior was not detected when the various protocols of treatment were followed for each group. The latest technique of Ovysynch/TAI was followed while conducting this experiment. The overall low conception rate (22.5%) resulted in this experiment may be due to the prevailing stressful environmental temperatures, poor body condition score and nutritional status, prolonged postpartum anestrus, post parturient acquired abnormalities, age and parity of the female buffaloes and the regular hormonal malpractices like daily use of oxytocin twice a day for milk let-down in the lactating buffaloes.

Table 1. Layout of the Experiment

The Effect of PGF 2 a Analogue with or without GnRH on Fertility Rate of Anestrus Kundi Buffalo - Image 1

Table-02: Conception rate (%) of Kundhi buffaloes on 21 days non-return basis

The Effect of PGF 2 a Analogue with or without GnRH on Fertility Rate of Anestrus Kundi Buffalo - Image 2

Table-03: Conception rate (%) of kundhi buffaloes after pregnancy was diagnosed through rectal palpation (45- 60 days)

The Effect of PGF 2 a Analogue with or without GnRH on Fertility Rate of Anestrus Kundi Buffalo - Image 3

Basically buffalo is seasonal breeder. Their natural breeding season start from September to March with maximum breeding in November and December. The months of May, June and July are considered off breeding season for buffalo, therefore, low conception rate can be expected in such season even with exogenous treatment of PGF2α and GnRH in anestrus buffalo (Khattab et al. 1996; Comelo et al. 2002; Vivek Kung 2002; Yamada K., 2005). The present experiment was conducted in extreme hot season of the year (Summar season) with temperature range from 39°C up to 42°C; therefore low conception resulted in treated as well as in control group.

It was concluded from the present study that conception rat increased by 16.6% through hormonal therapy followed by fixed time AI in Kundhi buffalo under field conditions.

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The Effect of PGF 2 a Analogue with or without GnRH on Fertility Rate of Anestrus Kundi Buffalo

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